TN and tmj

Does anybody else suffer from tmj in addition to tn?..

I just found out today that I do as well not really sure how we are going to treat yet but hopefully I can find some relief because both are mostly on the same side of my face. Are they doing anything special to treat you to help with the pain and do you find that when your tmj is flared it makes your TN worse ?

I often wonder if I'm suffering TMJ as well as TN, but I'm having trouble determining how to tell which symptoms are related to what. I don't get pain when I press on the joint just below my ear, which to my doctor means it's unlikely I have TMJ. (I guess that's a big tell.) However I get pain along my lower jaw bone on my "good" side. My doctor and I are waiting it out to determine what's going on.

I have a really bad open bite, so to me, it's easy to draw the conclusion that I have TMJ problems as well. I guess time will tell.

I'm new and I don't even know what I have... the dentist thinks it's tmj with some dental problems and today my doctor said that I have very severe and not typical tmj which flares up the nerves, therefore my symptoms are similar to TN... but it's probably not TN, although really to early to say... she differentiated one from the other asking me about where is the pain located... mine is in my teeth (moving pain), my temple, nose (behind my sinuses); it was bad for a week, I didn;t sleep, couldn't eat or talk; she was asking me constantly if I have any pain in my skin, and was touching my inner cheek - nothing; (but don't you dare touch my temple area); Prednisone helped a lot; after just one day I'm back to life, pain killers did NOTHING (Vicodin). I still have tension and some pain, but it's nothing compared to what it was. Anyway, I am waiting to see what happens during next few days.
I wonder if TN might be helped partially by removing chronic tmj problem. It seems that in my case that was a huge connection even if it wasn't normal symptomatic TN, I for sure was ready to cut my cheek out and hummer that nerve with something.

If you click on Groups up above - you can join a group that is just TN and TMJ related I think!

Hi all,

When I first got the symptoms which started on the tip of my nose, then moved to one of the front teeth, like I had a needled polking me from the inside of my skin and moved back and forth to my nose, and then if the wind would move a few strands of hairs on my forhead I felt stabs, mostly when I spend anytime in a hot room or in my car, I though I was having sinus headaches. So I bought over the counter sinus medication and took 3 or 4, the headach got worst, that's when I knew it wasn't Sinus conjection, which I never suffered from in my 52 yr of life! I decided to do a reasearch on line and everything I read pointed me to TN, that was in August 2010. I went to my family Dr. and he confirmed my fears, sent me to get an MRI, then sent me to a neourologist who put me on Trileptal. I had just picked up the meds and taken a few doses, when all the symptoms disappeared.

Then during Sept. or Nov. 2011, the sysmptoms came back and since I had the Trileptal 300 mg., I took half the pill a couple of times and I started feeling well within a month or so, and the weather got cooler as well.

But this year it came back with a vengence as soon was the weather warmed in April (I'm from Oralndo), I have changed meds three times already becaue the Dr. had lowered the Trileptal dose and I still had a few left I finished those got another 150 mg, but did not work, they gave me gabapentin 300 mg, but OMG! It felt like there was acid inside my cheek and it was disolving it. One night it got so bad I almost called 911, so I threw them down the toilet. I started taking the Trileptal again, went to a specialist to see if I could get MD Surgery, had an MRI and now they say, that they didn't see anything toching the nerve, because I told them I couldn't hardly open my mouth and I'm also getting stabbing on my lower jaw, that I may have TMJ instead of TN! Or maybe some problem with my teeth to go see my dentist.

I went to my dentist and he things I need a root canal in my front tooth, which by the way, has a bridge on it and sent me to an Ondorologist, who took some x-rays and said it looks like I have an infection on one of them, but couldn't tell exactly which one, since they both hurt like crazy when he touched them. He gave me antibiotics, ibuprofen and oxycodone, it's been three days since I've been on those, trying to avoid taking the Trileptal, but this morning all the cheek-burning, jaw-hurting, lip-burning, temple-aching symptoms came back and I had to take one of those again, which I should have done last night because all the electricity currents were running throughout my cheek. I was just telling my sister yesterday, that I wish I could take a knife and cut out my right cheek, or stabbing the cheek below the temple. I'm now comparing symptoms between TMJ and TN. I also found a Chiropractor who works with TN victims and I'm looking to make an appointment.

http://uppercervicalcare.com/Patient-Testimonials#cat_23

inka said:

I'm new and I don't even know what I have... the dentist thinks it's tmj with some dental problems and today my doctor said that I have very severe and not typical tmj which flares up the nerves, therefore my symptoms are similar to TN... but it's probably not TN, although really to early to say... she differentiated one from the other asking me about where is the pain located... mine is in my teeth (moving pain), my temple, nose (behind my sinuses); it was bad for a week, I didn;t sleep, couldn't eat or talk; she was asking me constantly if I have any pain in my skin, and was touching my inner cheek - nothing; (but don't you dare touch my temple area); Prednisone helped a lot; after just one day I'm back to life, pain killers did NOTHING (Vicodin). I still have tension and some pain, but it's nothing compared to what it was. Anyway, I am waiting to see what happens during next few days.
I wonder if TN might be helped partially by removing chronic tmj problem. It seems that in my case that was a huge connection even if it wasn't normal symptomatic TN, I for sure was ready to cut my cheek out and hummer that nerve with something.

