Chronic Pain

Hi, I'm new to this site and have read really good/interesting posts but most are old. Anyone there currently suffering?

New here too.I'm suffering now.Get dizzness too.Trying the month thing... working some.Only thing that does is asprin every 6 hours.Ice packs/heat packs.What elas can I do.Ears hurt too.my doc.says it's not my ears....?? Diana

I'm new to the site the last few days. Have had TMJ for 12 years, fibro for 11 -and now am wondering if i can continue working. The past 2 years the TMJ pain has been flared up. I am an elementary school teacher and I think talking all day aggravates the condition. Would love to hear from someone else in a similar boat.

Today is my first day here. I put my initial intro in the general intro section of the boards.

I went to my PCP on Jan 3 with a horrible ear infection, electricity sound in my ear, pain like you'd never believe, fluid, clogged and pressure, horrible ringing. He gave me meds and it didn't help. He sent me to an ENT. They put me on prednisone and it started to help. I started to feel better. The I got the flu. A week after the flu I went back to the ENT for another follow up appt. She said I still had some fluid, put me on Nasonex. Beginning of Feb, I had a myringotomy (hole in ear drum to relieve the fluid) procedure performed. They expected immediate relief. It never came.

I still had the pressure, pain and ringing still. During my post-procedure f/u appt, the Dr said my fluid was gone, the hole was still in the drum and the ear looked good. I told him about the pressure, pain and ringing. He asked me some questions to which I said NO to- teeth clencher, teeth grinder, gum chewer, pain while eating- NOTHING! He still says TMJ, see a specialist and sent me on my way, no further info.

I've called for a second opinion because I've never had jaw problems. i've had recent x rays done at the dentist and nothing was wrong. But in the past week, the ringing, ear pressure and pain have increased. I have tinnitus as well as the pulsating tinnitus where I hear and feel my heartbeat in my ear. And now my jaw on the side of my affected ear has been sore, like I've been chewing gum for days on end. And I've been having headaches daily. I've never been a headache sufferer.

So now, I'm thinking- perhaps it is TMJ. But my symptoms are pretty much 95% ear related. I've had a Hx of ear problems- tubes 3 times, major infections all my life, burst ear drum- you name it. So why should I think that this is TMJ and not additional ear issues. Who do I see to clear this up? Anyone else experience similar issues?

Thanks for listening!!! Hope someone can help. I've been taking Ibuprophin regularly and it doesn't help. It barely takes the edge off the pain. AND it's EXPENSIVE to buy, and east up my stomach!

I do know you shouldn't chew gum.Any more .
And you sounds like we'er going through the same hings.I get dizzy .I think that's the worst thing.
TMJ sucks !lol Sorry.Also Ice packs help.Hurts at 1st but does help.So does a night guard.
Good luck, with pain thing ,I haven't found anything works,That I don't take somtimes every 5 hours.Diana

I am new to this site, stumbled across it trying to find some help for the extreme pain I'm suffering from my T.M.J. I have seen dentists, pain specialists, and my family doctor, all who have come to a block on how to help me. I have been told that the damage I have caused from the chronic clenching (unaware I'm doing it until the burning pain kicks in) has even damaged the first two vertebrae in my neck. My headaches are literally 24/7, and relief only comes when I take advil. I yawn and the jaw locks open, I have to make sure I eat mostly soft foods as the popping is too painfull when I chew, and the pain has now radiated from my face, head and ears down into my shoulders and back...Splints are of no help, even the one made by the pain specialist. I am at a total loss, as this now affects my day to day living. Can anyone offer some advice??

Hi. I sure don't have tons of answers, but I have a great dentist who has helped me manage the pain. I was on Baclofen 3x/day -it's a muslce relaxant and that helped with the spasms in my jaw , neck and shoulders. Unfortunately the baclofen and my beta blocker (for my heart) are acting together to put my heart rate to low so I have to stop taking it. The dentist also gives lidocaine injections into the muscles to break up the spasms -this has really helped my headaches!!

Hi I am A TMJ two time surgery person possibly going for round three, but need some input from anyone that has been there. Looking for someone to just talk with that knows what it like to be there as well. If you are still interested in talking drop me a line.