Hi, everybody. I just posted a really long question on Kerrie's blog because I didn't realize that there was a forum. Sorry about that! I'm going to repost parts of it here because I'd really like advice.

Thanks so much for your great blog. I have a question about TMJ — what is the likelihood of it causing a chronic, incapacitating daily headache? I’ve had TMJ for years but it’s gotten worse lately; however, in order to get a 24 hour a day splint, it would cost me about $2500 and I’m on disability, so I’m not sure that I want to make that investment.

My headaches started with a car accident 27 years ago. I had a head injury and whiplash and a huge amount of stress from other multiple injuries. Then they morphed into something else. Most of the neurologists say that I have a combination migraine and tension headache BUT in 1986, I went on a **horribly** restrictive diet for Candida and lost all of my headaches for 42 days. So I know there’s a food connection BUT now I have a severe case of hypoglycemia — my blood sugar dropped to 28 mg in the glucose tolerance test within less than 90 minutes — and I’m eating a lot of nuts, cheese, bacon and other potential triggers to keep my sugar fairly stable. When I remove them from my diet, there is literally nothing to eat and my blood sugar dives because I don’t tolerate carbohydrates well. I’m on a very high protein diet with about 60 g of carbs per day. I have tried to raise the carbs to see if that helps the headaches but it doesn't and it makes me a lot more sleepy.

My latest neurologist thinks that the headaches are migraine and that I should starve myself to go off the above potentially toxic foods. Haven’t been able to do that yet because the only thing I would be able to eat would be chicken, whole grain bread, cauliflower, broccoli, meat and eggs.

Which do you think would be a better focus — the TMJ or the migraine food diet? I can’t get my blood sugar stable no matter what because I’m constantly taking stuff for other problems that throws my sugar off (allergy meds, etc.)

Thanks so much. Really sorry this is so long. Sigrid

Hi Sigrid-

Sounds like you are in a tough spot! It's not easy with constant pain, but then to throw in the blood sugar problems as well...

One thing I've learned from this forum is that we are all very cautious with advice because no 2 people are the same. What is helpful for one is a big bummer for another. With that said, I wanted to tell you that I wore a splint for a year for TMJ (all day, everyday, while I ate, everything) I have CDH/migraine as well. It was a huge investment, insurance covered none of it. But, I was convinced that this was my answer - my cure. It didn't work for me. I was so upest that yet another treatment was unhelpful. In fact at times it made things worse with the migraines, although the orthodontist told me that wasn't possible. Almost everytime I went in for an adjustment (which involves lots of jaw movement, teeth tapping and head movement) I would leave with a horrible headache. So very frustrating.

I guess if I were you, although it sounds like it will be so difficult on you, I would try the food diet first to rule it out. 1986 was a long time ago and your body is probably very different. The food diet may or may not work for your headaches. Is there a nutritionist that might be able to help you do it?

Anyway, I wish lots of good luck and hope for some relief. If you do decide to get the splint, ask the orthodontist lots of questions. My orthodontist had assured me that many of his patients had been helped dramatically with the splint. Maybe you will be one of those people!

Good luck, Jaymi

Hey Sigrid,

TMJ is not fun. Nothing that causes pain is fun.

I used to suffer for years with TMJ. I went to an oral surgeon to look into surgical options. He worked out of Columbia (don't recall the name) but he was convinced that TMJ does not cause migraines.

He recommended soft chew foods for a period, heat packs and advil (NSAIDS), Thank G-d the TMJ did get better.

Note: Be careful with rebound headaches and pain killers. I'm dealing with that situation now as many people on this site can probably attest - it's no fun.

Have you tried accupuncture or chiropractic medicine. They did help me when I had flare ups. Also I know the restrictive diet you mention doesn't have to much tough food. But, when you're TMJ pain is acute "tough" is relative.

I do notice that when I get migraines now, my TMJ pain resurfaces. But at least for me it does seem that the migraine precedes the TMJ.


Good luck with healing your migraines and TMJ.

Hang in there,

MJ

Jaymi,

Thanks so much for your feedback. I totally understand about everybody being unique and different BUT I was very interested in hearing your story. I know that your story and experience may not be mine but I am quite leery about putting out $2500 when I didn't have some short-lived relief by following that horrible diet years ago.

I know that my body has changed since then and I think it tolerates less and less foods, so I need to gear myself up to try that diet. I can only hope that if I go very restrictive at first, I will be able to add foods back in because there's no way I could ever live on it.

Will let you know when I find the will power. LOL.
Sigrid

PS Yeah, I've seen three dietitians and two nutritionists. The problem is that my blood sugar diet conflicts with the migraine diet. Very frustrating. They can't come up with any new foods.

Hi MJ,

Thanks so much for telling me about your experience. I'm glad to hear that your TMJ pain has been relieved. Have you had any luck with your migraines?

Before Christmas, my jaw pain was ridiculously bad so I got a night guard and that has helped a lot. I can't take Advil or aspirin because I've had fourth degree ulcers BUT I am currently on and off Percodan because I have horrible arthritis in my left knee. My left hip and knee were badly injured in my car accident -- the hip was replaced in 2003 and is great now but the knee is terrible and hurts all the time. Without the Percodan, I can't walk but I know that it's very bad for my headaches. Catch 22.

Sorry that you're having a rebound headache effect. Are you taking pain meds for something else or for your headaches?

All the best, Sigrid