TMJ Support Group
Temporomandibular joint disorder, or TMJ syndrome, is an acute or chronic inflammation of the temporomandibular joint, which connects the lower jaw to the skull. The disorder and resultant dysfunction can result in significant pain and impairment.
Hi everyone,
I've known for a long time that I most definitely have TMJ but I haven't had it really looked at because the popping and pain in my jaw wasn't that unbearable.
Almost 10 years ago, I had a brush with a kind of Bell's Palsy (caused by a viral infection) and that has left things a little wonky on that side of my face, and it was after that episode where I noticed that my jaw would pop and grind etc, as well as weakened facial muscles on that side which I still experience today. I even subconsciously stopped chewing food on that side, which I didn't notice until I was told that those molars were markedly less worn!
I also started playing a stringed instrument that is bigger than the violin and puts considerable leverage against the same side of my jaw that I was having problems with (well the popping is in the right, but it's the left that doesn't close properly).
More recently, I've had Eustachian tube (link the middle ear and throat) troubles. The left tube either gets stuck open or closed, and neither situation is acceptable! There's no infection and there's no other congestion in my head, but I do get headaches at the base of my skull when this starts happening.
Do any of you have Eustachian Tube Dysfunction (ears not equalizing pressure, feel like you're breathing through your ear, etc) with your TMJ?
I've known for a long time that I most definitely have TMJ but I haven't had it really looked at because the popping and pain in my jaw wasn't that unbearable.
Almost 10 years ago, I had a brush with a kind of Bell's Palsy (caused by a viral infection) and that has left things a little wonky on that side of my face, and it was after that episode where I noticed that my jaw would pop and grind etc, as well as weakened facial muscles on that side which I still experience today. I even subconsciously stopped chewing food on that side, which I didn't notice until I was told that those molars were markedly less worn!
I also started playing a stringed instrument that is bigger than the violin and puts considerable leverage against the same side of my jaw that I was having problems with (well the popping is in the right, but it's the left that doesn't close properly).
More recently, I've had Eustachian tube (link the middle ear and throat) troubles. The left tube either gets stuck open or closed, and neither situation is acceptable! There's no infection and there's no other congestion in my head, but I do get headaches at the base of my skull when this starts happening.
Do any of you have Eustachian Tube Dysfunction (ears not equalizing pressure, feel like you're breathing through your ear, etc) with your TMJ?
I like that discription of what it is too.
I find it hard to explain sometimes.
Nowadays I probly do it 4-5 times a day, but the change is huge!