Jaw Problems & Vertigo?

Hello everyone!

Well, I posted on here a few times regarding the sudden onset of vertigo that I experienced about 8 weeks ago. I've had 3 severe attacks since then and have had EVERY medical test you can think of...eyes, bloodwork, CT scan, etc. Everything is medically "normal." My PCP did suggest it MIGHT be labyrnthitis. Though Meniere's disease was mentioned years ago, I'm not completed convinced that this is the problem.

Just recently, I noticed that the last few attacks were brought on either by chewing gum or after chewing hard things (chips, etc). Stress seems to be another factor, as well as keeping my jaw completely clenched while sleeping. I was examined by my husband (who is a chiropractor) today and he examined my jaw. I must first mention that this condition is very much right-sided. He noted SEVERE inflammation in my right jaw joint. He had me feel both sides of my jaw and the right side is portruded significantly. I must also mention that I have had clicking in my jaw for the past 6 months to a year - all on the right side - if I open my mouth too wide or if I move my jaw side to side.

It seems like the vertigo is brought on by eating, chewing and clenching...has anyone else experienced anything like this? I'm not sure what to do next, but I think there is a direct causal relationship between my vertigo and my jaw. Any suggestions/comments would be more than appreciated!

Enjoy your evening!

[MrVertigo]

Hello, yes I have had the exact problem as you with jaw pain and vertigo. Over one year ago I also had every test to make sure my vertigo wasnt something too serious. The vertigo has subsided and I believe it is my jaw and TMJ. I now use a nite guard created by a dentist. I try to be aware of not clenching my teeth. I have had physical therapy on my shoulder, neck and face. I am trying to relax and not worry about everything so much. Vertigo is terrible feeling and I am grateful that it has subsided. Take is easy ImSimplyMe!

[ImSimplyMe]

I appreciate your feedback. Thank you for making me feel not so alone in all of this.

[dizzydezi]

Hi, just to let you know you're definitely not alone. I found this thread because I have experienced vertigo and pain in the jaw for the past few days. At first I thought it was wisdom teeth but now I'm not so sure. I find myself clinching my teeth moreso lately but cannot link any additional stress in my life to it because nothing has changed in lifestyle to add more stress. I experience the vertigo when moving my head up after looking down (I almost fell over at work) I cannot explain it but it is very annoying. Anything help the jaw pain for you? Just curious as this is new to me. Take care.

[TiredOfGrinding]

I also have experienced vertigo.  A few times so severe as to cause vomiting.  Fortunately, it usually isn't guite that severe - I can control it by not moving my head certain ways.  Still it is very frustrating because you never know when it will come on or how bad it will be.  I also grind my teeth and chew the inside of my cheeks/clench my jaw.  I suspect that this may be all TMJ related.  I was in to the ENT who discovered nothing seriously wrong and my ears were clear.  Of course, the vertigo went away before I continued any treatment and did not return for a year.  This has been the trend for the last 10 - 15 years.  I am tired of the jaw clenching, vertigo headaches and jaw pain.  I wear a mouth splint at night, but still clench (although it is saving my teeth at least!)  Has anyone heard of a relationship between TMJ and vertigo?

[katrat000]

I have been diagnosed with TMJ in the last 12 months. I was suffering from alot of different symptoms. And like you had every test under the sun, with no answer as to what was going on. The Vertigo got extremely bad, and I started to hide myself from the world because I felt like a freak. I could be just standing there and the whole world would start spinning. I would be in my car stopped at the lights but it would feel like the car was still moving. Very scarey indeed. Cut along story short. I was sent to a TMJ specialist. MR's and CT scans were performed. They found my left jaw bone popped out of the socket and pushing into my middle ear canal. I have been getting treatment for this for 9 months now and the only time I feel strange is when my muscles are moving back into it's natural position. I had previously had CT scans and x-rays at my hospital that didn't pick up on this. So it can be missed. Hope you find the cause of your problem.

[trexy]

hi, im trexy, philippines!!

