Hi, Scottma and TMJ Doc,
I had posted a while back and had consulted a specialist in a Dental Hospital. He is an Associate Prof in prosthodontics. My symptoms are that my jaw is clenching forwards and upwards. When it does the jaw and mouth is locked and I feel a shortness of breath. I used to have the jaw deviate slightly but that has resolved quite a lot. When the jaw somehow relaxed down and back kind of balanced, I can breathe better as it is not locked. Chewing is particularly frustrating. When the muscles are too loose , I find chewing and swallowing harder. The swallow involves the jaw moving forward and I think I have a bit of a tongue thrust issue happening which makes me feel like I am suffocating.
Other symptoms I have are ringing in the ears, a bit better now, but a lot more of ear fullness on both sides now. So far I have only obtained an X-ray , not MRI and there is not any problem - no disk displacement. The specialist at the hospital checked the disks and he said the disks were fine. Interestingly enough , I rang one specialist from the website that TMJ Doc recommended . I reside in Sydney , Australia. Not only they quoted me around $5000 AUD and possible chiropractic work but they do not do MRI's . Instead the organise for X-rays to be taken at the same Dental Hospital my specialist teaches in. This didn't sound promising and unfortunately there aren't any other TMJ specialists in Sydney who one would trust. So I have to work with my current specialist with the issue.
I was given some jaw exercises - tongue up and open mouth, improve posture and shoulder stretches. It helps .
I also recall reading an article by DrJim Boyd regarding this kind of clenching where the jaw is forward a bit, it places a lot of force on neck muscles. I think he suggests an NTI.
From your experiences with patients , why is my jaw clenching forward and up, would the NTI resolve this issue. Or do I have a tongue thrust issue. I do notice when I am clenching, my tongue is sticking behind the teeth past the ridge . The mouth splint which my dentist (not the specialist) has made me is one I wear over all the top teeth at night. Does not seem to help as I can't breathe with the splint.
What do you think is going on , what might help, MRI I think is out of question . I have improved but I need more improvement. Any suggestion is appreciated so I can discuss with my next consult with the specialist.
Also can TMJ symptoms be so severe like neck stiffness, fullness in ear, shortness of breath, difficulty chewing and swallowing and ringing in ear and itchy ear, tightness in muscles when chewing so much so I can't feel my bite. I have been to many doctors to check my health, I have anxiety which is made worse by the TMJ and neck stiffness.
Please help.
Thank you.
Sumi