You're not alone. I now have a weird sound I've never heard before just by moving my jaw back and forth when it was already irritated. I feel dumb for doing it. I have OCD and got triggered, etc. long story but I did it and now it's making a weird sound, almost like a muffled filter over my hearing that I guess could be considered tinnitus. But I also have signs of ETD. My issues have moved into my right ear a year and a half after it began in the left. I do think that I've been chewing mostly on my right side and my stress has increased a lot over the last 4 months - plus, I don't think my nightguard is even helping anymore. Every time I manipulate my jaw lately I notice the T gets VERY loud or louder for hours and hours afterward, like it sets something off or inflames something. I also get deep pulsing pains in what I guess is my middle ear from the issues with my jaw and neck.
Now I'm just done with it all, I'm going to get Botox and an MRI to see if I can use that for a cervical neck adjustment (I also have very bad neck problems and pains in my spine).
Hi Lyris,
I am sorry this is happening to you.
I would be interested to hear about your MRI findings.
I have facet joint arthropathy due to chronic OA - widespread, with TMJ involvement (which has flared up on the side where I have a recent dental procedure).
After decades of this, I discover three years ago that I have Lyme/coinfections, and this is most likely the causative factor towards developing Lyme arthritis.
I now believe that my pain flares are largely due to inflammation related to the infection.
I have done a cytokine panel, that has revealed that most of my pro inflammatory cytokines are significantly elevated.
On the basis of this, aside from treating the infection/s, I take anti-inflammatory herbs that are known to stop the cytokine cascade.
Stephen Buhner (renowned herbalist in Lyme circles) writes about this extensively.
I wouldn't assume all pain is structural like I did for so many years. If you have inflammation, something is driving it.
IDEAS YOU MIGHT NOT HAVE THOUGHT OF:
* CURCUMIN (turmeric with piperine)
* LOW DOSE NALTREXONE (LDN) - immune modulator. Applied to a whole range of health conditions; including auto immunity, and associated pain states, oncology etc.
. Read the LDN book by Linda Elsegood (available on Amazon)
.
www.ldntrust.org
. LDN Facebook support groups
* PEA (PALMITOYLETHANOLAMIDE) - an endogenous fatty acid amide, that may be used in chronic pain and inflammation, with neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory, antinociceptive, and anticonvulsant properties.
And ultimately, if you have an infection causing your joint pain, then you need to do diagnostics and start treatment with a Lyme literate practioner. Just an idea.