You know what ive been experiencing many symptoms that you are experiencing too, just wanna ask do you also experienced blocked nose? you know what, I REALLY DON'T KNOW WHAT IS THE REAL CAUSE WHY I EXPERIENCED THIS VERTIGO, DIZZINESS, BLOCKED NOSE!  I just remember before i experienced this vertigo, many time when i open my mouth wide it locks, and it takes me a few seconds to return it in normal. After that i felt that my jaw hurts, then few weeks after that i then experienced this severe dizziness with vomitting. Its been almost a year now,  i still experience this slight vertigo, dizziness, blocked nose. really don't know what to do, PLs help!!!! Thanks and God Bless!!!

[scottma]

Seeing a tmj specialist is advised.

[Sandie7]

I have had 3 jaw surgeries and still have problems with headaches, neck and shoulder spasms and myfacial pain. I was having vertigo real bad, and could not get rid of it, until I started taking a calcium/magnesium powdered supplement which I take once in the morning and once at night. The vertigo left.

[deanster1954]

WOW.....this is good and bad for me.  I have been experiencing vertigo lately and simultaneously my teeth clenching has worsened.  Now I conjecture that these two things must be related.  Unfortunately how can you make yourself stop something that you do in your sleep!!  At least I know that I am not crazy.

[salina30]

I am 33 and had severe vertigo for 8 years and felt like I was on a ship most days or felt like I was on a lift or sometimes walking and all of a sudden it would feel like there was a hole in the ground.  I'm a teacher and found myself asleep by 6pm most nights because the vertigo took so much out of me and it was difficult to focus.  
I have spent over 10,000 dollars on every test imaginable CT, MRI, Naturopaths, Osteopaths, Ultrasounds, blood tests, ear tests etc. Crying everytime there was a normal result and being told that I should be happy that they couldn't find anything wrong.  My vertigo has really only lessoned since I have been getting my neck manipulated and since I really massage the jaw bone where the lower and upper part of my jaw meet.  I also grind my teeth but didn't put two and two together until recently as I was sure I had an ear problem.  It didn't happen straight away but after 3 months I have had less attacks and am feeling like I can live a normal life.  I hope this helps.

[ameee]

Wow!  I'm so relieved to find this conversation.  I'm 38 and have had vertigo off and on for 7 years.  The only relief I have found is getting my neck adjusted at the chiropractor, but it takes a while to get better.  Everytime I have a reoccurence, I wrack my mind for similarities or patterns of what caused it.  No one has ever mentioned that my TMJ could be causing it!  I am really going to persue seeing a tmj specialist.  Mine typically comes on during the middle of the night (yes I grind my teeth) and lingers for several weeks.  It is most difficult when lying down flat on my back or looking down into my purse or up at something.

[truckertina]

Like all others i was baffled at the onslaught of mysterious illness.  I started out at the store feeling off balance, love to shop so i continued and got worse to the point where i was lying on the ground trying to find a spot to stabilize myself.  i notice if things come at me too fast, it's throws me off.  i cannot drive at all. when i do my neck muscles seize up then a shooting pain hits the back of my head and i have to pull over.  this conditions comes in waves.  i can ride but feel every hill and turn like a rollercoaster.  had all the same tests: chest xray, labs, ent, audioligist, mri, etc.  i also have hearing loss, tinnuitus but ent said no meniere's.  God sent me to a website that listed all my problems as TMJ.  my jaw has always clicked, duh, i thought that was normal, although it doesn't cause me severe pain, just achy in the joints.  i grind my teeth at night so started wearing a store bought molded mouth guard.  it stops my snoring as well.  i am seeing a chrioporactor and when i mentioned tmj he checked my jaw and said i have severe case.  when he put the pulsating machine on my jaw it sent me almost into vertigo.  he said i would have a rough weekend and i did!  totally off balance.  he said we must treat slowly in baby steps.  very weary of splints and jaw surgery especially since my insurance doesn't cover any treatment for tmj.  any natural cures that have been successful?  i will be sending my diagnosis to all doctors that have treated me so awareness can be had and hopefully help someone in the future.

