What patients may complain about with diseases of the temporomandibular joint or TMJ

Causes

Clicking in the ears, not associated with swallowing, occurs when the muscles of the hearing aid contract. This occurs with muscle spasm, as well as due to swelling of the auditory tube. Swelling accompanies infectious diseases of the ENT organs (otitis of a bacterial or fungal nature, sinusitis, pharyngitis), Meniere's disease (fluid accumulation in the inner ear), habitual dislocation of the jaw. With arthritis and arthrosis of the jaw joints, patients are bothered by crunching and clicking noises due to damage to the cartilage tissue. Ear plugs lead to pronounced clicking sounds when swallowing, as the patency of the auditory tube is impaired.

Monotonous tinnitus occurs with high blood pressure. The cause may be not only chronic hypertension, but also stress, heat stroke and intoxication. Complex noises that are auditory hallucinations are often a sign of mental illness. In any case, no matter what reason the patient suspects, self-medication is not worth it. A timely visit to an otolaryngologist for diagnosis and treatment is the best solution if noise or clicking occurs.

Why does it crunch?

To begin with, it should be said that it is not the jaw itself that crunches, as many believe, but the temporomandibular joint (TMJ).

Here are the reasons that can lead to this problem:

Neurosis that causes night grinding of teeth;
Joint injury, for example, dislocation when biting off a large piece;
Lack of teeth (the tooth was removed, but prosthetics are being delayed);
A filling that was incorrectly polished by the dentist;
Malocclusion since childhood
This is a natural disorder - the ligaments stretch very easily, which can lead to crunching.

Symptoms

If clicks in the ears are associated with swelling of the inner ear, then the ENT doctor will be able to objectively record them during the initial examination. Patients with inflammatory diseases of the ENT organs are also concerned about fever, congestion and pain in the ears (usually “shooting”), and possible ear discharge. With lesions of the jaw joints, patients complain of pain when chewing and a feeling of dislocation, often accompanied by an increase in temperature.

With tinnitus, against the background of high blood pressure, patients complain of weakness, headache, nausea, spots before the eyes. The skin of these patients is hyperemic, and convulsions may occur. With heatstroke, your body temperature rises, your pulse becomes rapid and weak, and your breathing becomes faster. These conditions require emergency medical attention.

Why do jaw joints click differently?

This depends on the nature of the disease. Here are the most common types of clicks:

intense - a sound that is heard by others;
clicks that only the patient hears when talking or chewing food;
clicks in a calm state, when a person does not move the jaw at all;
clicks that only a specialist can hear using special equipment. The person does not hear them.

Types of clicks, depending on the moments of playback:

with the mouth wide open;
when the mouth is slightly open;
in a calm state;
when chewing;
when talking;
when yawning;
when the patient closes his mouth;
when closing the jaws, etc.

Diagnostics

It is necessary to conduct a general and biochemical blood test to determine the presence of infection, a microbiological analysis of a smear from the ear and nasopharynx. An ENT doctor examines the level of hearing and the patency of the auditory tube. X-rays and MRIs can determine the presence of inflammatory diseases, lesions of joint tissue or neoplasms; An ultrasound is performed to determine the condition of the hearing organs. In case of hypertension, blood pressure and ECG measurements are required. In the absence of physiological changes leading to tinnitus, consultation with a psychotherapist is necessary.

How will we treat?

If suddenly the pain is very severe, you need to resort to first aid:

apply hot and moist heat to the sore area, for example, a heating pad wrapped in a damp towel;
cold - ice, also wrapped in a towel;
take analgesics - spazmolgon, analgin, baralgin.

Anti-inflammatory drugs should not be taken, they can do a disservice - they will relieve pain, but will not help in treatment, in addition, they will also cause noise in the ear.

If the crunch in the jaw has been around for a long time and has already begun to irritate you, then first of all, you need to eliminate its cause. As a rule, in this case the prognosis is very favorable and the crunch is eliminated without problems in 90% of cases.

As for the remaining 10%, here the situation is more serious:

irreversible change in the joint due to injury (blow to the jaw);
rheumatism (sometimes leading to destruction of the TMJ).

If you have a broken bite, an incorrectly installed prosthesis or filling, contact your dentist or orthodontist. Sometimes it is necessary to take an x-ray of the diseased joint to exclude possible displacement of the articular head.

The main thing is that you should not prescribe treatment yourself, regardless of what caused the crunch. You will definitely need to do a general blood test to identify or rule out inflammation in the body.

If there are disturbances in the structure of the TMJ, you may have to undergo surgery to eliminate them. In particular, if the problem is an old injury. There are not as many specialists in carrying out such complex surgical interventions as we would like, but only they will help solve the problem once and for all. If the cause of the crunch is a dislocation or subluxation, then the joint can be realigned in an outpatient clinic.

