Update - link between TMJ and dry eyes

[Filazafer]

I have teeth grinding, tinnitus, and dry eye. I would say that one thing all of these have in common is that they get much worse with stress. These things just pile on top of each to create a never-ending cycle. At this point, I am mostly focused on reducing my stress, but it's easier said than done.

[y-gwair]

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?!

That's what my GP said when I asked, but I saw an ophthalmologist today who completely contradicted that, she said that sinus pain is very easily 'referred' to the eye; also that the inflammation I've been suffering in various places (mouth, skin, eyes, sinuses, hand joints) is almost certainly likely to be connected. I also have TMJ type pain (plus deafness/tinnitus/chronic otalgia all on the same side) which seems to follow the same flare pattern as everything else, but after 3 MRIs and CT scan, ENT failed to get to the bottom of the problem ( I eventually discovered that SSRI type antidepressants helped a lot with the neuralgia-like ear pain; I'd be nervous about taking them now as dryness issues are much worse).

[Eric]

TMJ and Dry eyes may be a pinched nerve. Trigeminal nerve???? Alfa-Stim???

I've had TMJ for almost 2 years. 1 year ago my eyes were great and then over about 1 or two weeks my tears shut off like a faucet. Mostly the oily part but some of the water part too. I was using an Alfa-Stim SCS unit at the time to treat some depression from tinnitus. Alfa-Stim units supposedly have a long history of being very safe. No one seems to think that caused my dry eyes, but I'm very suspicius. A couple months later my TMJ Dr TENSed my jaw. (Myotronics TMJ Treatment that I would NOT recommend for so many reasons) After Tensing my jaw for an hour, the muscles were obviously tired and tightened like exercised muscles do for the next day or two. Well my tears practically shut off completely. Each time the Dr tensed me, the dry eyes would get unbearably dry, and then come back to regular dry over a week or two as the muscle relaxed. This is provable and repeatable. The Dr said, obviously the tightened muscles were pinching off a nerve. I have read there are nerves that both the jaw and eyes have in common. The trigeminal nerve. I'm sure there is a nerve pinching off my tear production. So far, no help and no hope from anywhere. I do have a TMJ MRI coming up with contrast to see if there are nerves being impinged. The MRI will be done with function too. (to see the jaw move during the MRI) I'll keep you posted on what happens.

[Stanza]

Well my MRI showed my jaw is fully dislocating on one side. So off to another specialist to see what comes next. It explains my sinus issues, my ear issues, my nose issues,....

[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.

[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

[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.

[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?!

[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]

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...

[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.

[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_]

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

[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.

[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