TMJ or Brain Tumor

[mlouise 36]

Out of the blue on Friday I got a really bad headache. I felt it in my neck, right side of my head, teeth, ear, and shoulders. Nothing really seemed to knock it out. I had it through the weekend. Sunday it was just a small ache, hardly noticed it. But since yesterday it is killing me. Massaging certain areas helps. Naproxen + caffeine help. Last night I had to lay in bed with a ice pack bc I was so desperate. 

I had a TMJ flair up (first one) two years ago but it was more ear and jaw pain. Went away in about 2 weeks.

From what I have read, this could be that again. 

But I am thinking brain tumor. I have NEVER had a headache last like this. Sometimes I feel it on the other side, but it is mostly the right side...same side that was giving me issues a couple of years back. It does go away when sleeping, when massaging jaw/head, and with enough Motrin or Advil. 

[SighNoMore 63]

Oh my friend, you do not have a tumor. You likely have sinus and TMJ at play. Just like before, this pain is consistent with the TMJ—same location, etc. 

That pain can be awful. I hope you feel better! 

[MARC 431]

My internal medicine physician told me that the typical first sign of a brain tumor are seizures. 

[Ironman 198]

I would wonder if your headache was related to the TMJ and not a tumor.  The jaw can affect the face and neck.

I have a root canal in an upper molar (I call it my pimp tooth because it is dental gold - do not mug me, people lol!) that if I don't brush back there enough, will start to hurt when I bite down.  If not addressed, the root of the teeth can jab into my lower sinus and cause pain throughout my face,  At that point, I have to see my dentist for antibiotics.

[mlouise 36]

Hello guys! Thank you for your replies.

Yesterday was actually really good. I felt next to nothing all day. Took Naproxen when I got up like I had been doing (but woke up without pain) and felt good all day. I even forgot about it in the afternoon-evening.

This morning I woke up fine. My head KIND OF hurts....more like a really dull ache that moves a little. Ears to eye to neck to temple. Nothing like it was before. I am not massaging my face for relief. 

I assume tumor pain doesn't come and go??? Or move??

 

[BirdieS 7]

I had the worst headache of my life last year - I honestly thought it was a brain aneurysm, the pain was so bad. I went for an MRI and braced myself for the worst. Low and behold, everything came back normal. Who knows what caused the headache, but the point is that sometimes these things just happen and there isn’t a serious reason for it 🙂

[Ironman 198]

5 hours ago, BirdieS said:

I had the worst headache of my life last year - I honestly thought it was a brain aneurysm, the pain was so bad. I went for an MRI and braced myself for the worst. Low and behold, everything came back normal. Who knows what caused the headache, but the point is that sometimes these things just happen and there isn’t a serious reason for it 🙂

I had a sinus infection that was so bad in 2016, it caused a vitreous hemorrhage or blood inside my eye (I'd have to go into this story someday - a week and three trips to the ER).  One in 175,000 sinus infections results in an eye hemorrhage.  I had a doctor tell me I would be permanently blind, another who thought I had had a hemorrhagic stroke (proven wrong with a CAT scan).  The first ER doc I saw was someone I was in university with and he was correct in his diagnosis!  He just needed to refer me to eye doctors to confirm.

16 hours ago, mlouise said:

Hello guys! Thank you for your replies.

Yesterday was actually really good. I felt next to nothing all day. Took Naproxen when I got up like I had been doing (but woke up without pain) and felt good all day. I even forgot about it in the afternoon-evening.

This morning I woke up fine. My head KIND OF hurts....more like a really dull ache that moves a little. Ears to eye to neck to temple. Nothing like it was before. I am not massaging my face for relief. 

I assume tumor pain doesn't come and go??? Or move??

 

The pain would be focused and persistent I would think.

[ZenCube 59]

On 1/13/2021 at 12:51 PM, MARC said:

My internal medicine physician told me that the typical first sign of a brain tumor are seizures. 

It all depends on the tumor location within the brain. The prodroma, though, is often presented with behavioral changes, which is a feature that's not easy to pick up as being pathological in nature. 

[MARC 431]

My wife had a friend who had another friend who was in her late 50's and she suddenly developed a seizure at a party and was rushed to the hospital and was diagnosed soon thereafter with a malignant brain tumor. My former bosses wife had a benign brain tumor and she developed sudden tremors in her arm. The tumor was removed and she was fine. A couple of years later she was diagnosed with ALS and passed away around 18 months later at age 62. I rely on the physicians I see to give me the answers to any health questions I may have. 

[Kindra 87]

I currently have a brain tumour and very rarely get headaches from it, lots of other symptoms but headaches are rare for me. sounds more like a sinus infection to me. Hope you are feeling better!

[MARC 431]

Kindra, I am very sorry to hear you have a brain tumor and hope you recover quickly. 

[Kindra 87]

54 minutes ago, MARC said:

Kindra, I am very sorry to hear you have a brain tumor and hope you recover quickly. 

Thank you! For now my neurosurgeon is monitoring it with MRI’s every 6 months. It’s location is in the centre of my brain so surgery will only be an option when it starts causing more serious issues. As of now, my symptoms are managed fairly well and I’m doing good 🙂  

[MARC 431]

I am glad you are doing well. Back in the 1990's I had a boss who had a malignant brain tumor. He was monitored every 3 months by MRI and he just continued to work like nothing was wrong as his symptoms were well controlled. He passed away a few years later of respiratory arrest, which was totally unrelated to the brain tumor. I had a client years ago who had a benign brain tumor which was removed and then it came back as a benign brain tumor again and it was removed again. This time it never came back and he is still alive today in his 70's. 

[Kindra 87]

8 hours ago, MARC said:

I am glad you are doing well. Back in the 1990's I had a boss who had a malignant brain tumor. He was monitored every 3 months by MRI and he just continued to work like nothing was wrong as his symptoms were well controlled. He passed away a few years later of respiratory arrest, which was totally unrelated to the brain tumor. I had a client years ago who had a benign brain tumor which was removed and then it came back as a benign brain tumor again and it was removed again. This time it never came back and he is still alive today in his 70's. 

Thankfully mine is benign! It’s a pain and the symptoms can be crazy and scary, but knowing it is benign brings a ton of comfort. I’m well aware of “danger” symptoms that make my tumour an emergency. Fingers crossed I don’t see that day! 

[MARC 431]

I am very glad to hear it is benign and I sincerely hope it never gives you any trouble for the rest of your life!!!

[mlouise 36]

Here we are 3 weeks since I posted this and today it came back. I used a heating pad on my ear/neck/side of face Thursday night and it went away completely. Now there is a dull ache again on that side. It makes my teeth on that side ache. 

If heat helps and it goes away completely for 3-4 days, it isn't cancer right??

Also I discovered a very small white spot on my face and now I think I have skin cancer, too. I am so anxious. 

 

[Bobnnat 496]

Cancer certainly causes symptoms which are relentless until the situation is addressed. This is unlike yourself, where the discomfort comes and leaves, comes and leaves.  If you’re really still stressed, speak with your GP. Assuming you could get  an in office visit, he can give you a brief neuro exam which will virtually rule out anything sinister..

[mlouise 36]

I do not have a GP. 

I know. I need one.