Can Fullness and Cracking Due to TMJD Go Away?

[Stephanie72]

@kelpiemsp and @housemzk

Hey guys. Just an update. My hearing test and pressure were normal at my ENT visit. The doctor referred me to a tmj specialist and even called and got me in the next day (today) as it was acute.

She did the most through diagnosis I've been involved in. She spent a solid hour and a half talking, doing tests, manipulations, x-rays. I have a locked jaw, a displaced disk and my jaw deviates to the left. I was fitted for day and night splints which I will wear for at least 4 months (I'll hsve to wear the night splint for the rest of my life). She did cold laser light therapy and I go back next week for trigger point injections. I'll also be getting prolotherapy and pt. She gave me a temporary quick splint to wear for the next 2 weeks (I swear it feels so much better when it's in my mouth even though it much larger than the splints I'll be getting.) She started a muscle relaxant for 2 weeks and a round of steriods. I'll be seeing her every 2 weeks for a good while. She was also very honest with me about the t. She said in a majority of patients it goes away completely or reduces. But in some it stays. But she did say that takes longer. I'm feeling positive and really ready to get some relief from this pain. Thanks for all of the info guys and good luck on your journey. Something I like to remember is that your thoughts become things so try to have good ones!

 

[Stephanie72]

@Mellow7

Have you had a hearing test and the pressure checked in your ears? All mine are normal. I have the pressure and congestion in my ears too. It does equalize when I yawn but i discourage this as it can inflame and bother your jaw. My t changes too. Not morse code but it isn't really there in the morning (or is super low) and cranks up the longer I'm up and the more I feel pain. Mine really started during a stressful time too and I yawned too wide and locked my jaw. I've had tmj for years though and grind and clench. Steriods do seem to help me somewhat.

A good start would be going to see an ENT and getting a referral to a tmj specialist. This has been going in for me for almost 6 weeks. I should have gone much sooner. Don't let yourself get in the kind of pain I'm in.

 

[housemzk]

@Stephanie72 - Glad you're on the right track now! That's great that your dentist is really attacking it from many different angles.

Did the dentist mention anything about nerve damage? My dentist told me that I probably have nerve damage and because it takes so long to heal, the ringing associated with it is usually is the last to fade away.

 

[Mellow7]

@Mellow7

Have you had a hearing test and the pressure checked in your ears? All mine are normal. I have the pressure and congestion in my ears too. It does equalize when I yawn but i discourage this as it can inflame and bother your jaw. My t changes too. Not morse code but it isn't really there in the morning (or is super low) and cranks up the longer I'm up and the more I feel pain. Mine really started during a stressful time too and I yawned too wide and locked my jaw. I've had tmj for years though and grind and clench. Steriods do seem to help me somewhat.

A good start would be going to see an ENT and getting a referral to a tmj specialist. This has been going in for me for almost 6 weeks. I should have gone much sooner. Don't let yourself get in the kind of pain I'm in.

Hey, thanks for your answer! Glad to see you are making progress with a diagnosis and treatment.

I had all the classic ENT tests and they sometimes show a little negative pressure and I do have a dip at 6khz and also at the very high frequencies 12-14 khz. But this hearing loss has been present since I was a kid, when I often had ear infections. Don't know what caused it really.

I've been to the jaw specialist today and honestly, I'm pretty disappointed. She did confirm some TMJ and tension in jaw muscles. Prescribed me some anti-inflammatory gel to massage and gave me some jaw relaxation exercises. But she seemed to be in a rush and didn't have time to take an imprint for a night brace or to take a CT scan. Now I can go ahead and wait 6 weeks until follow-up...

I still regularly have jaw tension and ear pain when chewing. My jaw cracks sometimes too. I haven't had any jaw locking yet, but I do sometimes notice I have to strain to open my mouth wide (which I try to avoid anyway).

The think that spooks me the most, aside from the tinnitus itself, is the crackling in my ears when swallowing and yawning, as well as the ear fullness. I mean, no one seems to give a reasonable explanation as to why my ears do this. Some say it's normal, as it means that your ears are equalizing pressure and others say it is due to inflammation of the tubes.

