Might it be TMJ or something else?

[Lioness]

Good afternoon everyone,

13th October I had all my cavities fixed but, unfortunately, strange pain still remains. It is “various”, let's say, because once only my left ear aches, the other time it goes from the end of my jaw on the left side (my, I guess, lower wisdom tooth) to my left ear or eye.

I'd be very grateful if someone could tell me whether it might be TMJ or something else...

 

[Gordon]

It could be TMJ or something else...
any other symptoms? Does the pain head into your temple, any clicking or knocking when you open your mouth? Is it worse at any particular time during the day?

What have you done so far to manage it if anything and how did that work out?

 

[Lioness]

Thank you for your interest and reply, Gordon.

No clicking or knocking when I open my mouth. The pain doesn't go into my temple, sometimes into my eye or a bit above it or into my ear. Today I feel my ear is a bit congested but it doesn't ache so far, nor my jaw.

Is it worse at any particular time during the day?

No, I think not. It just comes and goes. On some days it's stronger, on the other - weaker.

And sometimes also it hurts somewhere on the right side of my lower jaw, in the back of my mouth, it's the tooth before my wisdom tooth, but it was root-canalled in 2016.

What have you done so far to manage it if anything and how did that work out?

I took Ibuprofen once a day during a few past days (not today) and then it helped only a bit with the pain, not much. It made the pain a bit weaker but didn't remove it completely.
But - as I've said - today is no pain so far, only a bit congested ear. So, maybe Ibuprofen has combated the inflammation.

I don't know, really... I had my ears tested this year in March - there was no inflammation then.
Referring to my teeth, I have a lot of filling and malocclusion, if it matters...

Well... I'll see how it will be for the next few days...

Once again - thank you very much, Gordon.

 

[Gordon]

One of the big challenges with diagnosing TMJ is that there are no clear signs and symptoms, it's a very messy and complex area both anatomically and clinically!
Hope it continues to improve for you, it might be worth trying either ice packs or hot packs in the region above the joint, might help a bit (or of course, it might not!)

 

[Lioness]

Thank you, Gordon. I'll see how it'll be later... Maybe I'll go for a check-up in March and I'll take some next steps if it will be needed...

 

[Gordon]

One of the big challenges with diagnosing TMJ is that there are no clear signs and symptoms, it's a very messy and complex area both anatomically and clinically!
Hope it continues to improve for you, it might be worth trying either ice packs or hot backs in the region above the joint, might help a bit (or of course, it might not!)

 

[Lioness]

Today I had an earache, I took one tablet of Ibuprofen and it went away for the time being...

Besides, yesterday and some other day I wrapped my ear and jaw in a soft and warm scarf and it also helped a bit...

And I have a question: To what kind of doctor should I go (when I'll gather my strength and decide on it) - to the dentist, neurologist or laryngologist again? And, furthermore, I don't have too much of an idea of what shall I expect and therefore I'm a little restless about potential tests. I mean, I suppose the dentist will take some X-ray... or something... But I've never had an X-ray of my teeth done, I don't know how it looks and feels like and I have pretty strong gag reflex which makes even stronger when I'm stressed. So, it won't be easy...

Laryngologist, I guess, will glance into my ears and state that there's no inflammation but the skin in my ears peels off as I have seborrhoeic dermatosis, what I know from a dermatologist.

And a neurologist... I really don't know what he or she will do... I was at the office of a one when I was a little girl and I can hardly remember anything...

I don't know whether is any point in going to the doctors'... Perhaps they'll claim that there's nothing wrong in tests and I'm making this all up... Or they don't know what it is...
Maybe anybody can dispel my doubts and fears... Thank you in advance!

 

[MountainMama]

I was diagnosed with TMJD (mild) but I had to visit the oral surgeon and he did a lot of tests where he manually manipulated my jaw and asked if certain things hurt. He also had me move my jaw certain ways. I had seen an ENT doctor previously to rule out issues with my ears and sinuses.

You shouldn’t have to see a neurologist unless they suspect a form of neuralgia.

 

[geos]

In my case, my dentist referred me to a dentist who was specializing in TMJD. He was able to run different tests to help evaluate the situation. He was able to try and recommend different solutions. As MountainMama mentioned, it's possible you would get referred to other specialists. Before seeing the specialist, my family doctor had recommended seeing an ENT and dentist to rule out issues with my ears and sinuses for the ENT and with my teeth for the dentist. The specialist referred me to a physiotherapist to help me improve the mobility of my TMJ and evaluate if any other issue could refer pain to my TMJ.

TMJD is a complex issue and many professionals work on it, but often specialising on what is covered by their profession.

 

[Lioness]

Thank you, @MountainMama and @geos - now I know much more.

And could anybody (maybe @Gordon, if he could be so nice and patient) tell me what about the X-ray? How does it feel and look like? Is it possible to be be done for somebody with quite strong gag reflex (especially when back teeth are touched!?)?

 

[Gordon]

You can ask them to take an OPG, also called a Panoral film, this involves going into a cool machine that sort of spins a flying saucer round your head, nothing goes in your mouth at all.

This gives a sort of snapshot of all your teeth at once, it gives a view of the TMJ itself too, but that's a sort of bonus, it's not ideal for looking at the joint itself.

 

[Lioness]

Thank you a lot for information, @Gordon.

But, you know... Ah... Can you sit on the wheelchair or in the dental chair or do you have to stand during the test?
Hard luck, at the most I'll be panting, trying to stand for a while, with my Dad's support...

 

[Gordon]

Most of the newer machines you can sit down in, so your wheelchair would work fine. They don't fit into a normal sized dental surgery so can't really be used with a dental chair.

Are you able to keep your head still for about 30s or so? I assume you can use google same as me, but here's a photo of one anyway The wee thing at the front of the lady's mouth is just to line up with, it doesn't go all the way inside.

 

[Lioness]

Thank you a lot for a very comprehensive reply, @Gordon. I guess, on Polish websites in question there's no photos and as I haven't searched on English-written ones yet, thanks much for the picture. It doesn't look too scary... So, maybe I can do this... Or maybe it will be the longest 30 seconds or so in my life... The good thing is that it doesn't go far into the mouth!

Anyway, merry Christmas, everyone!

 

[letsconnect]

Merry Christmas to you too, Lioness ! Enjoy the holidays!

 

[Gordon]

Merry Christmas young Lioness, I hope you didn't get a rózga this year from Mikołaj

Does Gwiazdor come on Christmas Eve in your house?

Just showing off thanks to my Polish dentist friends