TMJ problems after camping

By Bekah Monday, June 02, 2008

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Today my jaw joints have been aching like crazy and I found a little hard lump about the size of a pea just at the top of the jaw beside my right ear. When I open my mouth the lump moves inward and I cannot feel it anymore. Plus the area directly infront of my ears (infront of the traigus) are very sore to the touch. The muscle down the right side of my neck (from the base of my ear to colar bone) is very sore as well and seems swollen.

I returned home Sunday evening after camping in Algonquin Park for two nights. We had a yurt (a permanent tent structure) that had bunk beds for sleeping. These bunks consisted of futon mattresses on an incredibly uncomfortable metal bar frame. Yeesh!!!
I'm quite sure the sleeping conditions, on and off rain and lots of physical activity (hiking, etc) is the reason for my pain. Normally I fair very well when camping but this trip sure gave my body a beating.

I'm just wondering if anyone else has had any experience with the little lump by their jaw joint before? It reminds me a lot of the nodule I had at the base of my ring finger. It formed after I sprained my wrist two summers ago and took a year to go away. Hopefully this will not be the case for my jaw! If anyone has some ideas on how to help the pain I would love to hear them. Right now I'm doing my standard ice, moist heat, soft diet, Advil and trying to keep talking to a minimum. It is painful to open my mouth very wide and my right joint is clicking. I haven't had that problem in forever! Of course it doesn't help that the forecast is showing thunderstorms for tonight and heavy rain for tomorrow. Yuck! It's an odd feeling having my TMJ acting up and hurting more than my FM. Personally, I'd prefer it the other way around. Haha.

Pictures from our trip are here for your viewing pleasure
http://luxuria.smugmug.com/gallery/5081547_9a5yc#306066281_cupNc

Fibromyalgia & Body temperature PT. 2

Comments (14) | Add comment

annebeckett

6/ 5/08 8:52pm

Honey, PLEASE go to see a doc (even go to the e.r.) right away, ok? This does not sound anything normal and you need it checked out, ok? Let me know whatever he or she or they say!

Bekah

6/ 5/08 11:55pm

I'm doing much better now.

I think the camping trip took a lot out of me, I was exhaused all over, not just my jaws. The weather has been miserable here too. It's beyond humid and has been raining for 3 days straight.

Moist head and massaging the jaw muscles has given me a ton of relief over yesterday and today. Everything is almost back to normal.

ken griffiths

6/16/08 8:34pm

Hi Bekha. I am a Sho-tai health practictioner. Both my wife Erika & i have had health problems, & weve helped ourselves & others with Sho-tai. Without giving you a full analysis but a quick sho-tai test---i think the amitryptiline is messing with your body temp. cal/mag [calcium, magnesium tablets in pure form] can greatly help your tmj & fibromyalgia. You really need a full analysis & a proper herbal regime for fm....but i hope this helps. The b-complex isnt helping you right now, so i wouldnt bother for now with it. I suggest ''tens'' machine also for the tmj. Little lump? i believe its an inflamed bone. nothing to fear. ken griffiths

Linda

7/11/08 12:12pm

Hi..

I noticed your post and noted that you do a lot of outdoor activities and camping. Are you aware that 40 percent of people dianosed with Fibro actually have Lyme Disease? Have you been tested by a Lyme Literate doctor. If not, you need to be tested. It is vital that your blood goes to a lab experienced in dealing with Lyme Disease and other tick borne diseases that the tick can carry. You can be bitten by a tick and not display a bulleye rash. It is not uncommon. It is also not uncommon to receive a false negative test result from the local labs. You are very young and if I were you, I would be tested regardless what your family doctor may tell you. I have been there. I have Lyme disease and I was misdiagnosed prior to my diagnosis. They told me I had Fibro, Chronic Fatigue, Ms..etc.

Morgan

8/13/08 2:48pm

I know what you are talking about. Since I became ill last September my mom has thought that I have lyme. One of my tests came back negitive / positive. I was first diagnosed with lupus, then migraines, then RA, and now I'm being told that I have FM & CFS. On youtube there is a documentary about lyme. If anyone is interested it's called under your skin. Tatoogirl maybe you should look up some info on lyme. There is still a possibility that you may have lyme. You can go for years and years before it shows in your blood.Talk to ya soon!

Wishes of good health . . .

