The Real Symptoms of TMJ

Question:  I have been in pain for the last 2 years and I am only 19! About 2 years ago when this all started I had a pretty severe injury to my head, jaw and neck. I started going to a Chiropractor, doctor, and even an allergist for sinus pressure. I have been to 3 diff chiropractors, 2 dentists and my doctor multiple times.

I was diagnosed with TMJ, whiplash and a reversed cervical curve. My jaw pops every time I chew, I feel like I am in a fog, My ears sometimes get randomly clogged, I get sharp shooting pains in my temples, forehead, eyebrow, right next to my eye, my ears and all over the back and sometimes top of my head. I also have pretty bad tinnitus (ringing in the ears) when I am in a quiet room or trying to sleep. My neck feels tight, achy and sore all the time. Even when I get 9+ hours of sleep, I wake up feeling like I had slept for like 2 hours. I wear a night guard at night and it dosent seem to be helping. Every time I roll my neck I hear cracking and popping.

I also have a whole bunch of little painless bumps deep in my neck along my spine, and one larger soft one. (My chiropractor said that it was tissue, my doctor said they were tendons)  I ruled out sinusitis with a CT scan of my sinuses, so it is not allergy related. Should I have an MRI done of my neck and head to rule out really bad stuff? Also to see if there was any tissue damage? All my doctors say that TMJ is causing a lot of these symptoms.

The funny thing is, my jaw is the least of my problems at the moment, even though it aches, and pops from time to time, but all the other symptoms are more common than jaw symptoms. for the first 3-4 months after the injury i had severe headaches EVERY DAY!! but for the last year and 5 months i have only had 4-5 minor headaches. Im so confused...barley any headaches!?. Could all of this pain be muscle tension related?

Dr. Marcarian:You need to find a dentist who is specialized in TMJ treatment in your area.  You self diagnosed yourself with a TMD in your email, I wonder what keep you so long to see a TMJ Dentist? (You need an TMJ orthotic and not a night guard).
Good luck