I can say that it isn't normal for me though, considering I never had this a few years ago and I'm not sure if inflammation is exclusively the cause, because of the fact that a Medrol dosepak did not help me in that regard.

Guess I'll keep looking...

 

[Stephanie72]

@Mellow7

I can't believe you have to wait that long just to get the impressions! Can you get in with someone else before then? That's crazy. I wore the temporary splint last night and too the muscle relaxer last night and my pain is reduced by at least half. My aw feels so much better overnight. I'm excited to get the real splints in 2 weeks.

The congestion in the ear is definitely tmj related. The specialist told me after wearing the appliances it will go away. I don't have negative pressure tho so I not sure how that affects it. I've read that tmj can cause etd.

If you can get in with someone else before 6 weeks it would definitely be worth it.

 

[Stephanie72]

@housemzk

My jaw and face feel so much better after only wearing the temporary splint last night. It's unbelievable. I'm so excited to get the real splints now! The neck pain I was having is completely gone.

She did mention that. We'll see how it goes. I'm just thrilled to be feeling better. Please keep me updated on your progress!

 

[kelpiemsp]

@Stephanie72 I'm glad you are on the right track! It definetly takes time. I am slowly noticing some improvement. My mouth opening started at 27mm and is now 42mm. Get yourself on a soft food diet ASAP and stick with the therapy!

 

[Mellow7]

@Mellow7

I can't believe you have to wait that long just to get the impressions! Can you get in with someone else before then? That's crazy. I wore the temporary splint last night and too the muscle relaxer last night and my pain is reduced by at least half. My aw feels so much better overnight. I'm excited to get the real splints in 2 weeks.

The congestion in the ear is definitely tmj related. The specialist told me after wearing the appliances it will go away. I don't have negative pressure tho so I not sure how that affects it. I've read that tmj can cause etd.

If you can get in with someone else before 6 weeks it would definitely be worth it.

I'm certainly gonna try to get another visit planned elsewhere. What a service, getting rushed out of the door like that. No lack of TMJ/T sufferers I guess. Business is always good for them!

Could you tell me what kind of temporary splint you are using? I'd like to try it myself and see if I get any relief.

Do you also use Voltaren gel (or an equivalent) to massage your jaw joint? Does it help you, if so?

 

[Stephanie72]

@kelpiemsp
Thanks! I've been on it for 2 weeks already. My opening was 24mm. It feels so much better after only wearing a temporary splint for 1 night. My neck pain is gone!

 

[Stephanie72]

@Mellow7
It's called QuickSplint. I think they have to be given by a doctor. They do have a website if you want to look into it. I've been wearing it 24/7 (unless eating, talking or running errands) and my jaw feels so much better. By the end of the day the pain has come back but it's so much better than it was. I think between using the splint, the muscle relaxer and the prednisone it's calming down.

She did try a prescription gel on me and told me she would write me a script if it helped. It was very sticky and you can't wear any make up with it. My hair got all stuck in it and it honestly didn't help that much. I use Dr King Cooling Acute Pain Relief and it workd much better. They also make a tmj spray and gel but they didn't have them in at Vitamin World. This stuff works great. It's pretty intense so try a little at first. It's a cream so you could put it under or over make up or lotion. It lasts a good while too. It's smells very minty.

Go somewhere else and tell them you are in extreme pain. That you need some kind of relief. I'm mad at myself that I waited so long and walked around in that kind of pain.

 

[monkey legs]

Hi folks,

My ears crack/pop when I swallow or yawn. But my ears are not infected and my hearing is normal. I thought the cracking was just the air pressure equalization of the Eustachian Tube, and a normal thing to happen?

My hearing isnt muffled, and I doubt the tubes could be blocked otherwise they wouldnt pop/crack at all.

I do have TMJ problems which I am currently investigating.

Cheers.

 

[BlackSwanNSW]

The crack/pop is the sound of a muscle. They are 3 possibilities:
TTRS,
palatal myoclonus,
or stapedius muscle myoclonus spasm