TMJ and Sleep Apnea Connection

Anybody here have TMJ? I think I finally made the connection. About 5 years ago I had a bad skiing accident wear I fell on the left side /back of my head on some ice. I was wearing a helmet which saved my noggin but I damaged the area behind my ear and upper jaw. It wasn't broken so just had to let it heal. Since then I slowly developed major TMJ symptoms and jaw popping which I now believe has led to sleep apnea. There isn't much that can be done to correct my TMJ other than managing it with ice and NSAIDs (which I hate taking).

You need to control your sleep apnea regardless of the cause!

D.H. wrote: ↑

Sun Dec 01, 2019 8:41 am

You need to control your sleep apnea regardless of the cause!

That's why I am here.

My point was there is no cure for my TMJ so I need to manage the sleep apnea accordingly.

Hopefully my epiphany will help someone else that has TMJ that is causing sleep apnea.

Not saying it's not possible, but I think the other direction would be more likely -- sleep apnea leading to jaw grinding (bruxism), jaw grinding leading to putting stress on the joint, joint stress leading to TMJ. I don't see a pathway from joint injury to airway blockage, unless perhaps your nose was getting blocked up at night and you used to compensate by breathing through your mouth.

I've suffered from TMJ occasionally but it's tied to inflammation. For a while I was trying to use a mouthguard with an air passage through it (i.e., a scuba diving mouthpiece with a rigid plastic tube put through it) but that only helped with my nasal congestion.

many people don't understand the meaning of tmj. tmj is the joint itself. everybody has 2. tmd is the term for a disorder of the joint which you have.

"The temporomandibular (tem-puh-roe-man-DIB-u-lur) joint (TMJ) acts like a sliding hinge, connecting your jawbone to your skull. You have one joint on each side of your jaw. TMJ disorders — a type of temporomandibular disorder or TMD — can cause pain in your jaw joint and in the muscles that control jaw movement."

I don't believe tmd causes sleep apnea.

MattL wrote: ↑

Sun Dec 01, 2019 8:38 am

Since then I slowly developed major TMJ symptoms and jaw popping which I now believe has led to sleep apnea.

TMJ disorders would only cause sleep apnea if it somehow decreased the airway opening.

I'm more inclined to think your sleep apnea was caused by normal aging or longterm snoring. Maybe it was there all along and just got worse to the point it was finally diagnosed. Obstructive sleep apnea does tend to be a progressive condition - the person who snores at age 30 may have a serious case of apnea by age 40.

MattL wrote: ↑

Sun Dec 01, 2019 8:38 am

There isn't much that can be done to correct my TMJ other than managing it with ice and NSAIDs

I hope "isn't much that can be done" is a well-informed statement backed by at least two capable doctors. There are multiple avenues of treatment. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-con ... c-20350945

With TMJ , I would advise you to avoid any mask that touches the lower jaw.
Nasal pillows would be least intrusive.
If you need a cushion mask, you might be able to use a Sleepweaver nasal mask.
The Elan was my favorite.

I have successfully used acupuncture for my tmjd. It's not a cure, but lasts longer than pills. Also, I have been wearing a nightguard for it, for years. A gentle massage also is helpful. Never used ice or drugs.

There are also eating guidelines with tmjd. Like not biting a whole apple. Cutting it into slices is fine. Gum chewing is not recomnended. My dentist provided my information way, way back when we first noticed it, 40+ years ago. Sleep apnea 2 years ago.

Treating you sleep apnea may help your tmjd.

I wonder if anyone has tried transdermal electrical nerve stimulation for tmjd.
Others have found it helpful for large joint pain.