Mitral valve prolapse and TMJ?

Question

I wast just diagnosed with TMJ. I had been diagnosed with mitral valve prolapse syndrome when I was in my early 20's. When I was looking up information on TMJ, I found that some studies have shown that 51% of people with MVP will have TMJ because both are considered connective tissue disorders. I have all the classic symptoms of MVP and TMJ. Has anyone else heard of this? I don't see that information on some sites...and I know you can't trust a lot of health sites on the internet. I also have a lot of the symptoms of fibromyalgia too (never diagnosed and probably won't delve much into that because that is one of those "gray area" diseases that could be 10 million other things and I don't feel like wasting the time/energy on that unless something really goes haywire).

thanks!

Actually I am not diagnosing myself on anything...these are actual diagnoses I have already had made by doctors/specialists. I just wondered if there was any connection between the two. As far as other symptoms, well, I just am not too entirely worried about them yet...I just thought it was interesting that a lot of the symptoms I go through could be classified as one or two different things, but I just don't go to the doctor's office because of paranoia. I go when I am truly sick or in a lot of pain. My MVP was found accidentally when I was in for pneumonia and my TMJ was found because of severe neck/jaw/head pain that I really starting to interfere with my daily life.

Answer 1

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?DB=pubmed
http://medlineplus.gov/
These are two good web sites too look up conditions and anything with .gov instead of .com should be ok 2!

Answer 2

I'm an RMT (registered massage therapist) in Canada and we have to do a lot of anatomy work before we can be certified.

TMJ is something I know about. It's not as much about connective tissue as it is about three specific muscles on each side of your jaw. They are the Masseter, Lateral Pterygoid and Medial Pterygoid. When these MUSCLES become tight, you can end up with TMJ. The reason(s) they become tight: mouth breathing (instead of using the nose-that's what it's for), stress, gum chewing. Stress is a big one because we tend to tighten our jaws when we are tense. Therefore, the muscles lose their elasticity and the surrounding connective tissue will shorten due to the tightness of the muscles. Tightness in those muscles for whatever reason is usually the cause-not connective tissue. People with asmthma get a double whammie because they have the initial breathing problems and the stress that comes with those breathing problems.

The Mitral Valve is indeed connective tissue in the heart. I have no idea what the connection could be between the two could be.
You might want to check your blood pressure to start off. Is it high? Is it low? And don't panic if it's not the ideal rate because what's normal for one person is not for another. But there are ranges that are deemed too high and too low for anyone.

Fibro Myalgia is another matter, but everything is connected. You can get a "diagnosis" from someone specializing in this field. I'm not sure of the exact criteria, but there are various points along each side of your body which, when pressed upon, will give someone with fibromyalgia a painful response (no pain for someone without the condition). If a certain number of these points give that painful response, you can be diagnosed. It is a "gray area" as you say, but chronic pain is a phenomenon that varies from individual to individual and it is real. It's also a condition that is unexplainable, but that doesn't mean it doesn't exist.

One of the most important things in your health is to understand that everything is connected on some level. I would urge you to look into the fibromyalgia because it could explain more about what's going on in your body in a more general way. Then you can look at specific areas such as TMJ, the heart, etc.

Good luck.

Answer 3

i also have MVP, TMJ (wasn't diagnosed with it, but i know i have it), and also suffer from fibromyalgia as well...it was diagnosed after negative tests came back for various bone/tissue diseases (arthritis, lupus, MS, etc.).

in my opinion i think that the fibromyalgia is the link between all three. for me all three have flare-up times and sometimes they happen at the same time and sometimes not. my MVP only acts up minimally, the TMJ a little more frequently, and the fibromyalgia i pretty much deal with everyday. i've been able to control its affects through medication, but it's finding the right mix of meds that was the key for me.

i find stress plays a factor in all three as well. before i knew about all this i would have terrible panic/anxiety bouts that were becoming a big hindrance in my life. once i researched and read that all three aren't life threatening or debilitating it gave me the power to just deal with it...it just becomes a way of life.

hope i helped a little and good luck!

Answer 4

Sounds like you need to see a good doctor and quit trying to diagnosis yourself.

TMJ is diagnosed by a dentist specializing in TMJ. It is treatable. Many times TMJ is due to an auto accident or other head trauma. But just because it is a connective tissue problem does not automatically mean it is tied to mitral value issues, usually genetic in nature or caused by infections like the flu. But then I am NOT a doctor.

The best site to look u stuff is www.webmd.com but sounds like you are trying to justify yourself having at least one medical condition.

Answer 5

it is probably genetic or I think rheumatic fever can also cause it. Be very careful of infections. Even if you go to a dentist make sure you cover yourself with antibiotics or at least mention it to your dentist.