TMJ causing headaches --- Anyone?

@wbc2 I also have TMJ on my left side. Yes, it does give me headaches, ear aches, and muscle aches.
This happened to me because I fell, twice over the past 4 months.
I went to a TMJ specialist who gave me a series of lidocaine shots. I also got a set of appliances. She said this problem will continue, and come and go.
My jaw sometimes makes a loud crunching noise when I eat or speak.
It can be so loud!
I’ve put heat, or ice on it, taken ibuprofen and get temporary relief.

Thanks Susan, I may try some lidocaine patches to see if that helps. Migraine caps you can buy on Amazon provide significant relief, until they warm up. Although it does not give any relief and only illustrates the problem, I have recorded the popping sound on my cell phone by starting video recording with the phone next to my jaw. Hope you find some relief.

Yes, I have TMD, left side is initial injury, left untreated & 40 years later, I’m suffering. Chronic migraines, debilitating. Did Botox for 1 year, unsuccessful. Emgality self-injections gave me some relief. I’m now on Ajovy self-injections. So far so good!

Glad you are feeling better. I tried Emgality self injections that did nothing for me. I'm now on Ajovy injections for about 3-4 months and no improvement yet. That you are getting some relief is encouraging. I have started taking Ubrelvy tablets and do get some relief but they are quite expensive and my insurance only provides 10 tablets per month.

@wbc be careful, if there are “fumes” don’t put it too close to your eyes.

Yes, most certainly TMJ can cause headaches without a doubt. I had severe right ear pain for 4 months before I was properly diagnosed with TMJ...no medical professional was even looking at that. I had a brain MRI b/c of TMJ but that was for ruling out a brain tumor.
My friend was out for dinner, with her husband enjoying her meal, and suddenly she could not close her mouth. Very frightening. She directed me to her dentist. My feeling is you need to see a specialist in TMJ disorder. Not a general or family dentist. I had a very involved work up with her for evaluation. And then was fitted with a dental appliance unlike I had never seen. Very difficult to get use to at first...wearing it at bedtime only. The top and bottom are "connected" and once in your mouth you literally can not open your mouth at all. When they first placed it in at the office, I felt panic which they understood completely. It's a scary feeling but you do get use to it. I wore this for 1 year and gradually my mouth/jaw was able to open bigger and bigger and the right ear pain vanished. And it was expensive. I now have Invisalign liners from my general dentist. I have an very bad overbite and my 2 front teeth were sifting. I can see my teeth already moving in the right direction and hope this will keep the TMJ pain at bay. Also I found heat to be better than cold for TMJ/ear pain. I know folks who wear their TMJ appliance for the rest of their lives. I am giving Invisalign a try and so far so good.
Best of luck to you!

I see a physical therapist for cranial massage. She adjusts my bite, and that reduces the pain in the tmj. I also get botox for headache and wear a bite guard. You must shift to a soft diet and avoid all food that increases wear and tear on the joint. Sumatriptan helps for now and then breakthrough headaches.

Thanks adamO8 for that info. I am seeing a Physical Therapist but i'm not sure about the cranial part. Getting my second Botox injections is delayed to get insurance approval. Aggravating. I'll need to be more aware of and reduce the big bites i am taking. I think i have tried Sumatriptan w/o success. Ubrelvy 100mg does some good, but insurance only approves 10 tablets per month.