TMJ and Elevation Sensitivity? New here.
 

Hello all,

Let me just say how strong you all are for continuing to live and find solutions for this life-changing injury. It breaks my heart somedays to realize how much this has preoccupied my life now. :(

Questions: does anyone else struggle with TMJ/TMD after your concussion? My head injury happened over TWO years ago, yet, to this day, my jaw pops EVERY time I open it and I get occasional pressure headaches and facial pain. Has anyone found any relief for their TMJ?

Also. Has anyone struggled with the feeling of immenent fainting while driving to higher elevation areas? I recently drove up through the mountains in Santa Barbara and thought my body was going limp and that I would blackout. I could NOT stop yawning to try and equalize the pressure in my ears, but it just wouldn't help! It was very frightening. I now have a fear of heights and even flying on a plane :( If anyone has struggled with this, please chime in because I have no idea how to address this problem.



Thank you~ hope everyone is having an okay day.

Bones1994,

Welcome to NeuroTalk.

Are you taking any meds? Some meds (SSRIs) cause jaw clenching, especially during sleep. This can manifest as other jaw issues during the day.

The ear issue should be addressed by an ENT. There are some very rare ear conditions that can be related to a concussion. At this time of year, the mountains above Santa Barbara will be filled with various pollens. That could be an issue. Try taking an anti-histamine drug. It may solve your problem.

There are no reported issues with altitude at lower altitudes. Sustained higher altitudes can slow mental processing.

What struggles have you so burdened?

Please tell us about your injury and symptoms. We have a lot of good experience here.

My best to you.

I have TMJ jaw popping. I’m not sure if I had it before my car accident.

I’ve been using dental device but it has not helped. Going back to dentist next month.

Many years ago before TBI, I used chiropractic for a bad case of TMJ.

Hello Mark in Idaho, thank you for your feedback! I'm not currently taking any medication. I did think about trying Sudafed while driving up to higher altitudes, so that is in the cards.

My injury was an elbow-hit to my left temple, pretty much right above my zygomatic bone and next to my left eye. I did not black-out, but I started experiencing various symptoms 1 week in. It is difficult to describe, but it felt like my body was not mine, and that everything I touched, and heard, literally felt and sounded differently. A lot of sensory disturbances, in other words. My muscles went weak and I was feeling very faint one afternoon and decided to go to the ER. They told me very little, and offered very little in support. Because I seemed cognitively sound and did not black out upon the blow, they did not think to do any imaging of my brain.

Currently, my symptoms are TMJ pain, elevation sensitivity, chronic neck pain, low mood/depression, irritability, occassional feelings of imminent fainting, occasional bouts of dizziness and weakness all over my body. That's all I can think of for now. Hope that's a start!

Sudafed is a decongestant. It causes drainage. An anti-histamine reduces the swelling in the tissues. It should be more beneficial. Ask the pharmacist for a recommendation. I use CloroTrimeton (Chlorphenamine). There are much newer anti-histamines.

Bones,

I had problems with headaches at 6,500 or above for years 2 and 3 post injury. I would start getting sharp pains and it would last for around 3 hours then gone about as quickly as they showed.

Though we seem to have different symptoms it was definetlynaltitude related for me.

That does not occur any longer at year 4.

Bud