Meniere's or TMJ? Please Help

Hi guys,



Im a 23 yr old male and 5 weeks ago today i had my first ever vertigo attack, where my right ear roared with titinus to the point of total deafness, (as the world began to spin) this lasted for a good few hours that day (touch wood nothing of the sort since).

However, since the attack 5 weeks ago my hearing in that right ear is still impared (struggle with picking up quiet sounds and struggle in social situations which is hard to deal with) however it has improved since the attack and the titinus has died down to a more toralable level, but i think ive hit a point now where it's not going to improve anymore (which is difficult 2 deal with being so young).

After initally being diagnosed with labyrinthitis; an e & t speciallist suggested meniere's, which at any age can be difficult to deal with mentally, due to its unpredictable prognosis. After weeks of worry and anxiety i've done plenty of research as i feel this is important, (i.e sticking to a low-salt diet, regular cardio exercise, no-alcohol) and the other day I stumbled across a fellow patient who was misdiagnosed with menieres and it was actually TMJ (A disorder of the jaw which can effect the inner ear) causing her symptoms which mirrored menieres (Hearing loss/vertigo/ear fullness).

When i was about 15yrs old my dentist told me that i grinded my teeth at night, so I wore a gumsheild for about a year and then stopped stupidly. I've since learned grinding your teeth at night (bruxism) can actually lead to TMJ due to the stress it places on the jaw. I have constant popping/cracking noises in both ears when i swallow, a dull achey face, a stiff neck, and titinus in both ears (very mild in left, noticable in right after the attack where I have hearing loss) which apparently are all symptoms of TMJ but also menieres.

I was just wondering if anyone was familiar theese problems, and if the hearing loss im experiencing is meniere's or TMJ related?

Would be great to hear back, reading some of the remidies and inspirational stories on this forum has definitley helped ease some of the anxiety, knowing other people are going through the same problems!



Cheers x

 

Hi Shaun,
Room spins don't normally happen with TMJ.
Only time will tell if it's Menieres as takes a while to diagnose after tests and if it keeps happening but could be from your labyrinthits attack.
I have had Menieres for many years but took a year or so to diagnose it.
TMJ can cause lots of problems and would not hurt to get checked out by a dentist or maxillofacial specialist to rule it out....lots of love glynis

 

Hi,

Thanks for the reply its very much appreciated, I've got a hearing test booked within the next few weeks so hopefully that might give me some more answers. Have you any advice on living with the unpredictable prognosis of menieres? I used to be such a confident, sociable person prior to this attack, now i can't seem to take menieres off my mind, and the hearing loss/tinnitus reminds me 24/7 of the disease.

 

I would not worry about it unless it's confirmed.
Medications can help like Betahistine or Buccastem or Proclorperazine to take away some symptoms.
It is hard at times not knowing when the attacks come but as I have had it many years now the attacks are less but have hearing loss and sever Bilateral tinnitus.
Try to stay positive and time will tell if Menieres is the problem or was Labyrinthitus....lots of love glynis

 

Ok, Thanks alot for the support, it's really great what you do on here, its very much appreciated!