Hi there,

Yes, I have both, unfortunatelly. Like many sufferers of TMJD and TN, I also wonder if my TMJD could be making my TN worse and I suspect the answer is yes. I've only just started on TN medication and nothing has been done about my TMJD as yet, but next week I should get a bite plate and quite a few people in online forum say the bite plate is really helpful. I suppose if it works ok for me, I should also experience some improvement in my TN - or so I hope!

Take care,

O.

Hi Mitzi,

I also have TMJ (on the left) and TN (on the right). I live in south Florida, and would be curious to see how things go with your chiropractor. If he helps you I would be willing to drive! (for a little bit at least). Please keep me updated how things go for you, and who your chiropractor is (or if he could recommend someone in south Florida).

Keeping my fingers crossed for you!

Inka, what does your dentist mean by severe tmj that affects the nerves? What is that diagnosis? Patricia

Mitzi said:

Hi all,

When I first got the symptoms which started on the tip of my nose, then moved to one of the front teeth, like I had a needled polking me from the inside of my skin and moved back and forth to my nose, and then if the wind would move a few strands of hairs on my forhead I felt stabs, mostly when I spend anytime in a hot room or in my car, I though I was having sinus headaches. So I bought over the counter sinus medication and took 3 or 4, the headach got worst, that's when I knew it wasn't Sinus conjection, which I never suffered from in my 52 yr of life! I decided to do a reasearch on line and everything I read pointed me to TN, that was in August 2010. I went to my family Dr. and he confirmed my fears, sent me to get an MRI, then sent me to a neourologist who put me on Trileptal. I had just picked up the meds and taken a few doses, when all the symptoms disappeared.

Then during Sept. or Nov. 2011, the sysmptoms came back and since I had the Trileptal 300 mg., I took half the pill a couple of times and I started feeling well within a month or so, and the weather got cooler as well.

But this year it came back with a vengence as soon was the weather warmed in April (I'm from Oralndo), I have changed meds three times already becaue the Dr. had lowered the Trileptal dose and I still had a few left I finished those got another 150 mg, but did not work, they gave me gabapentin 300 mg, but OMG! It felt like there was acid inside my cheek and it was disolving it. One night it got so bad I almost called 911, so I threw them down the toilet. I started taking the Trileptal again, went to a specialist to see if I could get MD Surgery, had an MRI and now they say, that they didn't see anything toching the nerve, because I told them I couldn't hardly open my mouth and I'm also getting stabbing on my lower jaw, that I may have TMJ instead of TN! Or maybe some problem with my teeth to go see my dentist.

I went to my dentist and he things I need a root canal in my front tooth, which by the way, has a bridge on it and sent me to an Ondorologist, who took some x-rays and said it looks like I have an infection on one of them, but couldn't tell exactly which one, since they both hurt like crazy when he touched them. He gave me antibiotics, ibuprofen and oxycodone, it's been three days since I've been on those, trying to avoid taking the Trileptal, but this morning all the cheek-burning, jaw-hurting, lip-burning, temple-aching symptoms came back and I had to take one of those again, which I should have done last night because all the electricity currents were running throughout my cheek. I was just telling my sister yesterday, that I wish I could take a knife and cut out my right cheek, or stabbing the cheek below the temple. I'm now comparing symptoms between TMJ and TN. I also found a Chiropractor who works with TN victims and I'm looking to make an appointment.

http://uppercervicalcare.com/Patient-Testimonials#cat_23

inka said:

I'm new and I don't even know what I have... the dentist thinks it's tmj with some dental problems and today my doctor said that I have very severe and not typical tmj which flares up the nerves, therefore my symptoms are similar to TN... but it's probably not TN, although really to early to say... she differentiated one from the other asking me about where is the pain located... mine is in my teeth (moving pain), my temple, nose (behind my sinuses); it was bad for a week, I didn;t sleep, couldn't eat or talk; she was asking me constantly if I have any pain in my skin, and was touching my inner cheek - nothing; (but don't you dare touch my temple area); Prednisone helped a lot; after just one day I'm back to life, pain killers did NOTHING (Vicodin). I still have tension and some pain, but it's nothing compared to what it was. Anyway, I am waiting to see what happens during next few days.
I wonder if TN might be helped partially by removing chronic tmj problem. It seems that in my case that was a huge connection even if it wasn't normal symptomatic TN, I for sure was ready to cut my cheek out and hummer that nerve with something.