TMJ or something more serious - need opinions

LaurenAOK

*DISCLAIMER: I put this at the bottom too but some people will not read: I UNDERSTAND that you guys are not medical professionals, and I need to seek help immediately (again) if this gets more serious. I'm mostly just bored and curious for opinions.

Okay here's the deal.

Yesterday I woke up with the WORST headache I've ever had, I could barely walk or move my head cause every time I moved it was a shooting, stabbing pain. It's only on the left side so I thought migraine, but migraine meds didn't help (and I've had migraines before that felt nothing like this. Also, I wasn't sensitive to light). So I went to an walk in clinic, when the doc saw how bad I was, he sent me to the ER. I have also had a swollen lymph node on the left side of my throat so he thought it may be meningitis (though I've been vaccinated for that, the bacterial kind, at least).

At the ER they said it could be two main things: meningitis or brain aneurism, but didn't think it was either. I didn't have the fever for meningitis, and didn't have any other symptoms of an aneurism. Finally, the ER doc noticed that when I opened my mouth wide (like when they looked in my throat), it caused excruciating pain. She concluded that it's almost definitely TMJ, caused by too much tension in my jaw. She thought I must have slept weird or clenched my jaw when I slept the night before. This makes sense because as soon as I lifted my head off the pillow in the morning, the pain started. Also it makes sense that I didn't have any other classic headache symptoms (like light sensitivity). She gave me strong painkillers (lortab and fioricet) and said if it's not better in 24 (possibly 48) hours, to return.

Well the weird thing is, the painkillers *barely* helped. I took lortab when I got home, which has ALWAYS helped my pain, and it did almost nothing. 6 hours later (when I was able to take something again), I tried the fioricet. It helped more than the lortab but still didn't make the headache go away. It did relax me, though.

So I woke up earllly this morning (like 6 am, almost exactly 6 hours after taking fioricet), with my head *still* killing me. It's fine when I sit still but if I move at all it's that same stabbing pain. It hasn't been 24 hours since I've been to the ER but I'm thinking ahead. If it's still this bad this afternoon, should I return? It just doesn't seem normal to me that I would still have this much pain. I doubt I clenched my jaw last night cause I was so relaxed from the fioricet when I went to sleep. I just took more fioricet, we'll see if it helps.

My hesitation is that just yesterday cost my parents almost $400, and I really hate to return when they'll probably do a CT scan next time,costing my parents upwards of $1000, and there's a 99% chance they'll tell me the diagnosis has not changed.

**I COMPLETELY understand that you guys are not doctors, and I need to seek medical attention if this gets worse. If it doesn't get any better by tomorrow, I WILL GO. I'm just curious as to what you personally would do. Also, if anyone who suffers from TMJ could tell me if this is normal, that would be IMMENSELY helpful.**

ETA: I'm 22 and have no history of TMJ or anything like this. However, I also don't have any of the risk factors for aneurism (being a smoker, doing drugs, or high blood pressure - in fact I have unusually low blood pressure). Also as I said, I have been vaccinated for the deadly kind of meningitis.

LaurenAOK

Bumpity bumppp.

Rgtjax85

I have a mild case of TMJ. I usually use the over the counter mouth guards when I feel the tension coming. Does your mouth click or pop when you open it all the way? That could be a sign of TMJ. My co-workers wife just had a surgery for hers. I would recommend you go to your dentist. It is a dental/oral surgeon responsibility. I once went to the ER with them talking nonsense about the anyreusm blah blah stuff because I was dizzy after doing these workouts. It was more of an equilibrium problem and lack of nutrients. I hope they find the cause of your headaches and jaw pain. Again I recommend a dentist first.

LaurenAOK

I have a mild case of TMJ. I usually use the over the counter mouth guards when I feel the tension coming. Does your mouth click or pop when you open it all the way? That could be a sign of TMJ. My co-workers wife just had a surgery for hers. I would recommend you go to your dentist. It is a dental/oral surgeon responsibility. I once went to the ER with them talking nonsense about the anyreusm blah blah stuff because I was dizzy after doing these workouts. It was more of an equilibrium problem and lack of nutrients. I hope they find the cause of your headaches and jaw pain. Again I recommend a dentist first.

