seeing a tmj specialist is advised.
Hey!
I agree with the above-- a regular doctor doesn't know a lot about TMJ problems, a lot of dentists don't either and its more in their field!! Find someone qualified. The thing is about TMJ is that there are a few reasons, but I hate to say it, but it might be your anxiety related issue.
I was/am in the same boat. Im a registered nurse, I was working in an ICU and life was great. Sure my stress was high but i felt it was tolerable. I had anxiety from pressure from other staff (I was new) but didnt think it affected me all that much. Except when my tmj pain became so severe i went on disability for 10 months, couldnt sleep, couldnt eat, i suffered so much. I'm only 26, I just turned 24, the prime of my life. I underwent so much treatment with little help, my physiotherapist at the time didnt believe i had pain and told my insurance provider i had to return to work full time shift work with 12 hr shifts...i refused and had to quit my job, to become part time to work 8 hr shifts and have more time off as i needed it. after a year of struggling with myself and it not functioning/coping well and the pressures of a crappy environment, I quit. and it was the best decision i've ever made for my treatment. Its been 8 months now since I quit, and my fatigue is better, my pain is 3/4 less.. the list goes on.
I never thought a reduction in my stress levels would do so much for me, and how bad it really was until i removed myself from it.
Please consider this in yourself, truly. Is your anxiety being treated? is your heart condition treated well that could reduce your anxiety--etc etc. do you exercise regularily? that can help with sleep and everyday coping with life. Its like when you need to lose weight, everyone things cut calories, but what we need to thing is eating food as fuel. Well think of your everyday life as prevention for your TMJ and if we work our body and make it in prime condition, it will be able to react to your stress better and not take the stress out on your body.
I wish you all the best, please message me if you want to chat about it. I sincerely hope you feel better soon, I know TMJ is a dirty dog :)
Hi Brighterday...
Well I am sorry I cant give you any help but I can totally understand where your coming from. The past 3 months have been the worst 3 months of my life. I have been doing nothing but think I am dying and it is so ridiculous. I just want to live again. Here are my symptoms:
-chest pain (costochondritis; inflammation of the cartilage that connects the ribs to the sternum)
-eye floaters and pain
-dizzyness
-stiff jaw and jaw pain.. it seems to be more pain in the jaw muscle though.
-ear pain on my right ear
-two strange lumps in the back of my head that everyone keeps telling me is a normal part of my skull... I think they are enlarged hard lymph nodes though.
-neck pain/stiffness
-body wide muscle twitching
I have had a ct scan of my neck, chest, and head (I had the head CT scan before I noticed the bumps though so I dont know if they were there then) and everything came back normal. along with 3 CBC blood tests over the 3 months which all came back normal.
TMJ, heart irregularities, anxiety, vertigo... these have all been attributed to magnesium deficiency. I've posted about magnesium and many of these conditions, with studies and peoples personal experiences.
The best forms include: Magnesium Taurate, Glycinate and Citrate. Many forms out there are either ineffective and/or unsafe to use.