Update - link between TMJ and dry eyes

[Danny_]

Hey,

I'm back! Some of you may remember me or not...
For those who don't know me, I've suffered from dry eyes for ten years or so. I had four plugs in my eyes over the last year or so and have been using special castor oil based eye drops.

However, about four months ago, I visited the dentist and he noticed that my jaw was clicking. This is something I have had for as long as I can remember but he said that it could indicate a TMJ problem. He gave me a nightguard for my bottom teeth to stop me from grinding them at night. This helped a bit but the problem continued so he referred me to a specialist who gave me a nightguard for my top teeth and told me I had a dislocated disc in my jaw.

So how is this related to dry eyes? Well, since I've started treating this problem, my eyes have started getting better. I have taken out two of the plugs and hope that I am on my way to a complete recovery. I wanted however, to let you know what was happening in case anyone else has similar symptons.

Firstly, don't get me wrong. Just because your jaw clicks does not mean you have a TMJ problem. However, it can be a sign of this and I would encourage people to check it out if they have any of the following symptons: tinisitus (ringing in ears), grind teeth, neck pain and pain in your shoulders, and obviously jaw pain.

My pain is located behind and around my left eye but now I believe the pain is related to the dislocated disc which is also on the left. I also found out recently that a lady that I work with also suffers quite badly from a TMJ problem and she also has dry eye syndrome. So, I know that it's not just me! I'm not saying that your dry eyes are necessarily caused by this as there are many causes for this terrible disease. I'm just saying that if you have the above symptoms and I know quite a few people have serious dental problems on here, it's worth exploring this avenue.

Danny

[Lucy]

Danny, thanks for posting about your TMJ and possible dry eye connection. It is something to consider for those who have TMJ or "clicking jaws" which I think could be a few from this board.

If this is your problem and it's solved, super! If anyone's dry eye problem is solved, no matter what the reason, it's serves as hope and inspiration to others. (Even if it is the color of socks we wear.!)

So for those with dental/jaw problems, this might be something to consider. (I have clicking jaws--but they do not cause me problems and my dentist is forever wondering why. I do not look for "why" because the jaws do not bother me.) The eyes do though.
Lucy

[kitty]

I have TMJ. It was diagnosed about the same time as my DES, but I have probably had the TMJ problems for 10 + years or so. I really didn't have many TMJ symptoms until I started treatment for it. At first I thought there may be a connection between the two, and there might be. The TMJ problem can be accompanied by muscle tightness and inflammation. That can cause compression on many of the facial nerves. I always wondered if the muscle dysfunction could cause nerve compression resulting in the tear glands not functioning properly. I have treated my TMJ with a night guard, meds and PT for over a year and it is no better. My DES isn't any different either. I think I posted another thread about this previously, so you might do a search for TMJ. Good luck to you!

[Danny_]

I wish I could say it was solved but it's not. It's better than it was and hopefully on the mend, but I can't say that I am out of the woods yet.

Regarding the connection between TMJ and Dry eyes, I don't think there is a connection perse between the two in that I don't think that TMJ affects the production of tears by the tear glands. What I think is that TMJ and in my case, a dislocated disc, leads to a chronic inflamation. So, it's similar to blepharitis. The tears are being produced but evaporate too quickly because of the chronic inflamation that I feel around and behind my eyes the whole time.

Honestly, I don't know. That's just what I believe. I don't know whether there is any truth to it or not. All I know is that when I started treating one problem, I saw a marked improvement in the other problem so I make the assumption that there is a link between the two.

[Seamus]

What's TMJ

Hi there,

What is TMJ?

I am interested as I have a clicking jaw on left side and main eye problem is left side too.

Best wishes,

- Seamus

[kitty]

TMJ refers to the tympanomandibular (jaw) joint. When we say we have TMJ we mean to say we have TMJD (TMJ dysfunction), as everyone has TMJs but not everyone has TMJD. Clicking is certainly a symptom of TMJD. You should be evaluated by a dentist who specializes in TMJD.

[Danny_]

Hi there,

What is TMJ?

I am interested as I have a clicking jaw on left side and main eye problem is left side too.

Best wishes,

- Seamus

Well, that's exactly the same as what I have but that doesn't mean that we are necessarily the same. Clicking jaws can be innocent enough. I would still definitely get yourself to an orthodontist. Try to get somebody that someone else recommends to you - as Kitty said, the best person for this is maybe your dentist.

I don't think there is any such thing as a TMJ specialist. The guy I went to is about as close as you can get to that. If you are anywhere in illinois, I'll give you his name. I'm in Chicago and he's about an hour to an hour and a half's drive for me to get there. But it's worth it. I went to another orthodontist first but he just said I didn't need surgery and referred me to this guy so it is important who you chose. Some orthodontists aren't interested unless you need surgery. There is no real answer to that one. You just have to keep looking until you find the right person.

Good luck and let me know how you get on.

Danny

[Seamus]

Thanks

Thanks Danny,

I will ask my dentist next time. I am in Ireland. The potential link you suggest is encouraging although I have had clicking jaw for about 20 years and DES for about 4 so not sure about the 16 year lag if they are related!?. Still, gives me another avenue on the long quest for a reason..

Best wishes,

- Seamus

[Danny_]

Thanks Danny,

I will ask my dentist next time. I am in Ireland. The potential link you suggest is encouraging although I have had clicking jaw for about 20 years and DES for about 4 so not sure about the 16 year lag if they are related!?. Still, gives me another avenue on the long quest for a reason..

Best wishes,

- Seamus

Hey, that's fine! The other thing I forgot to ask you - do you feel the symptoms as a kind of knot when you are sitting down that you feel through your left thigh? It's a kind of tingling at times?

Also, I can't remember when my jaw started clicking. I only started paying attention to it about six months ago when I realized it might indicate a serious problem. There are loads of causes for DES though and the clicking may have nothing to do with your symptoms.

[Stanza]

I think this might be my problem. I'm getting an MRI at the end of the month, so we'll see. I've had ear problems forever, and since having impacted wisdom teeth out in the summer - where my jaw moved and I now have clicking issues (I had some issues before but not this bad) - the dry eye started.

Is the only cure for TMJ mouthguards in the end? From what I can tell there doesn't seem to be much else possible...

[Lucy]

Stanza, TMJ (which I do NOT have) seems to be almost as hard to "fix" as dry eyes. Talk to your dentist, or doctor treating you for TMJ and see what they can do. Research, also on your part will give you insight into any things they may not know of. Good luck with this.
Lucy

[Stanza]

Thanks, Lucy, I'll continue my research. As you say it might help me give ideas, my doctor wouldn't hear about anything to do with my eyes/'sinus' pain, jaw problems being connected, but think she might be coming round...but we'll see. Best armed and ready eh?!

[Rebecca Petris]

Stanza,

I had problems with TMJ more than 10 years ago. Very bad clicking, tension and pain. I had a really good, practical (and not expensive) dentist. He made me a guard which I used for quite awhile and he had to adjust it - file it down here or there - every now and then. I wore it nearly full time at first, then just at night, then not at all. It has been many years since I even thought about it.

[dryeyes2]

Interesting

Well, I am another person with both issues, but I am not sure they are connected. I have been wearing a bite splint for close to 20 years. Big grinder at night and clencher during the day. The dry eye has been coming on for the last 3-4 years and hit me like gangbusters the beginning of last year. It might be coincidence, maybe not, but certainly something to consider.

Thanks for the info.
dryeyes2

[Stanza]

Hmmm, interesting!! Well I'll see what the scan comes up with, I'd rather not have all these 'face' problems...lol! Would be nice to at least half-fix one of them.