Ear pain caused by TMJ Symptoms???

Question

I have been getting serious ear pains in my one ear maybe two to three times a month. I was told by the ear doctor and dentist who specializes in TMJ that the pain is caused by muscle spasms in my jar. He told me not to eat certain foods and try not to grind my teeth because these things might bring on the spasms. Has anyone else had this problem? Any information or thoughts on this would be appreciated. I plan to go see my regular doctor for a check up next week.

Answer 1

Oh my god, do I know what TMJ is like. The last bout I had was over a year ago..caused by a bad toothache that was making me clench my jaw. It lasted for two weeks of hell..I was taking about 6-7 ibuprofen every 4 hours. I tried skelaxin and vicodin to no avail. It ended up that I drove myself to the ER at 4am and got a shot of morphine. That is what finally allowed my muscles to relax and stop the cycle. If you start tensing up, IMMEDIATELY stop what you are doing and let your jaw hang open..completely relaxed..even if it looks funny..If you have a severe problem with grinding your teeth, you can also purchase a night guard for your mouth that may help prevent that. Worst case scenario is surgery to compensate for an overbite..but try to avoid that if at all possible..I have heard from many sufferers that surgery often makes it worse in the long run. Good luck!

Answer 2

GO TO A PHYSICAL THERAPIST!! Some of them have done continued studies in TMJ. Amazing new treatments (none of which hurt a bit!). STAR Physical Therapy in Austin, Texas can recommend someone in your area who treats TMJ with all the different techniques they do there. Yes, I've heard it can cause ear pain, although I did not experience that. You have to go to a regular doctor, and request a prescription for physical therapy, just like you would for a medication. ("Prescription" is actually the word, though it sounds incorrect.) Then you take it to a PT, and they will begin seeing you. PLEASE TRY THIS--there just is no other way to go. EXCEPT THAT . . . you need to go to an orthodontist and get fitted for a night guard (a thing you wear in your mouth at night, so as not to grind your teeth). You may experience immediate relief after this. For the time being, even a temporary one (one you get from the drug store, to stop grinding) may be of great help. If this is what is causing this horrible pain, I believe these things will help immensely, and cure it. I do hope you find relief quickly though. So very sorry for this. It must be terribly frightening. I'm sorry--one more thing. DON'T GO TO ANY DENTIST WHO SAYS IT MERELY MEANS YOU NEED YOUR TEETH FILED IN PLACES. This is irreversible, and should not be done. There are phony TMJ "specialists" out there. What you need to relieve the pain (if this is what it's from) is this: CESSATION of the nightly grinding, by wearing a night guard (the ones they make for you are SOOO much better, but cost several hundred dollars). And, secondly, PT to fix everything back to normal. God bless you as you continue to search. So very sorry you're going through this.

Answer 3

I had TMJ. Mine is caused by stress, so when i feel my jaw starting to get tight I try to relax and destress, and it usually goes away.
In your case you might need to get braces or a night time bite plate to help with yours. Also, a masage therapist or a chiropractor might be able to help move your jaw back into place.

Answer 4

Grinding of teeth, aka, bruxism, can really cause alot of discomfort associated with TMJ. You might ask your dentist to fit you with a bite guard to wear at night when you are asleep. Most people who suffer with bruxism do it most at night in their sleep.
During the day, yawn alot. It stretches the tendons and helps everything to relax.

Answer 5

Dammit girl! I totally feel for you...I go throught he same crap. Really not anything you can do. When I get it, I put a bag of frozen peas on my jaw where the ear is hurting...makes it better, but doesn't make it go away totally. I'm a horrible grinder at night...I was told to get a "bite-guard" for night time, and it'd help. Thing is, I can't afford it. From what I understand, the only way to stop all of it is to get surgery to fix your "bite". That'll never happen for me though...way too much money involved in that. lol Good luck to you though.

Answer 6

After throat surgery I went through this, months of advil and heating packs to that whole side of my face, finally I went to physical therapy and they did massage and ultrasound with in a few treatments it felt better after couple weeks was almost back to normal with no pain.