I was officially diagnosed with tmj in
april of 06. The cracking in my jaw has
progressively worsened in severity and
occurence since then. The pressure built
up in my jaw and ears is driving me
insane. Everytime I swallow my ears pop
as if I just took off in an airplane or
drove up a mountain. If I open my mouth
even the slighest bit my ears pop. I was
prescribed tylenol 4 for pain by my
general doctor. The tmj specialist said
that is way too strong for my problem and
gave me a very small amount of tylenol 3
and 4 local anesthetic shots in my jaw (2
on each side) when my tylenol 4 ran out.
Along with the severe pain in my jaw and
ears, about a month ago I started to get
really bad pain in the back of my neck.
My neck now cracks and feels under
pressure just like my ears and jaw...And
it is getting worse. I have a consistent
headache 24/7 and I feel pain and soreness
on the top of my eyelids. I nearly
always have a nautious feeling as though I
am going to throw up in the back of my
throat due to neck pain. I don't have
the appetite I used to have and am finding
it hard to enjoy a meal. The pain in my
neck is making it hard for me to sleep and
concentrate on anything but the pain but I
am very tired. The frustration from the
chronic pain is soon to drive me off the
deep end. My tmj specialist told me that
I probably have a low pain tolerance...As
if I didn't have serious pain. This
irked me because I truly am in serious
pain. He told me to go back to my family
doctor to get a referral to a neurologist
for the headaches and neck problems. I
am sick of being juggled around. If
anyone has any suggestions, I am about
willing to commit homicide for relief,
thanks.
Might I have meningitis?
Signs and symptoms
* a high fever
* severe headache - have
* vomiting or nausea with headache -
have
* confusion, or difficulty
concentrating - have
* sleepiness or difficulty waking up -
have
* stiff neck - have
* sensitivity to light - have
* lack of interest in drinking and
eating - have
* skin rash in some cases, such as in
viral or meningococcal meningitis
i have 7 of the 9 symptoms here, I am
starting to get worried.
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catswolds
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 28 May 2006 Posts: 62 Location: Michigan
Posted: 08-09-06 14:56pm
I'm sorry to say, but other than rashes,
you listed tmj symptoms. Have you been
checked out by your doctor, though? My
tmj caused severe neck pains for me for
years. I'm under control for the most
part but it is hurting right now. What I
want to suggest to you is physical
therapy. It's imperative to get a
therapist who is trained in tmj and has
worked with tmj patients. You will
probably need to get a referral from
either your dentist or your doctor. I
can't stress enough how much pt can help
tmj. (if you find a good therapeutic,
trained in tmj, massage therapist, they
can be a god-send also.)
tell your dentist that it is a proven fact
that tmj is one of the most painful
disorders there is. I'm surprised at his
attitude. Tylenol 3 and 4 has never
touched my tmj pain. The only strong med
that I have found to help sometimes is
vicoprofen (like vicodin but with advil
instead of tylenol). Have you tried any
muscle relaxants like zanaflex? What
about anti-depressants? They can be
great pain relievers. Are you wearing a
bite splint?
With tmj you almost have to find the right
combination of medications for you and the
right combination of doctors. I have a
tmj dentist, family doctor and a massage
therapist. I did have physical therapy
and a pain doctor (neurologist). For
meds I take prozac and since prozac can
cause night-time bruxism, I also take a
very small dose of buspar. I also take
lyrica which seems to keep the pain at a
more tolerable level when I do have it.
And when necessary, I take vicoprofen
and/or zanaflex. I try not to get to
that point though. Right now I am doing
rather well. I am concentrating on my
posture (especially the head, neck and
shoulders) and it has made a big
difference. If you are thrusting your
chin forward when at a computer monitor,
you need to stop. This is very bad for
your tmj. Relaxing your shoulders back
and down is very important also. Relax
your body. Use moist heat and/or ice.
I've given you a lot of information kind
of jumbled up. I hope you can make sense
and use some of the information. I hope
and pray that you get some relieve from
the pain.
God bless...
Carol
|
myohio
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 05 Mar 2006 Posts: 32 Location: ohio
Posted: 08-09-06 22:08pm
Hi- I just wanted to say hang in there! I
was diagnosed just a few months before you
and I have all the symptoms you listed. I
know they sound like they wouldn't relate
to tmj but they do.
Right before I was diagnosed I had
horrible headaches and lost a lot of
weight with no reason. I visited a
neurologist who diagnosed migraines but
didn't relate it to my jaw. It was my
dentist who told me I had tmj but he
referred me to an awesome oral surgeon who
diagnosed myofascial pain and tmj. I had
physical therapy and a neuromuscular
massage and am pretty much back to normal.
I do have bad days where my neck, jaw,
eyes hurt but I am back to work! I also
thought I had meningitis- but after and
eeg, mri and cat scan of the brain- and
every blood test known to man, it all
turned out to be my jaw.
Find a good doctor who can find out the
best therapy for you. I am getting my
wisdom teeth out soon which is causing a
lot of the problem, but as carol said,
posture is very important, and a good
muscle relaxer. Good luck and you can
contact me any time! Amanda
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Marshilade
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 09 Aug 2006 Posts: 4
Posted: 08-09-06 22:52pm
Thank you all for the sympathy. My
problem is that my ent/tmj specialist
doctor is very, I guess, conservative and
reluctant to prescribe me meds. He likes
to take things step at a time and it is a
slow process. The worst thing is I am 18
right now, just graduated highschool and I
have no will to do anything with my life
as of right now and soon will be off my
fathers medical insurance.
@carol
i have been prescribed naproxen, celebrex,
ibuprofen, tylenol 3, tylenol 4, and
ethylchloride spray. Naproxen, celebrex,
and ibuprofen all are anti-inflammatory
drugs that really did nothing for me. I
have never been issued any type of muscle
relaxant and the specialist basically
scoffs at my complaints of pain. I think
that he thinks I am a nut job or just a
teenager looking to enjoy the euphoria the
painkillers present, which most definitely
isn't the case. Maybe I should look into
a new doctor and a therapist. I
appreciate your response and will take all
of your suggestions into play. It is
appeasing yet disturbing to know that
their are others out there who share my
problem.
@amanda
thanks for your sympathy and suggestions.
I truly hope fate has something better in
store for the both of us. It is nice to
know that there are people I can relate
to. I will take into consideration all of
your recommendations.