Thanks for your reply. My good friend also has moderate chronic TMJ and she will have to have dental surgery done in the next couple of years. Fortunately the ER doctor told me that what I have probably isn't chronic, just a random occurrence from sleeping weird or grinding my teeth in my sleep that one night. My mouth doesn't pop when I open it all the way and I've never noticed anything strange about my mouth or jaw.

Jovette42

I'm not a dr but I do play one on tv but when I was married to my ex I got diagnosed w/TMJ and they said it was "stress" related so we really didn't have any money to get the "professional" mouth guard so I got the cheap football one and it worked HOWEVER my condition improved DRASTICALLY the minute he left I haven't had ANY symptoms since 2006 :O LOL I give God allllll the glory. So how's your stress level?

LMT2012

Try a massage therapist with training in TMJ management. I actually treat pressure points inside the mouth.

neandermagnon

if it's only on one side it could be this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cluster_headaches

I'm not in any way medically qualified but your post made me think of this condition. If you think it could be that, mention it next time you see a doc, because there are many different medical conditions and some are quite rare and docs may not think of it.

zithan

My wife had unexplained headaches recently as well. Nothing wrong with her mouth/jaw. She went to the dentist (due to prior experience with this years ago). She now has a mouthgaurd she wears at night when she sleeps. The cause? She clenches her jaws shut while sleeping. She had a mouthguard made, not an over-the-counter one. I don't see why an OTC that fits well wouldn't work, though. An OTC would probably be a quick and least-costly way to find out if this is your problem as well. But again, not being a doctor, I have no idea if you MUST have a guard tailored just for you.

LaurenAOK

if it's only on one side it could be this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cluster_headaches

I'm not in any way medically qualified but your post made me think of this condition. If you think it could be that, mention it next time you see a doc, because there are many different medical conditions and some are quite rare and docs may not think of it.

Unfortunately I have suffered from cluster headaches before and I don't believe that's what this is. This pain is much, MUCH more severe. It feels exactly like being stabbed through the head when I get up and walk. Cluster headaches normally feel more like a dull ache.

songbird1973

I'm a orthodontic assistant so I see lots of TMJ issues, and you do have symptoms, but you should also Google Trigeminal Neuralgia. Your symptoms also point to this as well. Try a very soft diet and anti-inflammatory such as ibuprofen or naproxen and heat and ice to see if gets better after a few days. If it doesn't you need to see a orthodontist that specializes in TMJ patients(not all orthodontist like to deal with TMJ). Good luck, hope you feel better soon!

LaurenAOK

My wife had unexplained headaches recently as well. Nothing wrong with her mouth/jaw. She went to the dentist (due to prior experience with this years ago). She now has a mouthgaurd she wears at night when she sleeps. The cause? She clenches her jaws shut while sleeping. She had a mouthguard made, not an over-the-counter one. I don't see why an OTC that fits well wouldn't work, though. An OTC would probably be a quick and least-costly way to find out if this is your problem as well. But again, not being a doctor, I have no idea if you MUST have a guard tailored just for you.

That's exactly what the doc thinks I'm doing, clenching my jaw. They did recommend a mouth guard if it becomes a persistant problem. I'll check one out!

Never clenched my jaw in my life so it's a bit weird.... but I've been stressed lately, so that may explain it.

122ish

Best thing for now get an over the counter mouth guards, but I read it's best to have one made, if the dentist is charging to much I have found places on line that send u the stuff to make a mold yourself and they make u a guard for under 70 bucks, reviews r always pretty good. I been meaning to get one myself as I tend to grind at night but more so when I clean, I asked the dentist if he could write me a letter excusing me from cleaning since he so adamant about me not grinding, but he thought I was kidding. best of luck and hope u have found some relief!

