What Can Be Done For Continued TMJ Now On Rt.

Posted on Fri, 26 Oct 2018

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Fri, 26 Oct 2018 Answered on

Last reviewed on

Question : What can be done for continued TMJ now on Rt. side jaw although both had been hurting.?? Dentist pressed on sinuses which really hurt also.

Answered by Dr. Vaishalee Punj (42 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
It could be arthritis of TMJ

Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome to Ask A Doctor service.

I have reviewed your query and here is my advice.

In elderly age groups, arthritis is most common cause of TMJ pain. Gout and kidney disease are also in background and can be responsible for it. Sinusitis will worsen the TMJ pain. So most probably the pain on right side is due to right sinusitis. Hopefully the antibiotics will relieve the symptoms. But I feel that you should consult an orthopedic surgeon and run some radiological imaging according to him.

Meanwhile you can do the following to help:
- Take medicine for gout
- Discontinue calcitrol for few weeks as it can exaggerate muscle spasm especially when taken in excess or prolonged time.
- Get stronger pain killers prescribed
- Get uric acid, vitamin D level, imaging of TMJ (X ray mandible, CT or MRI)
- Get checked for ear infection
- Soft diet
- Heat 15 to 20 min 5-6 times a day
- Muscle relaxants at bedtime like diazepam or amitriptyline

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar