Hello,
I have not been here in quite some time. Some of the older members may remember me. I was diagnosed with young onset PD in 1998. Since then I was tried on a few medicines. They did not work well because I am med sensitive. Therefore I have been pretty much med free all this time. Recently I had to chage neurologists again and returned to a neuro I seen back in 2000. He feels it is time for meds and started me on Requip 1mg 3 times a day along with Sinemet 25/100 3 times a day. Because I am med sensitive I am going to take the Requip alone for a couple of weeks before I add the Sinemet. So far I have tolerated it well. Now for my questions. Just recently before the meds were added I started grinding my teeth at night. It is mild during the day and gets alot worse at night. It is so bad it wakes me up. Is this a PD symptom? The neuro says it is. He said it is a jaw tremor and that the medication especially the Sinemet should help. The other symptom I have is sometimes after I eat I have pain in the jaw area behind the ears that feels like needles picking me. It does not happen often and it only happens after eating. The pain lasts only about 5 minutes. The neuro said he believes it is rigidity. Has anyone else had this? Thanks for listening.

Love to all,
Mona

I've heard that TMJ can be a later side effect of PD due to the tremor/regidity of the jaw. The left side of my jaw pops but no pain. As for the teeth grinding, there are mouth pieces you can wear that help protect your teeth and may help with the jaw pain.

Robert

You have answered my prayers ....I thought I was the only one who did this.
Yes yes yes. I am so bad with it I wake up the whole household some nights.My poor hiusband has had to get a job in the north sea just to get some peace at night.[only kidding]
It is a problem.I have worn my back teeth down and weakened them considerably ...used to have great teeth but now they are so sensitive.,I also notice that I hold my jaw rigid for much of the time....quite subconsciously and it creates the tension you describe.
Great suggestion about the gum shields Robert but I want to hang on to my marriage for a bit longer..lol
My husband doesn`t want to wake up to the site of a gob full of rubber leering at him first thing...but then again....suppose the alternative is a gob full of gums and no teeth.Decisions decisions.
Maybe I will re-consider.
I just try to focus on what is happening and do relaxation exercises to release the tension.
Just another nuisance of pd.
good luck

A side effect of taking my meds (Mirapex, generic Sinemet, and Amantadine) is clenching my teeth. Very annoying and certainly not good for my teeth. I do have a mouth guard.

Ann

TMJ or BRUXISM
My wife uses a guard, they are cheap and really help. The causes are many and you don't have to have PD to be a "tooth grinder".

HI Mona,

Welcome back. I ended up with TMJ,[diagnosed by MRI with dislocated disc]and had to get an orthodontic device that cost me $2400 out of pocket. It worked and I am no longer using it. That doesn't mean I won't need it again in the future. My jaw cracked for years, and then it became painful....extremely so.

So I guess my only advice, is to have it attended to when it hurts. I have rigidity in my neck and mouth area and although TMJ pain and treatment occurred during a time of great stress [family split up], I do consider the cause to be pd related or dyskinesia /dystonia side effects from meds.

good luck,
paula

Hi,
Thank you all for your advice. This is a new symptom that I am concerned with. Thanks again for your time.
Love to all,
Mona