BeachIron

My wife had unexplained headaches recently as well. Nothing wrong with her mouth/jaw. She went to the dentist (due to prior experience with this years ago). She now has a mouthgaurd she wears at night when she sleeps. The cause? She clenches her jaws shut while sleeping. She had a mouthguard made, not an over-the-counter one. I don't see why an OTC that fits well wouldn't work, though. An OTC would probably be a quick and least-costly way to find out if this is your problem as well. But again, not being a doctor, I have no idea if you MUST have a guard tailored just for you.

That's exactly what the doc thinks I'm doing, clenching my jaw. They did recommend a mouth guard if it becomes a persistant problem. I'll check one out!

Never clenched my jaw in my life so it's a bit weird.... but I've been stressed lately, so that may explain it.

When I was younger I started getting very bad headaches. They were painful and regular enough that my doctor had me go through a cat scan (this was years ago) as I have family history of strokes. The doctor ended up recommending that I stop clenching my jaw by learning to rest my tongue on the roof of my mouth. Strangely enough, it worked. That said, I am certainly not a doctor.

BrainyBurro

sounds like ebola.

neandermagnon

if it's only on one side it could be this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cluster_headaches

I'm not in any way medically qualified but your post made me think of this condition. If you think it could be that, mention it next time you see a doc, because there are many different medical conditions and some are quite rare and docs may not think of it.

Unfortunately I have suffered from cluster headaches before and I don't believe that's what this is. This pain is much, MUCH more severe. It feels exactly like being stabbed through the head when I get up and walk. Cluster headaches normally feel more like a dull ache.

the article suggests that cluster headaches cause the most severe pain known to medical science, and are sometimes called "suicide headaches" as the pain is bad enough to cause people to kill themselves, and the pain has been describes as things like being stabbed with knives and similar. i.e. what you're describing that you have now sounds much more like what the article describes.

zentha1384

I have a mild case of TMJ. I usually use the over the counter mouth guards when I feel the tension coming. Does your mouth click or pop when you open it all the way? That could be a sign of TMJ. My co-workers wife just had a surgery for hers. I would recommend you go to your dentist. It is a dental/oral surgeon responsibility. I once went to the ER with them talking nonsense about the anyreusm blah blah stuff because I was dizzy after doing these workouts. It was more of an equilibrium problem and lack of nutrients. I hope they find the cause of your headaches and jaw pain. Again I recommend a dentist first.

I agree, go to a dentist. They will be able to determine if it is TMJ. I have had TMJ all my life and I have a case bad enough they want to do surgery but I won't let them. There are a few things that can make TMJ flare up or make bad cases worse.

1) Avoid hard/chewy foods until it is better (peanut brittle and taffy BAD)
2) Stress causes jaw clenching when sleeping. Try to do something to relax, especially before bed. Chiropractor and/or massage may help
3) Opening mouth too wide, avoid food that causes you to do this (sorry no huge burgers!)

When I was diagnosed my orthodontist showed me how to loose the muscles to ease pain. This really helped me. I will try to describe it, sorry if it is difficult to understand.

With pointer and middle fingers straight, bring them to the side bothering you. Place them just below the jaw socket (near the ear). Press firmly and move your fingers up and you should feel the ridge of the bone there. Start moving your fingers in a circular motion up and then towards the front of the face. Right over the ridge of the bone. As you do that slowly open and close you mouth. Each time try to open your mouth a little more.

jennifershoo

Listen. You should really go back to the ER and ask another opinion. $1000 might seem a lot of money, but it's your life you're talking about. I know nothing about TMJ, but I know aneurism don't always have other symptoms than painful headaches. I know a woman who ignored her headache for a week and died at 32 yo. Sorry, I don't want to scare you. It could be nothing but it could be really serious. My point is don't ignore your body.

LaurenAOK

Thank you all for the feedback, really helpful stuff. At this point I'm pretty certain that the doctor was right and it was TMJ. I say this because the pain is *finally* beginning to subside. It's been just over 24 hours, and the doctor said to give it 24-48 before returning. So I guess this is normal.

I'm still staying on painkillers because they help a little more now. If I wake up tomorrow with the same headache, I will be returning to the ER. Otherwise, I'll agree that it was TMJ and perhaps invest in mouth guard. Thank you all again.