Ear popping/jaw cracking?

Question

I have had this problem for about 3-4 years now and no one has provided me with a solution. I have been to many doctors and specialists, nothing.

I seem to have a build up of pressure (maybe in my Eustachian Tubes) and every hour or so I have to to try and pop it by pushing down in front of my ear and opening my mouth(moving my jaw) forcefully until it eventually pops. After this until the pressure builds up again I can hear what sounds like small pieces of something moving between the jaw bones/ or perhaps my eustachian tubes.

there is no pain associated with this and so I am thinking it might not me TMJ, but do not know what else it might be.

any help would be appreciated.

Answer 1

Wow, that must be really annoying to you. I can't believe you've gone on years w/o it driving you insane.

A few years ago, I went through a time when my jaw would be tight, and it would crackle when I chewed food. The popping of my jaw echoed in my noggin as I chewed....it drove me nuts. Then it got worse, and it started locking up. It would stay locked up for 3 or 4 days, and I could only eat soft foods. I would do Ice packs, then heat packs, and sometimes I could un-lock it with a painful POP.

I went to my dentist, and he said that it was stress related. That I was grinding my teeth at night, not relaxing, and making those joints and muscles lock up. And he was right, because at the time I had a 14 month old baby who would not sleep more than 2 hours at night, and I would subconsciously be waiting to hear him screaming over the baby monitor. So I was grinding my teeth at night out of stress. The Dentist took a weird substance, and made me a 'bite' to wear as I sleep. It worked, and I haven't had to use it since.

Sounds like you have been to lots of docs, so yours is a mystery. I would suggest....if you haven't already....going to an Otolaryngologist (Ear, Nose, and Throat specialist). He could properly diagnose or rule out if it is a problem in your ears, or jaw. I would think if they can't fix you......I wouldn't know who could.

Good luck to you.

Answer 2

It sounds to me as if your jaw is sitting too far back in the joint. (condyle located distally in the glenoid fossa) The Eustachian tube runs right through that neighborhood and if the condyle is back there where it doesn't belong, it can compress the E. tube, causing the congestion that you are describing.

You need the help of a dentist who understands TMJ problems who can locate your proper centric relation. (I'm throwing out a lot of dental terms here so you can do your own search on this, if you want more information.)

Some of the answers above are from people who have also had "TMJ," but they do not realize that "TMJ" is not really a condition and that problems WITH the TMJ can manifest in many different ways. Some people have terrible pain from TMJ problems and others, such as may be the case with you, have subtle changes that do not really cause much pain at all.

Ask your dentist about this and if he does not have experience in treating TMJ patients, ask about a referral.

Answer 3

I have TMJ and those are the symptoms for it. In addition, I have a deviated septum that causes my ears to constantly be full of fluid, especially when I get a cold or the flu. You are moving your jaw by hand which screams of TMJ but it may have been brought on by some kind of injury (Mine was being hit on the side of the face by a spiked volleyball). You could try getting a night guard and sleep with that for a few weeks and see if the situation improves. If it does, yeah, you have TMJ. If not, you should see and Ear, nose and throat person and see what they have to say. For a night guard, go to a sporting goods store, get a sports guard that can be fitted using hot water, and mold it to your UPPER teeth. It should be snug so you don't loose it during the night. Hope this helps!!!

Answer 4

I can't give you any diagnosis, but I know that TMJ causes alot of pain.

My mother had problems with this once, she saw a few specialists about it, and was put with the choice of either getting some sort of surgery/injection, or seeing a normal dentist.

Her symptoms were cracked teeth (especially the incisors) jaw pain, neck pain, and even upper back/shoulder pain.

If you are experiencing none of this, you might not have TMJ at all, but its always a good idea to have it checked out regularly to make sure you don't develop anything.

Answer 5

If it is your TMJ you will feel it. it hurts like crazy when you have a TMJ problem. You may want to go to an Ear,nose and throat Dr. I had this problem and they found that I have chronic sinus infections. a spell of antibio's. and I was good as new

Answer 6

Go check with your dentist.