What Jaw Pain Taught Me About Stress: Dealing with Temporomandibular Joint or TMJ Disorder

Is there an object you can’t sleep without? You’d probably say blanket, pillow, or your pajamas.

But for me, it’s a mouthguard.

It might sound odd to most of you, but every night before I sleep, I make sure to wear a mouthguard. No, I don’t have a boxing match with Manny Pacquiao in my dreams, and I don’t play contact sports while sleeping. But I do need to wear a mouthguard every night to protect myself from a condition called bruxism—or teeth grinding.

Bruxism is a health condition where you unconsciously grind or clench your teeth. I’ve had this since grade school. Back then, my mild bruxism didn’t bother me at all. It caused no pain or discomfort. Little did I know, though, that my teeth grinding would eventually lead to something more serious.

Discovering My TMJ Disorder During Pandemic

In 2021, in the middle of the pandemic, I started experiencing symptoms that significantly affected my quality of life. It began with headaches that would come and go. I initially thought it was just quarantine fatigue. But as months went by, the headaches persisted and were soon joined by other painful and bothersome symptoms like sinus pain, neck pain, shoulder pain, toothaches, throat pain, ear pain, jaw pain, nausea, dizziness, and extreme fatigue.

These symptoms worsened my pandemic anxiety. They made it difficult for me to focus on work and even harder to engage in physical activities because I would tire easily, and the pains intensified after mental or physical stress.

I consulted two doctors, but both attributed my symptoms to quarantine burnout.

Desperate for answers, I prayed for God’s wisdom to help me uncover what was really wrong. One day, after persistent online researching, I came across something that seemed like the answer to my prayer.

I found health articles about Temporomandibular Joint Disorder, commonly known as TMJ Disorder. I had all the listed symptoms, except for jaw clicking and locking.

Curious, I tried to open and close my mouth while observing carefully. That’s when I noticed a soft clicking sound with each movement.

Hoping to finally make sense out of my symptoms, I consulted an ENT specialist and a dentist. Both confirmed I had TMJ disorder.

What is TMJ Disorder?

The temporomandibular joints (TM joints) are located on both sides of our face, just in front of our ears. These joints connect our lower jawbone to our skull and play a key role in everyday movements like speaking and chewing.

TM joints can become inflamed due to various causes such as arthritis, injury, or an improper bite. In my case, it was bruxism. When these joints are inflamed or irritated, it leads to TMJ disorder.

Because the TM joints are connected to many structures in the face and head, inflammation in these joints can cause a wide range of painful symptoms, just like what I experienced.

TMD Symptoms

I’ve been experiencing TM disorder symptoms for along time already but it took a while before I finally figured out what my health problem was because the symptoms are confusing. The wide range of symptoms makes TMJ disorder often difficult to diagnose.

To give you a better picture of how painful TMJD is, here’s a material from Midtown Dental Care Associates. It helped me a lot in understanding my health condition.

According to nonprofit patient advocacy organization TMJ.org, research shows that 85% of patients with TMJ also suffer from other conditions – pain and non-pain conditions in other parts of the body. These conditions include allergies, chronic fatigue syndrome, chronic headache, endometriosis, fibromyalgia, interstitial cystitis, irritable bowel syndrome, neck and low back pain, sleep disorders, and vulvodynia.

My TMJ Disorder Treatment Journey

Treatment for TMJ disorder depends on the cause and severity of the symptoms. In my case, my dentist recommended a combination of:

Wearing a night mouthguard to prevent teeth grinding
Joint therapy through exercises and massages
Stress management techniques

It’s been over a month since I started treatment, and thankfully, the symptoms have improved. But I’ve learned that whenever I fail to manage my stress, the symptoms return. Like many other health conditions, TMJ disorder is heavily triggered by stress.

Aside from practicing stress management, I regularly do exercises for my TMJ Disorder. I’m grateful to be living in the digital age, where credible and reliable resources are easily accessible. One of my favorite go-to experts is Dr. Adam Fields, a chiropractor from North Carolina. His TMJ exercise videos on YouTube have been incredibly helpful in managing my pain and symptoms.

Another important part of my TMJD management is having a support group. I joined two social media groups of people suffering from TMJ disorder.

They say misery loves company, right? I get encouragement from stories of those who share my pain. I also get tips from fellow TMJD patients on how to manage the symptoms and how to prevent flareups.

My Body’s Stress Meter

Despite the challenges this lifelong disorder brings, I now see TMJD as my built-in stress meter. Whenever I feel facial pain or extreme fatigue, it’s my body’s way of telling me I’m pushing too hard or overthinking again. It’s a reminder to pause, take a deep breath, and prioritize my well-being. Managing TMJ disorder requires consistent self-care and an awful lot of stress management.

I’m sharing my story to help raise awareness about TMJ disorder. Many people live with this condition without even knowing it. I hope my experience reaches others who might be silently suffering, so they realize there is hope in managing their condition.

Awareness is the first step toward healing. If you know anyone experiencing TMJD symptoms, encourage him or her to consult a medical professional. Proper treatment can help improve their quality of life.

TMJ References

Disclaimer: This blog post is based on the author’s personal experience with Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) Disorder. It includes insights from credible medical sources that were helpful in her journey, but it is not intended to serve as a medical guide. Readers experiencing similar symptoms are strongly encouraged to consult a qualified medical professional for proper diagnosis and treatment.