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        New Message Board Archives >> 2004 Cluster Headache Specific Posts >> Chewing my way to CH
        
(Message started by: sandie99 on Aug 15^th, 2004, 8:13am)

Title: Chewing my way to CH
Post by sandie99 on Aug 15^th, 2004, 8:13am

I have noticed that occasionally CH begins after I have started to chew chewing gum (which I do after every meal because us Finns are taught to chew xylitol chewing gum which is good for your teeth).

Have you noticed the same?

I don't wonder at all that some docs think that people suffer from teeth problems instead of CH after this discovery.

Best wishes & PFdays to all,
sandie99

Title: Re: Chewing my way to CH
Post by synergy2120 on Aug 15^th, 2004, 8:16am

Marc always gets an attack after eating - sometimes he will only get a few bits of his meal before the pain gets too much.

Hence why marc has lost so much weight - doesnt wanna eat cos he knows what will happen.

Title: Re: Chewing my way to CH
Post by don on Aug 15^th, 2004, 9:07am

Dont use the gum and I will bet you still get an attack.

I am guaranteed a hit (when in cycle) 10-20 minutes after eating.

Therefor when in cycle I can not;

1. Breath
2. Eat
3. Sleep

Sure makes life tricky.

Title: Re: Chewing my way to CH
Post by floridian on Aug 15^th, 2004, 9:41am

The trigeminal nerve goes down into the jaw. Chewing gum, or grinding the teeth when asleep can increase trigeminal activity. If the nerve is frazzled because you are in a cycle, chewing may be a trigger. Unfortunately, just quitting gum won't keep the beast away if he is pressing in from other directions (neurotransmitters/hypothalamus). But you might reduce headaches somewhat. Brushing the teeth or even rinsing with water after a meal is as effective as chewing gum for oral hygeine.

Title: Re: Chewing my way to CH
Post by floridian on Aug 15^th, 2004, 9:43am

on 08/15/04 at 08:16:14, synergy2120 wrote:

Get a blender!! Make some shakes. My wife had her jaw wired shut for a month and had to eat everything through a straw. Steak and mashed potato puree was her favorite. Mmmm.

Title: Re: Chewing my way to CH
Post by IndianaJohn on Aug 15^th, 2004, 10:29am

I gave up chewing gum a log time ago for this very reason. Sometimes that muscle gets really stiff in my cheek and I have a choice to "crack" it or leave it alone. It's a 50/50 chance of getting hit for me after doing this.

Quote:

Sounds like the lateral pterygoid muscle. Runs from the sphenoid bone to the mandible (jaw) and the disc at the tempromandibular joint (TMJ). Its nerve origin is the 3rd branch of the Trigeminal Nerve (CN#5).

In the past I have tried to pressure point this muscle during a cluster attack. It may help (???) but usually my jaw just gets sore!

And yes, spasms of this muscle can cause derangement and dysfunction of the TMJ producing clicking and locking.

Hope this helps.

Doug

This is the one for me..

PFDAN

Title: Re: Chewing my way to CH
Post by Biker on Aug 15^th, 2004, 11:58am

I gave up chewing gum years ago. Makes my head hurt.

Title: Re: Chewing my way to CH
Post by miapet on Aug 15^th, 2004, 12:07pm

I have TMJ and have been wired shut . . .the blender became my best friend (along with ensure), and my oral surgeon told me quit chewing gum . . .which was hard to swallow, since I USED to chew gum all the time. I'm guessing, since it's the same nerve & muscle, that it isn't good for y'all to chew either, since it is inflamed so much of the time . . .kind of like jogging with a blown knee?

*positive light and energy*
miapet

Title: Re: Chewing my way to CH
Post by AnthonyT on Aug 15^th, 2004, 3:30pm

Great. And as I read this I'm working on a bowl of granola, while I've had a kip5 going the past three hours. :-X It's all I have to eat and I don't want to go to the store for fear of this deciding to ramp up the intensity (I've never had such a persistent mid-level of pain before, so I'm not sure what to expect of it).

I, too, can understand "teeth problems" being suspect. I remember when I first got these I was suspect of the same thing... I often feel mild peripheral pain in my canine on the attack side, making me want to brush my teeth (which really becomes massaging my gums above). The trigeminal has it's hooks into far too many things -- who designed this thing, anyway? :P

Title: Re: Chewing my way to CH
Post by Gator on Aug 16^th, 2004, 1:30am

Interesting. I never made that connection before. I also grind my teeth. Sometimes, my jaw kind of locks and I have no choice, but to "pop" it. I don't ever recall chewing anything just before an attack, but then I wasn't really looking for that either. I'll have to pay closer attention and see.

Stranger and stranger, this disease of ours.

Gator

Title: Re: Chewing my way to CH
Post by sandie99 on Aug 17^th, 2004, 7:49am

The more I learn about CH, the more I think of it as a freak of nature...

Take care, all,
sandie99

Title: Re: Chewing my way to CH
Post by crazy_mj on Aug 18^th, 2004, 10:07am

Reading all of this is quite a shock!! Years ago I was diagnosed with TMJ. I was supposed to either get fitted for a device to correct it and/or get surgery. I put it off because honestly I didn't have the money.
I too can't chew gum without getting head pain of some sort. Also, my jaw acts like it is trying to go out of place on a regular basis and hurts like crazy! One time I thought I was going to have to visit the ER to get it put back in place.
I never really paid too much attention to the correlation between it being jacked up and my cycles, but I will be sure to pay attention now.
I also have a question...does anyone else have problems with wearing hats or wearing their hair up in ponytails or clips???

Title: Re: Chewing my way to CH
Post by Prense on Aug 18^th, 2004, 10:35am

on 08/15/04 at 08:13:47, sandie99 wrote:

Have you noticed the same?

Absolutely not... I have no problems/pain associated with my jaw, teeth, etc.

Chris

Title: Re: Chewing my way to CH
Post by synergy on Aug 18^th, 2004, 12:21pm

Marc grinds his teeth really bad when his asleep and he is also having to "click" his jaw back into place while eating!