Hi whale,
My T started around the same date as yours! mid april 2016.....most prob mine also is due to TMJ. Can you tell me what are your symptoms. I was going under lots of stress and suddenly had tooth and jaw inflammation (had abscessed tooth for 10 years), after that the T started suddenly. I got all the three tooth pulled out, but the T is still there....now not sure what to do....have seen tons of doctors, but no use.... Thanks, Mita
I believe when you have Tinnitus from TMJ some call it Somatosensory Pulsatile Tinnitus Syndrome, the theory is the inflame TMJ / jaw can pull on the masseter and sternocleidomastoid (SCM) and cause havoc on the inner ear. The tensor veli palantini, the tensor tympani, stapedius muscles can also be pulled on by these jaw/ neck muscles causing Hyperacusis as well as Tinnitus. different people there can be different symptoms do to the complexity of the inner ear and what is being "pulled or pushed on" I have hyperacusis, vertigo and Tinnitus but I wouldn't focus on symptom matching as every jaw structure and inner ear is slightly different. Why stress/ anxiety is a factor is do to bruxism. Stress /anxiety causes you to clench, especially at sleep time, even more if you have sleep apnea or nightmares. this bruxism pulls on the massert muscle badly.
The good new is there is a more cure rates from TMJ then most, but its not %100. So as working on your TMJ you must also work on anxiety and habitation, and come to terms this will take time, perhaps years. cognitive behavioral therapy and tinnitus retraining therapy can help.
The possible root (TMJD)
First see a
Neuromuscular dentist and get evaluated. Not just a normal Dentist they need to have a TMJ specialty as most Dentist do not get jaw training and its not part of standard dental schooling and practice.
For me they saw my jaw was misaligned, my massert was over developed and SMC was very tight. They fitted me for a custom night guard, and are giving me some Neck, shoulder, jaw therapy, stretches to do everyday and put me on a softer diet.
I also have some sleep issues I need to address that might be causing excess bruxism
I wont get my night guard for a week and I just started therapy so it will be a while.
also if you can not find a Neuromuscular dentist, make sure the Dentist specialized in treating TMJD or Myofascial pain and if they have any history with Tinnitus from TMJ. A maxillofacial specialist or surgent can also work on this. If you are under 25, jaw alinement is effective but expense, and you need evaluation.
You tooth pain issue could had been the jaw (TMJD) in the first place a Neuromuscular dentist would had worked on addressing the TMJD before tooth extraction. Because most Dentist don't know about the jaw they only see teeth.