Binki (or anyone) re: TMJ and TN

Hi all who read this. I just want to let you know your site is invaluable for info, I have had so many answers from here. I haven't posted in ages again, but I do pop in to read every once in a while.

Does anyone remember? My biggest concern has always been my facial pain. That is what finally prompted me to go to the doctor's in the first place.

I'm pretty sure I have TMJ, even if my dentist doesn't say so, one way or another. But she is more than happy to order me a bite splint! I just had a consult at the oral surgeon to get a tooth pulled b/c it just wouldn't freeze at the dentist. He said there is no reason why it shouldn't. When I told him of my jaw/ tooth pain, we talked a bit about TMJ. He told me the splint would help, and to chew softer food. He also said of course my teeth would hurt if I was clenching. When I asked about the cheek/ tongue pain and cutting sensations, he blew me off. And since I was there only for a consult for the extraction, he didn't check me for TMJ. I'm still no further ahead :(

Here are the symptoms I have that I think fit TMJ, and they are pretty straight forward. This pain is not too bad. It hurts, but I can use distraction. This is usually fairly short duration, few hours tops:
-jaw pops, but seldom
-feeling of "face lift" like all my muscles are tight
-aching along jaws
-aching teeth, eased by bite splint from pharmacy
-aching in front and inside the ear

Here are some symptoms that I am more unsure about, but I think COULD be TMJ. This pain is harder to take. I sometimes need to take an Advil, sometimes it works, most times not. This has lasted from a couple hours to a few days. (this last time working on my 4th day, why I'm writing):
-boring pain through cheekbones (like an insect is tunneling through my bone)
-pinching feeling through cheekbone
-pain in throat, under ear
-pain just under temples, radiating behind eyes
-feelign of a spike through the top of my head to the roof of my mouth

This pain I think is nerve pain, but noone can tell me what it's from. My doctor doesn't want to run tests until I get the TMJ figured out (but my dentists won't do anything!). I also want to get this broken tooth gone so I can say for sure it isn't from it. This pain is 8-9. I take Advil, it sometimes takes the tooth pain down a couple notches, but that is it. I usually can't talk through these. It can last from 20 minutes to 2 hours. This can happen on it's own, or as a progression from the above symptoms.
-pain in teeth, not an ache, but a throbbing, always moving... a pain that is 'alive', going into my gums. Sometimes the right (most common), or the left, lately both sides. Can't wear my splint, pressure against teeth is unbearable. If this starts when I am eating, I have to stop as heat or cold will progress all the symptoms. Sometimes if I'm lucky it will stop here. If not, this list follows...
-burning aching in roof of mouth
-burning, pulsating, cramping in the flesh of my cheek (this is the absolute worst)
-cutting sensations in cheek and chin that lately have begun to radiate
-burning pain in tongue
-lips feel pinched, numbness
-feeling like the inside of my mouth is bleeding (teeth gushing blood), swollen, pulsating
-sharp pain top of temple


Please, can anyone relate? Do some of the symptoms from the last list happen with TMJ? TN? I wanted to get my tooth pulled and wearign my splint before I went to bother the doctor again. But I've had constant pain now for 4 days, in varying degrees. If it doesn't let up soon, I will make another appointment, but I woudl liek to be prepared. Thank you!

My TMJ isn't as severe as Donna's, but it can be pretty bad at times.  I experience it mostly on the right side, and the whole side of my head, neck, jaw, cheek will contract in painful spasms.  I have a deep, aching pain in my right ear, and my teeth throb top and bottom on that side.  I have lots of popping in the right TM joint, and I can't open my mouth very wide when I'm in a TMJ flare (which I am right now, unfortunately).  I actually just had to cancel a teeth cleaning appt. for tomorrow because I can't open my mouth very wide, plus, I'm sure it would make the flare worse.

 

I too have been back and forth to the dentist with lots of teeth pain, and I believe that I've had some unnecessary root canals because of TMJ/fibro.  I also have a lot of tooth pain from sinus/allergies.  Problems with my sinuses cause my upper teeth to throb and get sore, so somtimes what seems like tooth pain can actually be sinuses too.

 

I hope you get some relief and feel better soon.  What helps me most is soft foods, no talking (very difficult for me ), and a heating pad.

 

Hugs - Austen

Thank you for your responses everyone. I find that there are so many similarities between those afflicted with TN and TMJ. I called my doctor yesterday, as I was working on day 5 of constant pain. He had an opening today, and I am so relieved about that, as last night I had the worst episode ever. Last night my pain reached a 10, I thought I was actually going to lose my mind. It comes and goes in waves, liek contractions. When it finally had a good grip on me, it wasn't letting go. I don't even have any words to describe what the pain was like. The first time it got bad, I was driving home from work, adn I'm lucky I didn't put the car in the ditch. I should have pulled over, but all I wanted to do was get home... but I don't remember most of my drive. I still hurt today, but this isn't the contraction like pain I was having, so I can deal at least.

I don't know what to think anymore. I was looking for answers on the net. I know better than that, but I am getting at my wit's ends. Anyway, I found some things about bone infection. So now I am afraid of that, as most of my bad pain comes on the side from the broken tooth, which, btw, I've been trying to get fixed since spring. When I'm lucid, I don't think that is it, as all my teeth ache. Oh but last night, it felt like liquid pain was pouring out from that tooth.

Sorry for my rant. I'm so scared of the pain now, and I need to vent to those who understand.

Austen, did that abscess make your cheek and chin ache too? My broken tooth is at the top, the first molar next to my cuspid. I have palate pain, and that would make sense with an abscess. I got Xrays done, but that was a few months ago, the second time my dentist looked at it. Then I had the oral surgeon examine me just this week. He didn't see anything, but he didn't take xrays. I'm so mad at my dentist too. Like I said, I've been trying to deal with this since spring? end of winter? Can't remember now. But I keep going back, and she can't freeze it, so she would just say, come back another time and we'll try again. The second to last time, she ended up working on another tooth that needed the filling fixed, but she had to do 3 freezings on that broken one b/c the pain I was getting from the cold air of the drill. The last time, she didn't even try. She asked if I would feel more comfortable going to the orthodontist. So then I had to wait for the referral, and now the actual appointment to get it removed! What really confuses me is that I've had pain for ever in my cheeks, but it has just progressed so far. I don't know if it is still the original pain, or now it has the tooth added to that.