Is this TMJ?

[cnote]

About a week ago or more... I yawned one day and as I was closing my mouth from the yawn... the sides of my head hurt... a shooting pain near the ears/temples...

It seemed to have gotten better... but now it seems as if my teeth hurt on the left upper side... and the pain is only on the left side of my jaw/ear/temple.. My neck as also been extra tense... I do clench my teeth I think...

I also have 4 wisdom teeth... but they have been grown in for about 3 years now... I don't think it's my teeth... b/c the jaw pain happened before my teeth started hurting when I eat... (again it's only my upper teeth on the left hand side).

I'm usually in the anxiety forum b/c I suffer from anxiety... and I've been losing sleep and appetite b/c of this... should I go to a Dr. or a Dentist?

Or should I give it a little more time and see if it goes away? My mom said she had it once before and it left.
I also get kinda dizzy... and have been having dull headaches throughout the day...

Dunno if it's just anxiety/stress related or due to the possible TMJ?

Thanks!

ps: do not scare me, due to the fact that I suffer from general anxiety disorder. =)

[cnote]

went to my dr. he said it didnt "feel" like TMJ... he did the index finger test.. and had me open and close my mouth... i had no pain and he felt no popping or cracking at all...

but my pain comes from when i move my jaw from side to side... or when i chew on my left side... or yawn..

it hurts in the temporal region above my ear... feels like a joint pain or something to me... or even a nerve?

im hoping it will just leave on its own eventually...

like i said, i also suffer from anxiety... so this may be the trigger.

my doctor also thinks that my neck stiffness will go away too... he thinks its posture related and stress related... since i have anxiety.

thanks for listening.

[Hamidreza Nassery , DMD, FICOI, FAGD, FICCMO]

a thorough exam with your dentist and your primary care physician is a good place to start.