In addition to the listed measures, other treatments are prescribed for jaw crunching:

physiotherapy;
acupuncture;
installing a splint that will limit movement and relieve pain for a while.

Treatment

It is clear that due to various reasons for the appearance of noise, treatment methods can vary significantly in each case. If the clicking in the ears is caused by the presence of wax plug, it is removed in a hospital setting. In the presence of infection, complex antimicrobial therapy is carried out - antibacterial or antifungal drugs, antihistamines (Diazolin, Suprastin, Loratadine) and vasoconstrictors (Otrivin, Naphthyzin, Polydexa), non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (Nurofen, Ibuprofen). In case of severe muscle spasm, muscle relaxants (Drotaverine, No-Shpa) are prescribed. For lesions of the jaw joints, it is recommended to take chondroprotectors (Glucosamine, Chondroitin).

The accumulation of fluid in the inner ear requires the prescription of antipsychotics (Aminazin, Triftazin) to normalize the functioning of the vestibular apparatus and diuretics (Diacarb, Veroshpiron) to reduce the level of edema. Pneumomassage of the eardrum, performed by an otolaryngologist, is also indicated. Tinnitus with hypertension requires treatment of the underlying disease. To normalize blood pressure, beta-blockers (Anaprilin, Metoprolol), sedatives (Persen, Novo-Passit), ACE inhibitors (Captopril, Lisinopril, Ceronapril), calcium blockers (Nifedipine, Manidipine), diuretics are prescribed.

If tinnitus reduces the patient’s quality of life, along with drug therapy, the use of psychological techniques may be recommended to reduce the severity of subjective perception of noise.

The reception is conducted by specialists

Kirillov Evgeniy Sergeevich

Audiologist

Cost of services

Initial consultation with an audiologist
1200₽

Repeated consultation with an audiologist

1000₽

Treatment methods at home

We are categorically against self-medication, but there are situations when the pain takes you by surprise and going to the dentist in the next 24 hours is not possible, then several procedures will help relieve your condition for a short time:

— Apply a moistened cool towel to the joint for 10-15 minutes, such a compress will help if there is inflammation in the joint

— A hot compress will help with arthrosis

— Rinsing with a decoction of sage or calendula to relieve inflammation and pain

Common causes of clicking in the ear

If we consider possible pathologies, then first of all you should pay attention to the condition of the cervical spine. If you lead a sedentary lifestyle and engage in sedentary work, then there are likely structural changes that prevent normal head movements in full amplitude. The sound source may be located in the cervical spine, and to the ear it is perceived as if it is located inside the auricle. Such a symptom may indicate the presence of spondylosis, vertebral instability, spondyloarthrosis, or deformation of the ligamentous apparatus.

Common causes of a clicking ear also include the following:

violation of physiological posture in the thoracic and cervical spine;
vertebral displacement;
disruption of the conductivity of the vascular bed in the cerebral vessels;
arthrosis of the mandibular joint;
change in bite;
pathologies of the vertebrobasilar apparatus;
damage to the eardrum and much more.

Associated symptoms will help determine the suspected cause. In particular, if there is pain in the corners of the jaw, convulsions of the facial muscles appear, then trigeminal neuritis is possible - a very difficult disease to treat. Dizziness, headaches, general weakness and constant fatigue can be a consequence of cervical osteochondrosis or vertebral artery syndrome. With a curvature of the spine, you may feel excessive tension in the muscles of the back and neck on one side.

You can find out the exact reason for the clicking in your ear when you visit a specialist at our clinic. If necessary, additional diagnostic examinations will be carried out. After an accurate diagnosis has been established, effective treatment using manual therapy methods will be offered.

How is a crunch in the neck treated?

If the diagnostic examination did not reveal serious disorders or the development of a pathological process in the musculoskeletal system, then it is assumed that the crunch was caused by overstrain of muscle tissue or excessive muscle weakness. In this case, it is recommended to adjust your lifestyle, pay attention to sports and proper nutrition.

In other situations, only a specialist can prescribe the correct treatment regimen for the pathology. He takes into account the nature of the pathological disorder, selects the best options for slowing down the process, and prescribes medications and physiotherapeutic procedures for this purpose. Sometimes surgical intervention is unavoidable.

Drug treatment

Treatment is always selected individually, taking into account the clinical picture of the disease and the stage of its development. At the initial stage, therapy is aimed at relieving symptoms, therefore the following groups of drugs are used:

Painkillers (“Analgin”, “Ketanov”, “Baralgin”). They are aimed at getting rid of unpleasant sensations in the back and overall relief of well-being. Accepted according to the scheme 5-7 days.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (Movalis, Diclofenac, Ibuprofen). They are prescribed to eliminate the inflammatory process in soft tissues, relieve a person from pain and swelling. Use with caution for gastrointestinal disorders.
Chondroprotectors (“Dona”, “Teraflex”, “Arthra”). They are aimed at launching regeneration processes in cartilage tissue, slowing down the destructive process as a whole and obtaining lasting results during treatment.
Muscle relaxants (Mydocalm, Baclofen). Prescribed if the patient experiences stiffness, muscle spasms or blocks. They effectively smooth out muscle muscles and eliminate discomfort.
B vitamins. They are selected individually and are aimed at strengthening bones and improving the condition of the musculoskeletal system as a whole.

