Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Re: TMJ/WisdomTeeth/Headaches/Etc(LONG)
From: gibbs2@milori.ccit.arizona.edu (Alex R. Gibbs)
Date: 11 Apr 92 02:12:33 MST
Distribution: world,local
Organization: U of A Optical Sciences
Keywords: TMJ, tinnitus

The first time I posted this followup my news reader set the distribution
to a default of "local".  I am reposting this because I want it to reach
the "world".  If you read this twice then you are either local to me or
the "distribution" field here means nothing.  Pleases let me know if
you saw this twice.  Now, back to business:

In article <69979@ut-emx.uucp>, debs@ccwf.cc.utexas.edu (Deborah Summa) writes:
> Can somebody with experience in this area please offer an informed opinion?

	I have had some minor TMJ problems and tinnitus (ringing in ears),
but otherwise I have no "qualifications."  But I feel I should make that
disclaimer.  I have, however been to a TMJ specialist and learned some
things from him.

> I've been experiencing some dreadful headaches for several years.  I'd

Are you sure you don't clench your jaw while sleeping?  Jaw clenching could
cause headaches.  Headaches are one thing the TMJ specialist asked me about.
I also have my wisdom teeth in and he didn't think they were a problem.

> zipping thru.  It's also accompanied by a near-continous ringing in one ear,
> along with an odd sensation of an earache deep inside, and some bizarre

The ringing, tinnitus, can be a symptom of TMJ problems.  I have tinnitus
but I don't know if it is related to my TMJ.  Mine is both ears and has been
bad for 6 months now.

> After shuttling between a family practioner, optomitrist, ent guy, and a
> neurologist, all of whom ruled out all sorts of nasty things but couldn't
> isolate the problem, i ended up seeing a dentist.  All of the other (MD)
> types said something to the effect of 'well, it could be a tmj problem, but
> that seems like a very remote possibility' (since i really don't experience
> any pain in my jaw). One or two of the above people thought that maybe maybe

I know how you feel about seeing all sorts of doctors and not getting any
real answer.  I don't think that the TMJ possibility is so remote.  A lot
of the symptoms seem like they could be TMJ related, if I remember
correctly what the TMJ specialist asked me about, especially if you do
clench your teeth.  I didn't think I was clenching mine that much, but I
think I was wrong; I just didn't notice it.  I don't have any pain in my
TMJ either, but my TMJ problem is pretty minor, so that may not mean
anything.

The point here is that you didn't have a TMJ specialist on that list of
doctors you saw.  I *strongly* recommend that you go see one before you
no longer have insurance.  The one I saw was very helpful and gave me
recommendations about how to take care of my jaw.

> be a more constant source of irritation whereas a possibly tmj thing from
> grinding or clenching is of a more transient nature.

	I agree with you there to some extent, although transient may be
more on the order of weeks and months.

> I am about ready to go off the deep end, and i'm
> no so sure i want to wait another 2 months to find out it's not working.

Feel free to write to me directly (I mean it).  I might be able to answer
some of your questions, especially about tinnitus, which I have nearly
become an expert on.

-- 
Alex R. Gibbs, Optical Sciences
gibbs2@ccit.arizona.edu