teeth grinding ( bruxism ) does anyone suffer this ?

lynnmick
lynnmick Member Posts: 72
edited 12. Jul 2012, 12:59 in Living with Arthritis archive
Hi there,

Just wondering if anyone suffers from this and to what extent does it affect their life ( ie: sleep / pain etc ) . My son who is 26 has been suffering for around 9 months with various neck and shoulder pains, been for x ray on his neck which appeared normal, been to see a physio and had various sport massages but to no avail. He seems to be quite depressed has the months have gone on. He has always ground his teeth from when he was a child, he has a mouth guard which he does use, but lately he seems to think that the grinding is the reason he seems to be having all the other problems. His sleep has been very problematic and he looks really fed up. He went to see our doctor last Tuesday and told her he thought that he had bruxism and that was what he thinks is causing his problems, and she said that she had never heard of it :roll: . I really feel for him at the moment has i know what pain is like having RA and he is so young to have pain every day.

Would be grateful to hear from any other sufferers from this who have a few tips.
Thanks
Lynn x

Comments

  • stickywicket
    stickywicket Member Posts: 27,764
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    The daughter of a friend had severe headaches due to grinding her teeth while asleep. She had a dental mouth guard made and I think it worked for her. I can see the logic in it affecting the neck and, to some extent, the shoulders as there has to be a lot of tension involved.
    If at first you don't succeed, then skydiving definitely isn't for you.
    Steven Wright
  • elnafinn
    elnafinn Member Posts: 7,412
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    I am sorry to hear about your son. I have just googled it and there does seem to be forums and help and suggestions out there on this.

    One thing mentioned was that the mouthguard may not fit properly and there are different types of mouthguards. To go back to the dentist. Sometimes bits have to be shaved off. Stress is no good for teeth grinding.

    Dentist and gp should work together when someone is suffering from bruxism, a pain to get this organised but worth it. Some medications can cause it including some anti- depressants. Gabapentin was mentioned as one drug that may help the symptoms. This I gleaned in a few moments of googling.

    I do hope that your son can get help. It must be awful for him and you.

    Elna x
    The happiest people don't have the best of everything. They just make the best of everything.

    If you can lay down at night knowing in your heart that you made someone's day just a little bit better, you know you had a good day.
  • elnafinn
    elnafinn Member Posts: 7,412
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    You son may well have looked at this link but I thought it had some quite good information plus there is a youtube video of where the trigger points are and how to massage the jaw to relieve symptoms.

    http://ask.metafilter.com/178747/How-can-I-make-the-pain-due-to-bruxism-stop

    Elna x
    The happiest people don't have the best of everything. They just make the best of everything.

    If you can lay down at night knowing in your heart that you made someone's day just a little bit better, you know you had a good day.
  • salamander
    salamander Member Posts: 1,906
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    I have always ground my teeth. I don't always use my mouth guard but when I start waking up with headaches I realise I have to go back to it. Maybe he needs a new one, as someone said.
  • lynnmick
    lynnmick Member Posts: 72
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi everyone,

    Thanks for all your informative replies , i will tell my son to have a look at your posts to try and help him. He has never mentioned headaches until the other day and he did have a blinder. At the moment he is in the process of changing docs has he now lives out of the catchment area of the docs that he has been with since birth, so perhaps if he continues with all the aches and pains prehaps they might be a bit more sympathetic.

    Thanks again everyone

    Lynn

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