TMJ Resources - Our Family - Patient Talk
I was diagnosed with TMJ disorder about 20 years ago and have had continuing problems through the years. There are periods when the symptoms have abated but they never really go away. About 3 years ago, my dentist and I figured out that I also have 'Patulous Eustachian Tube disorder'. PET is a phenomenon that is characterized by a constant feeling similar to ears popping in elevators or when driving up hills or taking off in an airplane. I describe it as a feeling that my ear is plugged and about to pop, but the relief never comes. I found a little about it online and it appears that this condition is often associated with TMJ.
Finding out that what I was feeling actually had a name was a big relief but did nothing for the pain and discomfort. The web resources indicated that while there is a surgical procedure that can help, it is by no means foolproof and often considered experimental. About the same time, I was being treated by an ENT for allergies and asthma symptoms. My doctor prescribed Nasonex nasal spray. After using it for about a month, I realized that my PET symptoms were greatly reduced. With continued use, those symptoms are better than they had been for years before. I've now been taking Nasonex for over 2 years, and have had only a few days when my PET/TMJ symptoms caused problems for me.
I decided to write to your organization because of the ad I saw in November in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. While I had never entertained thoughts of suicide, I now realize how depressed I had become because of the symptoms and the lack of information and treatment for what I was experiencing. I want to share what I've learned with other TMJ sufferers. Perhaps with more of us doing our own research and share what we've learned, we'll be able to shed some light on this very real, very debilitating disorder.
