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How many of you have TMJ

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Crohn's Disease
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Posted 1/29/2009 12:58 AM (GMT 0)
I've been having pain in my ear, neck and head so I went to see the ENT and he thinks its TMJ. He suspects that I clench my jaw while I'm sleeping. I'm going to try Aleeve twice a day for a week along with warm compresses. If that doesn't do the trick I have to get a CT scan of my neck. Any other crohnies with this problem?
Posted 1/29/2009 1:36 AM (GMT 0)
I had my dentist make a cheap mouth guard...you could also go to a sporting goods store and get one of the mouth guards you can mould to your mouth. Just know that you may chew threw one or two! I found that I only have to wear it (a couple weeks) to remind my mouth not to clench...if I notice it I start over and it definately helps.

Try it...its the least expensive option...if it doesn't work, then go for the tests.
Posted 1/29/2009 2:07 AM (GMT 0)
I have it, but mine is more from a ski injury. However, I also clench at night. I wear a retainer and I DIG my bottom teeth into the retainer.
Posted 1/29/2009 4:28 AM (GMT 0)
I was just at the dentist last week and there is no evidence of grinding or clenching my teeth.
Posted 1/29/2009 8:34 AM (GMT 0)
When I was first diagnosed at 15 I got really bad TMJ - my jaw would only open 13mm for a good few months - eating was a nightmare!! At the time they said nothing could be done until my mouth could open wide enough, it still doesn't open as wide as a 'normal' mouth but its got pretty decent movement in most directions and doesn't affect my speech too badly. I used to grind my teeth as a kid though and although I've grown out of that, when I'm stressed or concentrating (which of course at uni I do a lot, ahem!) I have a tendency to clench my jaw or bite my teeth together really hard especially at night but also during the day- I never notice I do it until I release my jaw and it is like ooowwwwwww! I'm planning on seeing a dentist soon at my rheumo's recommendation to get a mouth guard or splint of some sort as TMJ really is one of the most awkward joints to have restricted or in pain , not going through that again!
Posted 1/29/2009 6:48 PM (GMT 0)
I have it too!! I'm going to try the mouthguard idea.
Posted 1/29/2009 7:59 PM (GMT 0)

I have TMJ problems.  I grind and clench in my sleep, and if I have a stressful day at work, I can feel myself clench even at work. 

The headaches that can come from this are awful!  I also have popping in my jaw that comes and goes--it is worse on days when I have been very stressed out.

I use the NTI nightguard.  It is expensive, but it is different, in the respect that it helps with both grinding and clenching.

I wish I knew if there was a direct correlation between Crohn's and getting TMJ problems.  It would be interesting to know. 

Good luck and I hope you find help and relief soon as TMJ problems can be very painful!

Posted 1/29/2009 8:24 PM (GMT 0)
that is crazy. I developed TMJ withing the last few months. I was diagnosed with Crohn's in 2006. This has to be more than a coincidence that people with crohn's also are having TMJ problems. My guess is that it may have more to do with the meds than with the disease. I probably have had Crohn's for at least 15 years but never had TMJ problems until after crohn's diagnosis, which is when I started with all the immunosuppresents.

hopefully someone looks more into the Crohn's-TMJ connection.
Posted 1/29/2009 8:55 PM (GMT 0)
I'm going back to the dentist on Saturday so I will discuss it further with him. I hadn't mentioned a problem when I saw him 2 weeks ago because I didn't think it was jaw related. I had an ear ache, a headache above my ear and pain in my neck below my ear. My jaw doesn't bother me when I open it wide. The ENT is pretty sure the problem is TMJ but also said that the Crohns opens me up to a host of exotic issues so if I don't get some relief with the aleeve and compresses we'll do the CT scan of my neck to start since that is where I am most tender and take it from there.

I hope they help because I really don't like the idea of a mouth guard. I feel like the bacteria is trapped between the guard and your teeth while you're sleeping opening you up to decay.
Posted 1/29/2009 11:00 PM (GMT 0)
I have TMJ, but I have a lot of join problems (SIJD & hip problems) because I have ehlers-danlos syndrome as well as these GI problems....

Don't stay on Aleve. It's a NSAID & can make crohnie's problems worse.....

Don't chew gum. Try to relax & not clench. A mouth guard will help at night if needed. I have problems with my TMJ after any dental work.
Posted 1/30/2009 12:50 AM (GMT 0)
I have it too. I can tell the day after because I get headaches. I don't exactly clench, my hubby says he hears me clicking my teeth together. I wore a mouth guard for a while and it helped. Now I am less stressed and it's gone, no head/neck pain either.

Watch taking aleve for it, don't want to rile up the guts.
Posted 1/30/2009 1:16 AM (GMT 0)
Yes I do. I grind and clench my teeth. I grind them bad at night, but also catch myself clenching during the day. I bought a gaurd at the store the other day actually. Since my teeth have been hurting from the grinding. You boil it, which makes it soft, then bite down on it to make the impression of your teeth. It's taken me some time to get used to sleeping with. But I think it's better then ruining my teeth and jaw.
Posted 2/7/2009 5:00 PM (GMT 0)
The Aleve seems to have done the trick. My dentist said since the Aleve works I don't need to get a night guard.
Posted 2/8/2009 12:41 AM (GMT 0)
that's good to hear--I think I'll try that.
Posted 2/8/2009 3:47 PM (GMT 0)
Just check with your GI be you start an NSAID. This disease doesn't affect me the same way it does most people on this board. I am also in complete remission. If this wasn't the case I'm sure my doctor wouldn't feel the same way about allowing me to take NSAIDs.
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