[bridget501]

Hi,I m 30yr old female and have been suffering from vertigo on and off since i was a teenager but 6 yrs ago it got out of hand ,i stopped goin to work and stopped learnng to drive and didn't go out on my own because i was so scared i was going to fall or crash the car .I did fall lots of times and overtime i lost my confidence and became a recluse .The doctor didn't do much just gave me medication but it didn't work so 2 yrs ago i went to the doctors in tears i was so depressed about the vertigo ruining my life so finally this doctor tried to help me .First i got a mri scan of my brain the results where normal,then i went to the ent clinic and done some ear test and some time later they found nothing so then i read somewhere about tmj and vertigo and it made sense to me that this could be an answer as i have also been suffering since i was a teenager on and off -locked jaw-clicking jaw on the right side-and i think i m grinding my teeth too at night because when i wake up some mornings my jaw feel soft and sore .I also have a clicking shoulder on my right side but i don't know if that's got  anything to do with it.I have been vertigo free for 5 months now but my ears feel blocked all the time i feel it will be only a mather of time before it comes back like when i think i will never get it again it always comes back .The only thing i haven't had in a few months is a locked jaw so maybe there's some contections so i will inform my doctor of this information! and i will go to the dentist as i haven't been for years and tell them about my jaw and the vertigo and i will get back to yous later ..........
Now that i m feeling normal looking back vertigo really isn't taking seriously by most gps and stopped me living- i was just exsisting
I never want it to return again !and i am not giving up to finding an answer !!!

[araba695]

For the past 3 months, I had been experiencing pain in my gum thinking it was my wisdom tooth prior to my menstrual cylce starting. I am a 33year old female .Just this month though the pain  I thought was the wisdom tooth has now turned to jaw aching, vertigo and pain  at night in my jaw when I try to sleep. I have tried everything, perioxide ,anabesol etc..I believe the local anasthetic anabesol even made the aching in the tooth worse. I am now taking antibiotics and am uping up on my vitamins B and  folic acid and will be taking calcuim tablets too.

[topherbear8742]

i havent been diagnosed with TMJ, but i have had jaw clicking problems since i was 10 or 11(i am now 22) and vertigo at night in bed, and dizziness where my vision blacks out. i always thought i was being a hypochondriac but now i am convinced i have tmj. reading what everyone has written has helped me not feel like i'm going crazy. not sure if i'll ever get this figured out since i dont have insurnce but atleast now i know(or have a small idea) whats going on. as i'm writing this my jaw is still popping.

[TMJmom]

My 18 yr old daughter experienced sudden onset vertigo recently that caused her to miss school, not drive, etc. After many tests and visits to a PT and ENT, she was diagnosed with labyrinthitis in her right ear.  We recently changed dentists and he found that her right jaw is out of line, there is a big gap at her back teeth which do not mesh when she bites down. He diagnosed a mild TMJ problem on her right side. We are now taking her to a TMJ specialist for evaluation and possible orthodontic treatment. I urge all of you to consider a TMJ problem if you are also experiencing sudden-inset vertigo. See a specialist.

[MandzLO]

I am so glad I have read this, as it seems i have the same thing - i have had a clicking jaw for a long time and in the last 3 months I have been clenching my teeth and jaw a lot, and then developed vertigo/dizziness.I have tried a lot of things & had tests etc but haven't found anything.  I guess my next step is to see a dentist or tmj specialist?
I do hope that will help fix the vertigo problem, as it is terrible!!

thanks!

[MandzLO]

I am so glad I have read this, as it seems i have the same thing - i have had a clicking jaw for a long time and in the last 3 months I have been clenching my teeth and jaw a lot, and then developed vertigo/dizziness.I have tried a lot of things & had tests etc but haven't found anything.  I guess my next step is to see a dentist or tmj specialist?
I do hope that will help fix the vertigo problem, as it is terrible!!

thanks!

