Have you ever felt pain in your ear that is accompanied by an unusual of pain in your throat, that is different from when you have a cold or a sore throat? Are you experiencing abnormality in speech which refuses to go away even after consulting speech and hearing therapists? These symptoms are a sign that you might be suffering from a disease called temporomandibular joint disease, also called TMJ disorder.
Take Note of TMJ Symptoms Well in Time
Like any other disease, identifying TMJ dysfunction as early as possible decreases the chances of chronic pain in your jaw, head, and throat. You must understand that TMJ disease has nothing to do with teeth. It affects the area in your skull connecting the skull to the lower jaw.
- One of the major symptoms is excruciating pain in the ear. This is because of its proximity to the temporomandibular joint. It can also lead to loss of hearing ability with time.
- When you are suffering from TMJ disease, you may also develop a speech abnormality that is not easy to explain and may not be easy to treat by a speech therapist.
- Further, you may also experience pain in your teeth. Usually, pain in the teeth is linked to tooth decay or some gum problem. However, if your dentist can’t find any reason for your toothache, this might be linked to TMJ disorder. This can further lead to tooth complications like tooth mobility or tooth loss.
- Worse yet, you may experience headaches. Always consult your doctor to find out if your headaches are linked to TMJ or not. The pain caused by TMJ can reverberate to your facial muscles, jaw joints, neck and shoulders, making it difficult for you to do everyday tasks. If it worsens, TMJ can also cause dislocation of the jaw.
If you are able to identify TMJ in the beginning from some initial symptoms, you can save yourself from all the pain and also take medicine for a speedy recovery. Research suggests that early diagnosis of TMJ is important and if it worsens, you not only have to go through a lot of pain but the treatment may also be long and tiring.
Links to Chronic Pain
Research has identified similarities between TMJ disorder and lower back pain. Both of these disorders are often chronic and recurrent. These disorders are idiopathic in nature and invasive treatments have not benefitted the patients much.
Though TMJ is not a very serious disease, if it is not attended to well in time it can lead to pain and suffering that will only worsen over time. It deteriorates the quality of life of a patient and may also lead to some permanent damages. Timely diagnosis and intervention followed by TMJ treatment can save you a lot of trouble. If you notice any of the symptoms listed above, make an appointment with our experienced Smile Team at Joshua Hong DDS in Goodyear AZ and we will make sure relief if on its way.