Hi @A MyEpilepsyTeam Member , Welcome to the site. I went to Google & typed in “tbi cause TMJ” & several different posts came up but I thought I’d share this one with you: “ TMJ can be caused by either a macrotrauma, microtrauma, or a combination of both. A macrotrauma is defined as any type of major physical damage resulting from a single injury. Examples of a macrotrauma might include a direct blow to the jaw or whiplash resulting from the impact of an accident.”. I’ve had TMJ for maybe 10 years or so & I don’t know what made it start. I grind my teeth when I sleep. I wear a mouth guard when I sleep that my dentist specifically made to fit my mouth. It helps me to protect my teeth as well as my whole mouth when I have a seizure in my sleep. When this was still a little new, my jaw pain was so bad I’d be in tears & the oral surgeon didn’t think my problem was severe enough for me to need surgery & so he had me do physical therapy but the “physical” therapy just wasn’t helping but a year later they came out with a treatment called “dry needling” & I’ve been getting that along with the “physical” therapy ever since but I really believe it’s the dry needling that has helped reduce the pain level. No, it hasn’t completely stopped the pain, but it’s made it more tolerable. I go every 2 weeks for treatment & if I go longer than 3 weeks my pain level gets more intense. I take Tylenol or Excedrin Extra Strength for my pain but I have to watch how often I take my Excedrin cause it can make my stomach bloated. I hope you can find something to help you. Your friend in Austin, Texas, Becky

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A MyEpile...

I thought it was because I kept having my jaw knock out place or whatever?

Because of my tbi 30yrs ago, I wear a mouth guard. It helps a lot.

Hi Loran! I have had issues with grinding and clenching my teeth for years! My seizures are due to a TBI I sustained at age 11, as a result of a bike accident. I had facial trauma which affected my jaw. I did not break my jaw, but I have had problems ever since. You can buy a generic mouthguard, but I would suggest that you have your dentist make a mouthguard for you to wear at night. It will be made to fit your mouth and teeth. There may also be a specialist in your area who has additional knowledge and specializes in TMJ treatment. I have seen two TMJ dental specialists over the years. Treatment can include additional x-rays, specialized mouthguards, and physical therapy. One dentist even diagnosed me with arthritis. My jaw pops very loudly. I also feel a fullness in my ears and hear "crackling" sounds (probably due to my jaw shifting and perhaps some inflammation of the joint). There are anti-inflammatories and acupuncture options to explore as well. I have worked with a chiropractor for the acupuncture. TMJ can be exacerbated by high stress levels, and it is very common to clench your teeth when you are stressed out. Try to monitor your behavior--be aware of clenching your teeth when you are awake. Use your fingers to massage your lower cheeks/jaw. Try not to open your mouth too widely when you are eating (ex. big sandwich) and cut your food into smaller pieces (ex. smaller pieces of chicken). When you are in pain, modify your diet to softer food and eat more carefully. You can also use heat to relax the muscles. It can be a painful condition to live with, but you can also find some relief. Take care!

Have you brought the question here to a doc that you see if you have one about this. Just a little suggestion