Does anyone out there have TMJ-TMD, along with their neuralgia

[seekandfind46]

Hello,

I would like to know if any one out there has TMJ like symptoms along the jaw area, along with their neuralgia.  I have been told it is not trigeminal neuralgia, but the symptoms seem to be more like atypical trigeminal instead.. It is consistent, and very painful and the pain medications are making me so sick, I can't function.  I was never one for medications, and there doesn't seem to be anything natural for this that does any good, and I was wondering if anyone out there is having similar problems...  Any feedback would be appreciated...

seekandfind46...

[therese46]

Hello,

Sorry to hear about your pain. I also have the pain in the temple and eye and forehead region, but also in part of the jaw, I feel compression there.  The last neurologist told me it was some sort of mechanical problem of the jaw causing compression somewhere.  He may be right because I have read about this in several places.  I don't know if we are allowed to print dentists names, but one who does splints and orthodontics, wrote about the link between the two although many doctors disagree, there are a few that know there is a link, because the nerves that run along through there link to the trigeminal nerve.  Have you looked into any splints therapy, with either neuromuscular dentists or other TMJ specialists..

Therese46

[therese46]

Hope I haven't confused you, I have my name posted before as seekandfind, but it is therese46, so I hope that lessens the confusion..

Bye for now..

Therese46

[therese46]

Thanks for posting.  Its hard isn't it.  I have to deal with so much stress all the time which doesn't help.  My family doesn't believe any of this, or me, and its horrible.  I live in agony, and have to face most of it myself.  The docs here are the same and the could care less to help you out either.  The only thing that showed up for me, is the TMJ disc has a big displacement on the left side.  The doc says it doesn't look like the disc will ever go back into place, and wants to do a discsectomy.  I heard this doesn't help anything as it doesn't do a thing for pain, especially nerve pain.  I heard that this can sometimes be caused by bad disc displacement which causes the condylar head to be pushed back into the nerve and blood vessels.  I read this various places, and I have looked up a few dentists, but there is so much conflicting stuff out there its hard to know who to believe, because many proffessionals want to make money off of people's pain, its very unfortunate really.  I do hope you can get some relief as well.  Its terrible, and I know what its like to face this everyday.  Remember there are others out here too, going through the same thing.  I know saying that won't take away the pain, but at least it can help to know you are not alone..

Seekandfind46..

[PenelopeAnn]

I do have TMJ problems as well as trigeminal neuralgia. The TMJ was mainly a result of grinding my teeth in my sleep and clenching my teeth during the day. I used a night guard at night and it stopped the pain. I still get tense muscles occasionally, if I am clenching my teeth or have my mouth open at the dentist or eat really chewy candy. I had an xray of my jaw to confirm the TMJ problem. I also experienced clicking and popping in my jaw, and sharp pain that felt like it was in my ear. That pain can be confused with trigeminal neuralgia, I believe. But my neuralgia problems take place mostly in the upper branch near my temple and forehead and eye. For TMJ pain, Ibuprofen worked the best for me.

[Mykonos]

Sorry about your problem...thought I'd add my bit of info.  I was diagnosed with trigeminal neuropathy....not neuralgia because mine was not the typical neuralgia pain.  Mine is a more constant throb inside my upper jaw that sends pain to the temple and up the head and down the shoulder.  My neurologist concluded this after he reviewed the history of dental procedures in ine area.  In one year I had a root canal, an apicoectomy, fractured the tooth, extraction, ruptured the sinus, had dead bone removed and had a staph infection.  Somewhere along the line the nerve got messed up and I now have this everyday pain to deal with.  I have been on neurontin and Tegretol for the pain response but we are still trying to tweak the dosage.  Stress makes it worse.  I was fitted for a nightguard because the throb in my mouth makes me clench my teeth at night and adds to the soreness.  I have also done acupuncture and electrostimulation by a naturopathic physician...this started helping after the 3rd visit.  I had to stop going to that for a few weeks and now the head pain is getting worse.  Anyways...this is the route I had to go with this.