i have been reading about the hypothesis that jaw issues contribute to PD. anyone have jaw issues like me? it sounds nuts but maybe not so much.

I have jaw issues, for a long time, come and go... What have you read?

We had a thread on TMJ back in September,

TMJ: jaw, compression, PD? http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread157441.html

A video and a paper are referenced there.

Back in the autumn this area looked very exciting, especially in the light of Jannetta's peduncle work (yet another thread). At that time I expected an explosion of new work in the area. But now, 6 months later, I'm unable to find anything new.

This suggests to me that TMJ therapy is a big help for only a few PwP. That said, even if it only helps a few PwP, it is worth looking at.

John

Bruxism, if I am not mistaken, can be one of our earliest motor symptoms. Jaw clenching and teeth grinding can lead up to TMJ. I had it two years prior to diagnosis and used a mouth guard at night. In Wikipedia it lists under "Associated factors..."


Hypersensitivity of the dopamine receptors in the brain
Disorders such as Huntington's and Parkinson's diseases

John, I don't think it is for lack of us having this but who would ever guess it was a symptom...PD is about shaking and moving slowly. It is just not a fashionable topic that attracts grant money and their may not be much to learn as the disorder is so prevalent in the general population. Who knows?


Laura


Laura

I had what was loosely called TMJ problems for many years prior to diagnosis, my brother also had the same, he has no other health issues. Sinemet prescribed from dx time onwards has mostly cleared up TMJ problems, or minimized them. The only exception to this is if I go to bed highly medicated, then there is a return to bruxism, and clenched jaw and facial pain in the next a.m. This will resolve easily over the next few hours of wakefulness, and I put it down to a wearing off issues.

I do not see it as causative of PD, I see it as an early symptom of PD type condition, along with other issues that also resolved with use of ldopa, such as crampy feet that had been diagnosed as caused by heel spurs, and neck problems attributed to cervical spondylosis, and right hand/arm pain attributed to RSI. I also had a long standing issue with right sided chest pain and stiffness that was driving me crazy with discomfort especially after sleep which was diagnosed as intercostal chondritis (the doctor who decided on that had an 'aha' moment with that, loudly exclaiming "Ah, I KNOW what that is!') It to resolved with ldopa.

So which really came first? I have an unsure diagnosis as I am dopa responsive, but atypical, and my neuro treats me for PD. I think he is right to do that, as it is more likely that I have one whole body condition than a host of bits of me that have spontaneously 'gone wrong'.

I have had tmj problems long before any other PD symptoms, my jaw is still very tight. If you google TMJ + Parkinson's you will fidn some youtube videos of people who have been treated by dentists specialising in TMJ problems. A specially fitted mouthguard seems to lessen the symptoms dramatically. I live in teh UK and can't find a dentist with the right training but if I was in teh US this is something I would definitely try. An osteopath told me many years ago that he had never seen anyone with such an unusual bite as mine. It's like my bottom jaw is pushed back.

Trixiedee

My right shoulder had been much lower than my left since I was at least 13 and maybe before that- the mouthguard has leveled my shoulders gradually and seems to help with foot drop. I'm down to just wearing it at night mostly because it interferes with voice articulation and lots of cleaning involved because i tend to snack a lot. The TMJ is intimately in partnership with the atlas. Just makes good sense to support my anatomy. Its quite an inspiration when i get up in the morning ,look in the mirror and see my nightgown even on my shoulders-this doesn't usually last for the rest of the day but i'm willing to be patient.

the first neuromuscular dentist i went to wanted $5,000 for a mouthguard-i found a local dentist who built one for $375....and also i see an upper cervical chiro to make adjustments too. Also I get massage -all these things have not been magic bullets ...just the things that together seem to add up in time-after18 years of shaking etc i'm doing pretty well- still improving if only gradually.

I too have an unusual bite just as you describe. My dentist calls it a 'massive overbite' as the top teeth almost cover the lower front teeth. I don't recall that it was like this when I was younger, it just developed.

Yes Lindy, I have a big overbite too. Maybe we could get work as Simpsons lookalikes?

Trixidee