Various medications are used to relieve pain

In case of severe pain, it is recommended to wear a Shants collar to reduce the load on the spine and eliminate muscle spasm. In hospital settings, novocaine blockades are used.

Physiotherapy

While taking medications, the patient is advised to visit a physiotherapist. Suitable procedures are selected individually, taking into account the existing symptoms. Their main task is to eliminate pain in muscle tissue, relieve spasm, swelling, and relieve inflammation. To combat a crunch in the neck, the following techniques are used:

Electrophoresis. Allows the introduction of drugs deep into tissues through the action of electric current. The procedure is carried out using special equipment under the supervision of a specialist.
Laser therapy. Using a laser, you can achieve lasting treatment results. But the technique has contraindications and is not prescribed for all disorders of the musculoskeletal system.
Magnetotherapy. Exposure to a magnetic field on the affected area allows the patient to be relieved of acute pain for a long time, eliminate swelling, and consolidate the results obtained from taking medications.
Shock wave therapy. New technology is used to treat various pathological processes in the spine. Allows you to effectively combat even chronic forms of disorders. The essence of the method is to expose tissue to shock waves at a certain supersonic frequency. It is carried out using special devices under the supervision of a specialist.
Acupuncture. This branch of Chinese medicine is widely used today to treat pathologies of the musculoskeletal system. Placing special needles at certain acupuncture points allows you to start regenerative processes in the body, normalize well-being, and restore normal back mobility.
Thermal procedures. Dosed use of warming substances can effectively warm the affected area during one session, improve blood circulation in it, and normalize metabolic processes.
Balneotherapy. The technique involves a complex effect on the body during water procedures. A positive effect is observed not only in bone tissue, but also in blood vessels, skin, and the functioning of internal organs improves.

Physiotherapeutic techniques are used only in combination with exercise therapy and drug therapy. Only in this case does this approach give good results and help to get rid of unpleasant symptoms for a long time and slow down the pathological process.

Massage procedures and self-massage

A good way to help the body cope with the pathological process in the musculoskeletal system is massage. The technique shows high effectiveness if the cause of a crunch in the neck is a sedentary lifestyle. You don’t even need to visit a specialist to carry out the procedure.

Self-massage is carried out according to the following algorithm:

Sit comfortably on a level chair, tilt your head forward.
Prepare the skin for the upcoming exposure by stroking and rubbing oil into the collar area.
Gradually apply pressure to the muscle tissue surrounding the spine, while not touching the bones themselves.
The movements can be kneading pointwise, with a slight grip on the skin.
You should massage the area for 5-10 minutes, then take a comfortable position on your back and allow the muscles to completely relax.
To obtain results, you will need to conduct such sessions for 2 weeks.

One of the ways to treat crunching is self-massage; in the process it is important to follow the technique.

Self-massage is used only in the absence of a diagnosis and an identified pathological cause of the disorder. Otherwise, work with the affected area should be entrusted to a specialist who will correctly select the technique and intensity of exposure.

Physiotherapy

The basis of the fight against pathological disorders in the spine is therapeutic exercises. To combat neck crunches, the complex usually includes the following approaches:

Turn your head in different directions, circular movements.
Overcoming resistance. To do this, your hands hold your head in one position, and your muscles must strain and try to move it.
Gradual rotation of the head in different directions.
Working on the shoulders and collar area by raising your arm above your head.

The treatment complex is always compiled individually; usually no more than 5-6 repetitions are required at a time. You will need to devote 20-30 minutes of personal time to training every day.

Nutrition correction

An important basis of treatment is nutritional correction. The menu includes foods with a lot of collagen. They promote natural regeneration and strengthening of cartilage. These are seafood, dairy, vegetables, red meat, fruits. It is useful to eat dishes with gelatin, for example jellied meat.

During the recovery period, the amount of salty foods, confectionery products, fast carbohydrates, and unhealthy fats is limited. Particular attention is paid to the drinking regime. The body must receive a sufficient amount of purified water. Mineral water is selected individually, taking into account the patient’s age and the nature of the pathological process.

When your neck crunches when you turn your head, without pain or other symptoms, there is no reason to worry. But if the sound is accompanied by unpleasant sensations, or disturbances in the functioning of the organs of vision and hearing, then it should be regarded as a sign of dysfunction in the body. Immediate consultation with a doctor allows for a complete diagnosis, identification of the disease in the early stages and comprehensive treatment.