Morgan

wanderer

7/15/08 1:13pm

I don't have the lump, but the muscle pain you have describes mine exactly. I do acupuncture for the neck muscle, and it relaxes almost immediately. \

Interesting about the lyme disease - I've heard many stories, with misdiagnosis as bad as FM.

wandere

ktaylor4jc

7/16/08 12:11am

I have had tmj for 20 years, along with fibro, and I've found a tens unit is my best friend. I've had the lump flare up from time to time and used anti-inflammatories (naproxen) along with the tens. Now, I've had to wear it for days on end - never taking it off except to sleep - but it has been a live-saver for sure!

kewpie53

7/17/08 10:11am

Hello! I too have fibro. since about 1999. I tryed looking up the website (you recommended,) but couldn't connect to it. My pain is especially in my jaw and my low back. I take migraine medication to help subdue the horrific pain! My dentist said I would have it for the rest of my life. As a former nurse of 26 years, I'm no closer to a solution than anyone else. I had knee surgery on the 10th of July plus five foot surgeries in the past. I see a chiropractor for my low back. Have you done much for your jaw pain? I begged them to pull three teeth which didn't help. Plus at a pain clinic, I've have my jaw injected with novacaine and alcohol & the relief was only temporary. Thanks for sharing your story! kewpie53

Morgan

8/13/08 1:28pm

I'm glad that I'm not the only one that goes to a chiropractor. I find that the Chiropractor helps my muscles to relax. Have you ever had your chiropractor check your jaw for dislocation before? Evey time I go see my chiropractor and he checks my jaw it's dislocated. As soon as he re - alligns my jaw the pain and the migranines goes away imediatley! He ordered me a mouth guard to wear at night. So far it has helped some good luck with everything!

Wishes of good health . . .

Morgan : )

kewpie53

8/13/08 1:57pm

Hi - yes, I have my chiropractor realign my jaw every time I see her too. The mouth guard made me gag but think I will triy the jaw exercises that a gal recommended. Thanks for your insight! Dixie

Morgan

8/13/08 2:41pm

Dixie,

I have the same issue with my mouth guard. I have a small mouth. My chiropractor told me to try to wear it during the day while you are doing something. I'm able to wear my mouth guard all night now. I guess if you are focusing on something else you don't realize the discomfort that the mouth guard causes you. It does help. I've been wearing mine for about a week and a half now. The last time I saw my chiropractor he said that my jaw was dislocated, but not as bad as it had been prior to wearing the guard. When I first started going to the chiorpractor I was going 3 times a week for 2 weeks then 2 times a week for three weeks. Now I'm down to 1 to 2 times a week. He hopes that I will only have to have 2 to 3 monthly visits. I think that the chiropractor appointments are the only doctor appointments that I enjoy! My doctor is great... he takes donations only! I hope that you can find something to help your jaw soon! Sometimes after being adjusted I feel as if my whole body is messed up. Both of my hips pop out weekly, my tail bone, my neck, back in between my shoulders, lower lumber, and jaw. I think that the lower lumbar pain is the absolute worst. I think it's because that is where my problems began. Well I'm sure that you are busey. Talk to you soon!

Wishes of good health . . .

Morgan

Mary Helen Reyes

7/24/08 1:18am

Yes, your not alone. I too have this very same condition. I had my doctor refer me to an ENT doctor. He said he believed it was from my biting down, TMJ. I had recently seen my dentist and he suggested a mouth guard when I sleeep. He actually wanted me to wear as mucha as I could. I have alot of ear pain and that same nodule there. The ENT doctor wanted me to see someone who specializes with TMJ problems. He had my blood took to. He wanted to check my thyroid. There wasn;t anything found with that. I had just seen a Arthritis doctor, just to rule out anything. He didnt find anything as far as arthriitis. He really stuck it to me. I should have just stayed with my regular doctor. This has cost me some money. He went ahead and diagnosed me with FM. Just gave me antidepressant and sleep aid. I had a problem taking the antideprressant. I do take the sleep when needed and the antiinflamatory meds. So just so you know your not alone. I have days that are better than others but one pain is my feet. So I just do the best I can from day to day and of course pray alot... So if you have any good info. pass it on. Take care and lots of grace to you...........Mary Helen

jill

7/31/08 10:42pm

I had TMJ and it was cured, yes cured, with exercise of the mouth and jaw.

Push bottom teeth forward and hold mouth open. This will do it.

Good luck.

Holly

9/21/08 9:36pm

Wow, your jaw sounds EXACTLY like mine! The little lump is NOT a tumor and nothing to worry about, first of all! After seeing a dentist and a specialist, I finally went to a maxillofacial surgeon. We tried all the non-invasive things...eating soft foods for a month, advil, moist heat packs, and finally a night guard for sleeping. I started getting severe ear aches and much pain in my jaw and neck. Well, after 6 months, we are going the next step to an arthroscopic procedure to "clean out the gunk" that is impeding my jaw. My fingers are crossed. I haven't been able to eat chewy food or crunchy food forEVER! I have rheumatoid arthritis, which could have created this, and fibromyalgia. Just what I needed...another pain! See your dentist first and have them check all the "simple" things first. Good luck!!

TMJ problems after camping

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