tmj and daily headache

[pajamas]

I think a doctor finally gave me an answer regarding my symptoms (daily one-sided headache and recent ear ache on same side) He is an EENT and he thinks it's TMJ.  It all seems to fit.  I must grind my teeth at night, and now that I'm paying attention, I can notice the clenching I have during the day, too.  Anyone out there with this syndrome?  I've been popping Tylenol or
aleve daily for about five years! And worrying that I had a brain tumor!

[MKlacza]

Thats how mine started. I saw a neurologist thinking it was a tumor and then go to find out I have TMJ! One sided headache, jaw pain, earache, neck pain etc... I saw a dentist that specializes in TMJ and they did this test that specializes in TMJ and sure enough I have it!!! I was chewing ice throughout my pregnancy and I guess I grind my teeth so there is the culprit! I stopped chewing the ice and my symptoms have subsided extremely!!!

[pistonsFAN86]

i woke up one morning this past november with a mysterious headache that wouldn't go away. after doing my own research on the internet, i realized i had all the symptoms of tmj and went to see a specialist in my area. 2 weeks after spending thousands of dollars and getting appliances for my alleged jaw problem, i still experienced no relief from the chronic daily headache that made me want to kill myself. but now it has been about a month since i've gotten them, and although my headache problem isn't completely gone i def. see a huge difference and i'm confident that my tmj treatment is working. the money is worth it. if this problem goes away, in the end i will be happy it happened because it is making me appreciate feeling good so much more. i'm happy just to be able to get out of bed again without dreading the day. i finally feel like my prayers are being answered. if you think you have tmj, you'll probobly be reluctant to spend the money to treat it but trust me....i'm not a closed case, but so far...i think it's worth it.

[Lucy4550]

Hi.....this is all too familiar to me.  I went for years with severe one sided head pain that would come and go. I also have ear ringing.   One day I read that someone who had dizziness and head pain was found to have TMJ.  I went to a specialist and was found to have TMJ.  I was fitted with an appliance that I wear as often as I can.  It did the trick.  I had had MRIs of my head twice because the pain was so bad and nothing showed up.   I think there are many people out there popping over the counter meds who could actually benefit from a visit to a dentist specializing in TMJ.

[brcdmd]

Each of you should be acutely aware of the problem you describe.  TMJ problems, while they may come and go in terms of symptoms, tend to be progressive in nature.  That is, they usually don't just go away and, to be certain, they tend to get worse over time.  Popping over the counter pain meds for the rest of your life is not the answer and in fact can be harmful to your body.  Treat the problem, not the symptom...have a dentist evaluate you for possible disorders of the TMJ.  Yes, these disorders cause headaches, contribute to migrains, neck pain, worn dentitions...I could go on.  Pain meds aren't the answer.  Now, in choosing a dentist to evaluate you, please choose carefully.  There are many out there that don't know much more about it than you do.  As a dentist myself, I see many patients who have been treated at other offices and wound up worse than they started.  It takes someone who knows what the heck they are doing to properly diagnose and treat you.  It is a common problem and 96% of cases can be treated successfully with appliances you wear at night, with a few needing daytime therapy as well.  Be proactive and help yourself by getting off the meds and into the care of a qualified clinician.  I have seen the difference it can make in people's lives and it is truly amazing.  Blessings,

[liz30355]

I suffer from Severe TMJ, my jaw was whacked out of place when I was 16 and a recent auto accident had made it worse, I have been seeing a chiropractor regularly to help alleviate the pain and eventually he says he can work it back into place again. This condition also contributes to my severe migrains and since I have been seeing my chiropractor the migrains have become less frequent as has the frequent ear infections, it is all tied together, all of these areas that are affected are in close proximity to eachother so it makes sense. I have been medicating my TMJ for many years and had grown tired of popping pain killers so I decided to go this route instead and it has been the best decision of treatment I have made!!!

[PGB]

same way mine started..unfortunately, mine is worse now than it was.

[avisg]

yes it sounds like TMJ .... what are you going to do now?