TMJ leading to poor sleep

judgefudge

Hey,

I've been grinding my teeth ever since I was a kid but over the last couple of years it has gotten way worse. Last year my jaw started to click/pop/slide/lock, the works, so I got a mouthguard fitted when I was on holiday. Mostly the condition has improved, my jaw no longer clicks when I eat but I know I must still be clenching at night because I wake up with terrible headaches, pain in my jaw and pain in my temples.

I just wanted to know if anybody has any ideas how to prevent this, I think it's mainly stress related as it gets worse around my exams (I'm a student) leading to poor sleep and then I find it difficult to study or do well. It's just starting to get me down now. A friend suggested taking Xanax before sleeping to ease tension?

Also I've experienced a couple of cases of waking up in the middle of the night gasping for breath over the last six months. This has never happened to me before and its beginning to worry me too.

I've heard there are exercises that can be done to relax your jaw before going to sleep? Any tips on de-stressing before bedtime would be a great help!

Thanks,
E

btkm8unsl0w5r4

What shirt neck size are you? I know its a odd question but its a good indicator of a few things. TMD is a funny one and its particular to each person. Stress is a factor, your age, gender, smoking status, how your teeth meet and any dental work. Best to see a specialist. Gasping for air at night can be a sign of sleep aponea (spelling is not my strong point) and this can be serious. Profession advice is the best treatment here.

day dreamer

Sounds like you are having a tough time of it.

Stress can often worsen the condition. You may indeed have dysfunction in your jaw joint and as fitzgeme has mentioned it could also be sleep apnoea that is waking you.

Get a professional opinion and be very careful self medicating with drugs like zanax. Do not try to be your own physician. You mentioned that you got a mouthguard fitted on holiday but it seems you will need a more thorough exam and assessment

judgefudge

I don't know about shirt neck size as I'm female but I'm not overweight (size 10) so I don't think it could be related to weight? I thought maybe the mouthguard could be obstructing my airways at night, but I've had the mouthguard for about a year and a half and I've only noticed the breathing thing lately.

I have an appointment with a TMJ specialist through my dentist, made this morning for the 7th of September I was just wondering if anyone had an suggestions for how to de-stress at the moment because I have exams starting in the next couple of weeks and I feel like a zombie at the moment!!

Thanks guys

btkm8unsl0w5r4

judgefudge, sound like you are taking the appropriate action, I am sure the specialist can best treat you.

As for stress around exams, thats a difficult one. When I was a student I always found the best way to beat the exam stress was to make out a study plan and stick to it. Mark off the things you have completed as it give you a good sense of accomplishment. In college you cannot hope to know a topic in its entirety so look at past papers and focus your study on likely topics.

De-stress by taking regular breaks, sleeping regularly, keep caffeine to a acceptable level, exercise. Also dont talk to swats to freak you out.

Maybe I am not the best person to advise, I submitted my doctoral thesis on the morning of my wedding via email on my phone.

georgieporgy

judgefudge wrote: »

I don't know about shirt neck size as I'm female but I'm not overweight (size 10) so I don't think it could be related to weight? I thought maybe the mouthguard could be obstructing my airways at night, but I've had the mouthguard for about a year and a half and I've only noticed the breathing thing lately.

I have an appointment with a TMJ specialist through my dentist, made this morning for the 7th of September I was just wondering if anyone had an suggestions for how to de-stress at the moment because I have exams starting in the next couple of weeks and I feel like a zombie at the moment!!

Thanks guys

An appointment in September! gasp!

I'm sending you a specialist name via pm who will see you in a more timely fashion.

Big_G

Phoenix Enough Villain wrote: »

Maybe I am not the best person to advise, I submitted my doctoral thesis on the morning of my wedding via email on my phone.

Nice. I'd say the wife was happy about that. Did Prof not give you some abuse about it? I definitely would have if I was in a position of power. Mwahaaahahahahah. I am in a position of power.

Abuse.

That is all.

judgefudge

Well I've made out a study plan now although I'm terrible at sticking to them! Ah I'm not even really worried bout the exams its just that when I try to sleep my mind is so active I lie there awake for hours! I took some nightnurse last night, on the advice of a pharmacist friend, in the hopes of sleeping but it didn't do anything for me. I guess I'll just have to deal with all this crappy sleep. Thanks for the advice

P.S. Georgieporgy, I actually purposely scheduled the appointment for september because I'm going to Australia for 3 months in a few weeks. They offered me an appointment for next week but my exams start then, thanks for the number though!