Hello everyone! I have not posted for awhile now but have a question for you. I was just told I have TMJ. I started having problems with my ears and thats how it was found. I read somewhere it could be a result of IBS and other related gastrointestinal problems. Any other pouchers have this problem. I am not sure I want to shell out big bucks for a mouth guard. Any other treatments? Thanks for your help, Colleen

I have a problem with bruxism (night time teeth clenching/grinding). The TMJ doctor I once consulted said no TMJ, but I have had ongoing jaw related problems (tightness, soreness, tired muscles, jaw locks up, painful facial spasms). I wear a night guard to protect my teeth, but it does nothing to prevent grinding. Has your dentist ever recommended a night guard? A custom fit night guard to protect your teeth can be expensive. However, over time, the cost to fix the damage you could do to your teeth, if bruxism is also a problem, will be much more expensive than the initial cost of that night guard.

Unfortunately, I can't help you regarding the costs and nuances associated with a guard related to a TMJ problem. I would, however, consult a second TMJ doctor if the doctor giving you the diagnosis is very "eager" to sign you up for expensive TMJ related equipment. Have you ever thought about consulting a chiropractor to determine if if some sort of skeletal misalignment is causing these TMJ related problems? Might be worth investigating before shelling out a lot of money on a night guard to help TMJ. Good luck.

Yes yes yes! I was diagnosed a couple of years ago with TMJ and bruxisim. I clench, I grind and I snap my teeth together at night. I have even woken Suzan up with my grinding before. Last year my jaw got really bad. My jaw on the right side popped audibly every time I opened my mouth. Chewing was getting painful and I was getting terrible headaches. My neck and shoulder muscles were constantly tense and sore. My regular dentist made me a $300 night guard that helped minimally. It did nothing but protect my teeth from the constant grinding and didn't address the root TMJ issue. So I went to a TMJ specialist. I had a friend who had great results with him. He had it so bad he had a constant ringing in both ears. This dentist was doign some TMJ treatments that were cutting edge and having great results with it. I won't lie it cost me a bundle but it has been worth every penny. Total cost for my treatment was $4000. This included a complete work up where they hook electrodes to all major face and neck muscles and then attaches tensing machine. They send electrical impulses that make your muscles twice and jump and the electrodes run to a computer that maps out you jaw structure. The goal is to find that perfect position where your jaw is completely and truly relaxed. Once they have done that the fit you for a bite plate. This is similar to your traditional night guard except that you wear it 23x7. It takes awhile to adjust to it, but you can talk normally once you have. Over time this guard changes the alignment of your jaw to where it should be. They treatment also includes tensing visits where they use a tensing machine to send electrical pulses to help relax your muscles. I think I had about 5 of these visits and wore my bite plate for about 4 months and my jaw has never felt so good. I still have the occasional flare up especially in times of extreme stress. I now have a lifetime of visits to my doctor for any additional TMJ problems. That is how strong they stand by their work.

Check out his website. http://www.marklevydds.com/

It has a bit to much Flash for my liking but if you follow the TMJ links you can get some good info. He really look at you as a whole person. He pinpointed that when my hip was bad before surgery and I was limping a lot that it was affecting my jaw. When your body gets out of alignment you would be surprised where you feel it.

Would you believe that TMJ involvement is relatively common with ankylosing spondylitis? Yep.

If you have enteropathic arthritis, this can be one of the places that you get tendon/ligament inflammation at the bone insertion (enthesitis). So, just something to keep in mind if you have IBD related arthritis.

If you can find an NSAID you tolerate, it might be worth consideration, or a short course of prednisone with a fast taper. But, if your issue is due to mechanical issues, like clenching and grinding, that behavior probably needs to be treated. There is some controversy about this because there are grinders who do not have TMJ problems and many TMJ patients who do not grind...

Jan

I also found this information useful Jan. Thanks! I'll pursue a conversation about the jaw with my rheumy when I see him in a couple of weeks.

I am not sure how useful it is, since it really does not help in the treatment, which probably would be about the same. However, I do think that the dentists/TMJ guys tend to focus on TMJ as being a temporary problem that they can "fix." But, when you have inflammatory arthritis, symptoms seem to follow their own random pattern, and often the best solution is symptom relief and long term management help. I know I get some moderate aching when I have my jaw open wide for more than a half a minute or so. Fortunately, I don't grind in my sleep anymore. I did a lot of that as a kid.

Jan

I had no idea what TMJ was until I read this post but when I saw my ear surgeon about my perforated eardrum he told me that I have 2 problems going on that are giving me ear pain. One was obviously the perforated ear drum but the other is that I am getting inflamation at the jaw joint just below my right ear. Is this the same thing?

Shell

Yes, that is the TMJ- temporal mandibular joint. It is where your lower jaw articulates with the skull, right below your ear.

Jan

Thanks Jan,

As I can't take NSAIDs the only advice my surgeon could come up with regarding pain control for this was to not chew so much which is a bit counter-productive with all my adhesions and strictures! He suggested that I only eat soft food or liquids. I certainly have no intention of going back on a liquid diet! After all, this is the first time in years that I can eat pretty much what I like and it would mean that my last abdo operation was for nothing!

I have been taking Tramadol for pain control when I need it because it's the only med that doesn't slow my gut down too much but is there anything else that can be done about the inflamation as it does get quite sore when it flares?

Shell

Can you tolerate Celebrex or Mobic? These are COX-2 selective inibitor NSAIDs. Mobic is older and not quite as selective, but the only choice if you cannot tolerate the sulfa in Celebrex.

My step-mom thought she couldn't take any NSAIDs from past experience (due to GERD), but had never tried Mobic. I suggested it for her arthritis because Tylenol was not doing the trick and her doc ordered it. She's been on it for at least three months and tolerating it fine. Best part about it is you only need to take it once a day. I've been taking it over a year and tolerating it well.

Jan