Could Chronic Ear Pain Be TMJ?

Ear pain from TMJ in West Orange
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Category: Ear Pain, TMJ

Chronic ear pain can be highly intrusive, making it hard to sleep, think, and go about your normal day. Many people find chronic ear pain confusing, especially when it seems unrelated to common causes like infections.

At the Headache & TMJ Center of New Jersey in West Orange, NJ, our experienced team, led by Dr. Ivan Stein and Dr. Allan Stein, are temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder experts with an in-depth understanding of how the condition can cause ear pain and other frustrating symptoms.

If your doctor has ruled out other ear problems and your ear pain just won’t quit, TMJ may be the culprit.

TMJ Symptoms That Affect Your Ears

TMJ disorder can cause a variety of ear-related symptoms. Some of the most common are:

  • Ear Pain: The temporomandibular joint connects your lower jaw to your skull, immediately beside your ear canal. They’re so close that they have a common ligament. When you have problems with the joint, the pain can easily spread to your ear.
  • Vertigo (Dizziness): The inner ear is responsible for balance, and the TMJ’s connection to the ear can throw that balance off. With TMJ, chronic inflammation in the joint can cause pressure on the inner ear, leading to dizziness and poor balance regulation.
  • Tinnitus (Ringing in the Ears): Ringing or buzzing in the ears, known as tinnitus, is a frequent symptom of TMJ problems. It happens because of inflammation or misalignment of the TMJ.
  • Fullness in the Ears: You may feel your ears are uncomfortably full or clogged when you have TMJ. Inflammation is a big contributor to this sensation. TMJ disorder can also irritate the nerves serving the jaw and ear, causing a fullness sensation.

These ear issues can be quite disruptive, as can the other symptoms of TMJ, such as jaw pain. But, the good news is that TMJ disorder is treatable. The first step is to get an accurate diagnosis to know the right treatment path.

Treatment Paths for TMJ Ear Pain

Treatment focuses on relieving the underlying issues with ear pain and other symptoms. We offer full-spectrum care for TMJ, including oral appliances, ultrasound-guided injections, Botox injections, and many other personalized approaches that provide long-term relief.

Suspect TMJ? Help For Ear Pain in West Orange, NJ

If you’re frustrated with the never-ending ear pain or other unpleasant symptoms involving your ear and jaw, it’s time to schedule your TMJ disorder evaluation. We offer expert diagnosis and treatment solutions all in one convenient place in our West Orange office. Call us at 855-865-3627 to schedule a consultation today.