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ETD and TMD

Posted , 4 users are following.

ann1013
ann1013

If you have ETD with no apparent cause you should see a neuromuscular dentist, orofacial dentist or other TMD specialist.... even if you have zero jaw pain. A dentist will

Just poke around and say you don't have it especially if you don't have pain. The neuromuscular dentist spent 3 to 3 1/2 hours with me.

I've had ear fullness, popping, cracking and a pulling sensation in both ears for over 7 mos. I also have unexplained sinus drainage.

Apparently I have TMD with most of the symptoms other than pain! Ear fullness, sinus issues, muscle pain and spasms in the face, neck, head and shoulders, dizziness etc.

I started wearing an occlusal splint 24/7 unless I was eating or out in public. I had a big reduction in ear symptoms.

Last Thursday I had a physical therapy session for TMD. She had her fingers in my mouth for a long time pulling on my jaw and rubbing the cheek muscles (apparently I had muscle knots). She also used a myofascial release procedure on my head, neck and face.

When I left my ears were good and they stayed that way until Sunday! They weren't perfect but I would say there was 80 to 90% improvement. They only crackled when I yawned. I didn't need the splint during the day either! I just wore it at night.

They started acting up again today but still aboit 50% better than the last 7 mos.

I am praying this is the problem and that I keep getting better and better with each session. The therapist said a lot of her TMD patients have ear fullness and usually start to feel a lot better after 3-6 sessions.

0 likes, 12 replies

12 Replies

  • needsomehelp26
    needsomehelp26 ann1013

    Posted

    Hi, i am going to see a TMJ specialist tommorow. He is the best in my area with 30 years of experiance. My symptoms started after a head cold with unbearable sinus pressure but my jaw may be contributing to my symptoms. I live in the U.S. so the treatments are not covered by any insurance. I am determined to get to the bottom of my ETD. On the left side my jaw crackles and on the right side it locks occasionally. When I open and close my mouth I can hear it on the right. I think its out of allignment. Strangley my right ear where the jaw locks has more tinnitus and my eustachian tube crackles more in that ear when swallowing. Tests I have had so far include tympanometry, hearing test, nasal endoscopy, and 6 doctors have looked in my ears with the otoscope. I have no fluid in there but my ears crack everytime i swallow. I will post here with an update. Its great to hear that you are doing much better with the treatments. It gives me some hope.
    • ann1013
      ann1013 needsomehelp26

      Posted

      My federal employee BCBS insurance covers the TMJ specialist I go to. I couldn't find one covered in Indianapolis so I drove 90 miles each way to Louisville to see this guy. It sucks but it's worth it to have it covered. Plus I drive a Prius so gas isn't an issue!

    • needsomehelp26
      needsomehelp26 ann1013

      Posted

      It turns out i do indeed have TMJ. My X-rays showed the bone was out of place on both sides. Some of it even looked like bone on bone! I can see now why you drive out of state to see your specialist. They wanted $1275 for the splint and $115 for each follow up visit. You are so fortunate to have insurance that covers it. I wish i drove a Prius they are adorable. I made a bad decision and bought a Jeep!
    • ann1013
      ann1013 needsomehelp26

      Posted

      The Prius is great on gas but not overly comfortable for long trips.  

      I know there are several types of splints.  Mine is a clear occlusal splint that fits over all of my top teeth.  It doesn't cover them completely though.  Just the tips.  I believe it was around $450.  My insurance covers the visits and I pay a $30 copay.  I pay 30% for the appliances.  I have Tricare too and they billed them so we are waiting to see if they kick in anything.  We just have the free retiree policy so sometimes they pay and sometimes they don't.  

  • j71922
    j71922 ann1013

    Posted

    ann1013 I have a question. When you say that you had ear popping and crackling what do you mean? Did the popping and crackling happen right when you swallowed or talked? My popping occurs a couple seconds after swallowing or moving my head, makes me feel like it is from swollen tubes, not tmd, but I am not sure. What was your popping like? 
    • ann1013
      ann1013 j71922

      Posted

      When I swallow (not every time but often) my ear will make a click or pop noise that feels like my ear is being pulled towards my face.  Every time I yawn or open my jaw my ears make a crackling noise.  It used to sound like breaking glass but now it's more like a small crackle.  

