Problems equalizing-Related to TMJ?

[YPink]

I have had TMJ since I was 12. I started diving last year and it is always hit and miss as to whether or not I can equalize. During my OW, I had to stop because of the immense pain I experienced. Amazingly enough, I was OK in Aruba and made it down to 74 feet with zero ear issues! I joked that it was the warm Carribean water and that my husband would have to take me there all the time instead of the cold quarry (Tennessee & Alabama).

Slow and steady definitely wins the race for me. I descend down the anchor line and take quite some time doing it, equalizing the whole way down.

I went to an ENT last summer, before Aruba. He was not a dive specialist (there are none here in TN) but said that my eustationary gland appeared swollen. Since our last dive in October, I have made it a habit to clear my ear every day. Even on land, my right ear does not "pop" like the other.

The light bulb went off today and I finally realized this may be due to my TMJ. Has anyone else had an experience with this? Any ideas on how to help? I love diving and want to find the best way to make my ears as happy as I am when I am underwater.

Thanks!
Steph

 

[adjuster-jd]

Well, I can say that I have been struggling with ear discomfort for the past several months. After seeing my family doc and following up with the ENT who treated me for a barotrauma last year, they both say my pain is TMJ related and no problem with my ear. That being said, I still have some difficulty equalizing on one side where I have the most TMJ pain. So- I would say these could be related - at least for me.

 

[bwerb]

My wife has TMJ and the exact same problem. She takes a long time to descend and has to be very careful of vertigo when in mid-water (with no reference) as her ears tend to equalize at slightly different rates.

She moves her jaw quite a bit while equalizing and finds that the colder the water, the more pronounced the imbalance is.

My vote is definitely on TMJ as the contributing factor.

 

[Tricia]

HI Steph,

Just saw your message today. As someone who's had TMJ for years, I give this advice to anyone with TMJ: check your mouthpiece! I discovered that I had a "child-sized bite" and so was struggling with "adult" sized mouthpieces. Once I got a kid's mouthpiece, my occasional problems with ear irritation, equalisation or jaw soreness all went away. The first thing to do is to be sure your jaw is relaxed when diving!

Hope this helps,
Tricia

 

[jbb]

HI Steph,

Just saw your message today. As someone who's had TMJ for years, I give this advice to anyone with TMJ: check your mouthpiece! I discovered that I had a "child-sized bite" and so was struggling with "adult" sized mouthpieces. Once I got a kid's mouthpiece, my occasional problems with ear irritation, equalisation or jaw soreness all went away. The first thing to do is to be sure your jaw is relaxed when diving!

Hope this helps,
Tricia

Also invest in a customized mouthpiece. I have one of those that you heat and fit to your mouth and it is much better than the standard. I have TMJ but not that bad although after the 20th dive on my last vacation my joint got inflamed due my clenching too much. The joint got inflamed and made equalization more difficult as it constricted the estacion tube. Advil helped out in reducing the swelling until I was done diving for awhile. If it keeps acting up you may want to invest in a night bite guard.

I do try to keep the jaw relaxed but when you are diving you can get distracted and relapse in the clenching habit. Still working on staying relaxed to that it is second nature.

Jason

 

[chepar]

I have always had problems with my right ear - it can definitely take me a while to descend. I went to an ENT, who did a bunch of tests, including sticking some sort of tube up my nose so he could look up my nasal cavity - other than a slightly deviated septum, he said everything appeared to be fine.

It has never occurred to me that my TMJ could be a contributing factor - the TMJ is on the same side as my problem ear, too.

I find I have to make a conscious effort to keep my jaw relaxed when diving - I'm a clencher. If I forget, my jaw pays for it for the next few days.

 

[beachdivequeenbelam]

I have had TMJ since I was 12. I started diving last year and it is always hit and miss as to whether or not I can equalize. During my OW, I had to stop because of the immense pain I experienced. Amazingly enough, I was OK in Aruba and made it down to 74 feet with zero ear issues! I joked that it was the warm Carribean water and that my husband would have to take me there all the time instead of the cold quarry (Tennessee & Alabama).

Slow and steady definitely wins the race for me. I descend down the anchor line and take quite some time doing it, equalizing the whole way down.

I went to an ENT last summer, before Aruba. He was not a dive specialist (there are none here in TN) but said that my eustationary gland appeared swollen. Since our last dive in October, I have made it a habit to clear my ear every day. Even on land, my right ear does not "pop" like the other.

The light bulb went off today and I finally realized this may be due to my TMJ. Has anyone else had an experience with this? Any ideas on how to help? I love diving and want to find the best way to make my ears as happy as I am when I am underwater.

Thanks!
Steph

I have had similar problems as you. I even bought a proear 2000 thinking it was my ears. ALl the ENT's in TN had to say was we don't think diving is for you. I wear my night guard, bought a custom mouthpiece for my regs(both in case I have to use my octo for an extended period and so I have the spare mouthpiece as well), take antiflammertories and stay out of cold water. Cold really bothers my jaw so I try to avoid extremes.

I hope that helps some too.
Thanks
Bridget\

 

[Laurence Stein DDS]

Hey guys,

Kind of interesting thread. To tell you the truth, I have never seen TMJ and ear clearing in the same sentence.

That being said, I will say that the eustachian tube can run rather close to the temperomandibular joints. I don't see any reason that inflammation from a dysfunctional joint might affect clearing.

I have seen conditions whereby inflammation/infection in the external ear canal has affected the TM joint function and complete closure was not possible.

I'll snoop around a bit to see if I can come up with an answer.

Congratulations...you've stumped me! :11:

Laurence Stein, DDS

 

[Domsz06]

sorry to bump this old thread, but my Fiance, wife after sat, tried to do this discovery dive when we were down in Puerto rico. I realize it's not nearly the experience needed to get her OW card, but she want's to try it since I always go diving on every warm vacation we go to and leave her alone for a good part of the trip....

Anyway, so she tried the dive discovery and did fine in the pool. but when we went to the ocean I went down with the group (30-35 feet) and she struggled up top with the dive master. She could have used some more weight I'm guessing, but anyway... they finally start to go down and she only makes it about 15 feet, I see them stop and she goes back up. She has TMJ and apparently it locked up on her and she could not bite down on the mouth piece.

I kind of think what happened is she was nervous and started to bite too much and then it aggravated it and locked out. Does anyone out there have any suggestions? I think I will sign her up for a full blown class so she can get comfy with it, but I have also heard they make "special, bigger" regulators so she doesn't have to bite down as much.

Thanks everyone in advance and look forward to reading your responses.

 

[DocVikingo]

Hi Domsz06,

Couple of things she can try:

1. Read this --> TMJ and Scuba Doc Vikingo's Good Guy Resource © Doc Vikingo 2006

2. Watch this --> "The Diver's Ear - Under Pressure"
Doc's Diving Medicine Home Page


Regards,

DocVikingo

This is educational only and does not constitute or imply a doctor-patient relationship. It is not medical advice to you or any other individual and should not be construed as such.