Should I Spend $8,000 for TMJ Treatment (In Hopes of It Helping Tinnitus)?

@linearb -

Sorry to hear you lost your guard! I went a similar track. I bought a $30 mouth guard from amazon and I've been trying that. I'm not sure if it's helping yet, but it's only been a few nights.

On top of that, I scheduled a consultation with the oral surgery dept at my hospital. Insurance is more likely to cover anything they say I need, but it'll be interesting to get another opinion. Will keep you posted on what they find!

I'm also seeing a chiropractor now, I may need a separate post for that. Basically I have forward head posture and a completely straight neck (it's normally supposed to be curved in a C shape). The lack of curve could be messing with the inner ear, TMJ, and nerves in my cervical spine. I'm skeptical but I'm open to trying anything at this point. It's been frustrating and depressing, to say the least.

On top of that I'm seeing an ophthalmologist this week, took forever to get that appointment. That's for my visual symptoms, maybe or maybe not related to T, but they started at the same time so I'm thinking they're related.

 

@stev3po be interested to see how you progress and hope you get the answers. I have forward head posture to and been doing some exercises for posture. I have read good/bad stories on Chiro's. Just been leery to pursue that right now. Went to physical therapist and got exercises to do myself. I know there are many classifications, NUCCA, Atlasorthogonal, etc.

Not completely similar (tinnitus in right ear, no visual issues) but no doubt my body mechanics are not right.

Good luck to you!

Ken

 

Here's the latest:

TL;DR - no mechanical jaw problems found. Professional mouthguard might help. Ophthalmologist didn't see anything wrong with my eyes. Referral to neurologist

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Saw the oral surgeon who took a 360 xray of my mouth and jaw. The doctor explained to me that there didn't seem to be anything wrong with my jaw, and that it is rare that it would press upon the inner ear. She didn't mention I needed anything she could provide. She did note that a mouth guard would benefit me as I show signs of grinding and clenching (receding gums mean grinding/clenching, apparently that's the first part the stress of grinding will wear down. I've had receding gums for years, but never knew why). She mentioned the amazon ones don't work because they are not flat. If they're not flat on the contact surface of the teeth they are similar to not wearing anything apparently. So I need to see a regular dentist that can make one, and insurance will likely not cover all of it, in the ballpark of $1500. At this point I'd definitely try that tho!

I stopped seeing the chiropractor, after a month of 3x week visits I didn't notice any difference better or worse. I do still seem to have forward head posture, and I'm working on that independently. Seems like yoga and stretching could do the job.

Ophthalmologist dilated my eyes, but didn't notice anything abnormal. Got a referral to a neurologist, since I'm also seeing visual snow in the dark, but unsure as to when that will be now.

 

Dude... you are going on the tinnitus specialist goose chase and you will only wind up spending money.

No eye specialist can do shit about VSS since it’s coming from the thalamus.

There are similar people on this forum who chase the famed TMJ tinnitus cure and only wind up with a hole in their pocket; TMJ specialists, chiropractors, massage therapists, acupuncturists, orthodontists, dentists, ENTs, etc.

I hope you find your cure but it’s really not likely.

 

@stev3po sounds like you are hitting all areas. Wish you the best. Definitely a beast.

How is your tinnitus doing?

 

Yes, you're absolutely right. I'm just doing what I can.

 

Thanks KWC, appreciate that! It's not bad overall, mostly just hear it when it's quiet. But the fact that it was only left, then both right and left is bothersome. Just trying to rule out things that it could be!

 

Do you have ETD? Have you done a tympanometry test and if yes, did they find abnormal middle ear pressure? Just trying to figure something out.

 

I believe they did the tympanometry but I don't think it was abnormal, at least they didn't mention it! What were you thinking?

Steve

 

I’m having TMD and apparently it can cause ETD which IMO is why tinnitus starts although it isn’t that simple. I write more about it in my thread just now. I was just curious because if you did have ETD (in the form of more than normal middle ear pressure, they print a paper like the one I will upload now), it would be a good indicator. I don’t know how your case goes but there is a chance that a nerve is being irritated by the condyle and so, having a CBCT scan first and then discussing options for guard or splint seems to be a good protocol. Mine saw I have extreme tension in my muscles all around by checking certain points (maybe trigger points? She’s a dentist). I’m just mentioning these in case they help you.

For tympanometry printed image, N line is where pressure should have been, it’s double that.