    • j71922
      j71922 ann1013

      Posted

      But does it click and pop right when ypu swallow or yawn or is it a few seconds after?
  • lauracolle
    lauracolle ann1013

    Posted

    Hi ann1013, I was wondering how you are now and if your situation is still improving. I have a lot of symptons similar to yours like the ear fullness, popping and cracking. My ENT confirmed I have ETD. My oral surgeon also pointed out jaw issues, which she referred to as CMD/TMD. I am seeing a physical therapist for my jaw since 2 months, however my situation is not really improving. He advised me to start wearing a splint as well because he thinks I am clenching my jaw at night. Anyways, I'm prettig miserable due to this situation; the ear thing has been going on now since February and I want it to go away so badly.

    Hope to hear from you! 

    • ann1013
      ann1013 lauracolle

      Posted

      Yes, I am improving!  However, my ears are acting up this week but I think it's due to allergies.  All of the leaves are falling and people are raking and mowing.  I have  LOT of fall allergies.  

      The neuromuscular dentist I saw in October wanted to do a jaw repositioning splint which is a permanent bite change that might not work, might make it worse and costs a lot of money.  

      I found a new orofacial pain dentist that hasn't really advertised self so I was lucky to find her.  She doesn't recommend any permanent modifications at this point.  

      Are you having jaw pain?  

      The new recommendations for me are:   get a new splint for the bottom teeth (I have a top one now she doesn't like), hot compresses using a face caddy (they carry these on amazon 5 times per day at minimum, continue PT at least once a week with intraoral massage and dry needling when needed, see her twice a month for splint adjustments, stay stress free and possibly add Gabapentin and Flexeril to the Klonopin I am already taking.  

      My jaw muscles tighten up to the point my face pulls and this pinches the nerves and causes the pain and occasional burning feeling.  

      What does your physical therapist do?  Intraoral massage and dry needling are the key to getting better. 

      My jaw has been behaving and my ears were pretty good until this allergy season hit.   

    • lauracolle
      lauracolle ann1013

      Posted

      Hi, thanks so much for sharing your findings. Glad to hear you're improving! Too bad your ears are acting up again now, so it's a combination of allergies and TMD that are causing your ear problems? 

      I've read about those jaw repositioning splints and also that they might make the condition worse. I am not experiencing any severe jaw pain, however I experience a lot of pressure in my face and my jaws feel tense. Some days are better than others and the same goes for my ears. 

      My physical therapist does do intraoral massage, however for the most part I feel like it's up to me as he gives me these instructions to massage the muscles of my inside jaw myself. I don't feel like this does the trick. Also, I don't see him every week like you do, so I'm not sure if the treatment is intense enough. He has never mentioned dry needling, but I've read so much about it and would really like to try it as I also have a lot of headaches and a lot of tension in my neck and shoulders. Where does your therapist do the dry needling? Directly in your jaw?

      I will also look into the face caddy and the Klonopin, because I can try to relax as much as I want to, my body just won't relax. So I think I need some help with that as well. 

    • ann1013
      ann1013 lauracolle

      Posted

      According to the ENT, allergist and orofacial pain doctor they have decided my ETD is from muscle tightness, TMJ and allergies.  

      I have tried to do the intraoral massage myself and I don't have much luck.  I think I have the knots worked out and the PT will find several more.  

      I've had the dry needling done on my upper arms, large muscles on my shoulders, the suboccipital muscles at the base of my skull and my jaw.  She dry needled over my right masseter an inch or two from my ear on my cheek.  She hit a blood vessel so I had a good size bruise for a few days and I was really swollen but once the swelling went away the muscle stayed relaxed for a good while.  

      I am being evaluated for trigeminal neuralgia by my neurologist but I don't think I have that.  At least I hope not.  It's known as the most painful condition to mankind.   My jaw muscles pull so tight it hurts but it lasts for hours and goes on for days.  The trigeminal neuralgia is described as a sharp stabbing pain lasting a few seconds.   I do have some of the other symptoms though.  

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