Could this be TMJ?

[MummyOnTour]

Trying to get to the bottom of my face/neck/shoulder/head pains and after researching tonight, wondered if it could be TMJ.

I started getting shoulder pain in November. Then in January my headache started (was like a clenching/unclenching feeling across the back of my head, continuous for weeks).

Additionally, I have (on and off) feeling of pressure in my ears (like I'm going up in an aeroplane), and slow pulsing type pain/sensation underneath my chin and up sides of face, pain across top of nose and behind ears.

However, I do not have issues opening and closing my jaw at all, as is frequently mentioned on the TMJ pages I have looked at.

Any suggestions appreciated!

Bumping

Have you asked your dentist? Mine was really good at diagnosing this but unfortunately his answer was fixed braces as I had a wonky bite.

When I saw a doc at the maxilofacial (sp?) unit he recommended soft foods, stretching excersises and warm compresses to soothe it. I can't say I've followed it all but when I did do this it was a definite improvement.

I do get pain in my jaw/head/shoulder/neck areas and it's definitely linked IMO

Good luck!

Thanks for your message. I did go to the dentist and had x-rays as I was wondering if pains were due to impacted wisdom tooth (it's growing at an awkward angle), but she confirmed that all was fine on the x-ray.

Neither of us mentioned TMJ (I had not heard of it at that point). Wonder if it would show anything on a normal dental x-ray?

I am very interested in what your symptoms are and strangely I can relate!!I don't have a problem opening mouth.But, I have an impacted wisdom tooth (vertical fully grown)I can also suffer with weeks of a feeling a heaviness under ears, pain at jaws and across eyes/glands feel sore etc but no infection of wisdom tooth X-ray clear..Then it goes completely no pain.Between coming and going to ENT/Dentist/Orofacial pain specialist I was told it was facial migraine.I can have weeks free of the strange symptoms.However, I often wonder if the tooth wasn't there would I ever get this discomfort.Interesting as what you describe sounds familiar 😂

Hi, I have been back to doc this eve - they confirmed it is TMD and I have been prescribed amitriptilyne - fingers crossed it works - it's been a long 6 weeks!

@MummyOnTour how is it now? Did the amatriptyline work? Xx

Hope it works?

I have some issues I'm convinced are tmj related. I have ear clicking too on the same time.

Everyone has temporomandibular joints, what you may have is TMJ dysfunction.

A good dentist will investigate and diagnose and, if necessary, refer you to a specialist Oral Surgeon.

Try to relax as much as possible. Tense muscles and postural problems exacerbate this.