Do you suffer from migraines too?

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Permalink Reply by The Mother on January 30, 2009 at 2:43pm

As an MD and a migraineur, I was in a really bad place for a while when the meds weren't working and each new drug was so much worse than the last. Trying to survive and take care of the children was a nightmare.

Mine are gone now. Here's a tidbit that you don't find often (ever!) in the medical literature: up to 2/3 of chronic migraines are actually caused by temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMJ).

If you're a type A workaholic like I am, you may very well be grinding your teeth at night, forcing that jawbone up into your skull and setting up a constellation of neurological inflammatory processes that result in migraines.

It is SO worth getting it checked out. I could recommend a TMJ specialist in the Houston area, but you'll probably have to do some digging. One caveat--don't just go to an orthodontist. Only a handful are up on the latest info and many don't believe that misalignment of the jaw causes serious neurologic complaints. Ditto your neurologist (now cured of my migraines for ten years, I run into my old neurologist and he still just shakes his head). Sometimes, it takes mainstream medicine a while to catch on.

Hope this helps. With a little luck, you may be one of the lucky ones who "just" have TMJ.

PLEASE let me know how this works out for you.

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Permalink Reply by Paula K on February 2, 2009 at 7:01pm

hi there

thanks so much for this! taking gluten out of my diet has helped to a huge extent, as has regular visits to my osteopath for neck and back work......I'm pretty sure that I have hormonal migraines left but YES, I DO GRIND MY TEETH, CLENCH MY JAW at night!! at one stage, when i had my mercury fillings removed I had a small splint (covered my front 2 teeth) to help prevent this......I actually bit right thru one so they had to make it thicker....the prob was I kept spitting it out during my sleep......so yes, I do have this prob and yes, I am a Driver Type A personality:-) I will look into a TMJ specialist immediately as my 12 yr old son does same at night and has done since he grew teeth!!

Thanks heaps....I appreciate you taking the time to give me such great advice!

Take care from australia
Paulak:-)

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Permalink Reply by Heather on February 3, 2009 at 7:28pm

Hey there Paula, fellow Migraine sufferer...

Mine are totally hormone related, which I can schedule around. What I cannot predict is the severity. Sometimes, a couple tylenols with codeine will do. While, others I need a dark room and a radio. The quiet seems to magnify the pain - the sound a much needed distraction. Do you know what your triggers are? Mine, booze, and low pressure weather systems - and of course - hormones!

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Permalink Reply by Paula K on February 3, 2009 at 10:48pm

Hi Heather....yes, same.....haven't had a sip of alcohol in a year! NO GLUTEN IN DIET!!! heat & light, white noise & flickering lights are triggers....remove all that and left with hormones! saw pain centre surgeon this mroning as have sacrial joint back issues as well.....they are going to 'burn' for want of better word (laser) some nerves to sacrial joint in effort to stop pain signals....high success rate, low risk........need to take away sections of pain....as you know, it all compounds......seeing a great Osteopath...the work she has done on my neck has been gently prodding the muscles back to where they should be and i think this is helping the migrianes as well........should have 7 migraine free days now until hormone triggers........i feel for you......take care, from paulak, aussie:-)

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