[kane54]

You are absolutely medically correct. 9 years ago dentist highly, highly recommended removing my wisdom teeth because in the future that the wisdom teeth began to cause unexplainable health issuses. True, I was eating mc donalds and ended up chewing further back by my wisdom tooth that was sore and aggravated. I notice the pain from my wisdom tooth from chewing 5 minutes after I experiecend severe vertigo and began thowing up and serious dizzy spells, it is a very weird and uncomfortable feeling almost like I was poisioned or dying. I had upper abdomin (abdomen) pains, extremely nauseated, severe dizziness, vomotting, fever flashes/ sweating of and on and chills. The emegency room ran test of my blood, did cat scan of head/mri, gave me an IV, check for ear infection because of the fluid can cause imblance equalibrium plus motion sickness, but there was no ear infection and my numbers came up perfect. The doctor said to me he could not explain my vertigo!! Because vertigos are unexplainable on how  it happens, doctors only know that there are crystals called otoliths that float or begin to move around in the ear tube where there is fluid. Dentists are hardly acknowledge by other doctors as doctors so go figure!! I am getting my wisdom teeth pulled out because they are hazardous to my health and most definitely yours as well or any dental problems we may have! Keep in mind your dentist!

[Verti]

My Dentist and Endodontist have been such a great help with my TMJ Vertigo experience, mostly by caring more than all the specialist I've seen to find an answer.

MY CONDITION: My jaw began to behave as if out of joint after a severe coughing cold this past February, but for many years I've had a pressure on the back of the left side of my head like someone is pulling my hair and twisting my ear, that would not respond to any treatment. The past year I've had severe ear ringing. Then, suddenly, last Saturday, (late June) I woke up with the room spinning. It happened several times that day so we went to the ER. It has only occurred as a floaty feeling this past week since.

ACTIONS: I too had an MRI, Ultra Sound, and test to see if I had Temporal Arteritist, but SED was normal....no inflammatory disease to blame, no tumors in the brain. Meanwhile my routine dentist appt revealed an abscess in my upper left tooth #14. I felt nothing there because the root was dead...but my face had begun to grow numb and the ENT said it was "just one of those things...come back in six months". My Endodontist, however, was determined to figure it out when all my symptoms of head pressure and hair pulling disappeared after the root canal.

Unfortunately the symptoms came back when she went in to put in the permanent filling. We have been going back and forth between permanent and temporary fillings to see how I feel (no extra charge for her wonderful thoughtful care). The jaw popping and vertigo - I have to find a solution. I'll try and find a jaw specialist as the idea that it is out of joint makes since. This head pressure thing and the root canal may have nothing to do with my Vertigo and Jaw but I appreciate this thread. Thank you

[betterhalf]

Sorry if this is a duplicate reply; not sure if my last post got published...? I'm replying to the last post because it is most recent.  I have been posting on a similar topic thread at ****************/ unexplained dizziness, constant (mis-spelled as 'contstant') heavy head, extreme fatigue, nausea-Part 2. (Sorry...I don't know how to copy/paste the link...). We have just hit on the idea that our problems may be tooth/jaw related; our symptoms are so similar to all of yours here, so we may be able to  help each other. If any of you would like to, PLEASE go over to ************ and share your stories (and maybe cures?!) with us! I've invited the ************ group to come over here and read your posts and share their stories as well. Maybe between us two groups we can find some answers and stop the suffering!!!

[betterhalf]

Well, this *****!! This site won't let me publish the name of another site full of people with similar symptoms?!? So never mind y'all. I really thought we could all help each other, but apparently the manager of this site thinks they know it all and no one else has anything to offer...? Good luck to all of you, I hope you find some answers. As for me, I'll stay with ************ and quit this discussion. I did share this site info with my group (and ************ LET me do so!), so maybe some of them will post here and share their stories and treatments with you. Good luck, Good health to all of you.