Can my health issues and TMJ pain be managed with yoga?

Question

Hi doctor,

I have been having a bad health issue since two years ago. I consulted many doctors, but nothing worked. I was going through a stressful period, and whenever I was stressed out or panicking, I would force air up from the roof of my mouth.

I did this several times daily and continued for a few months. Later I realized how stupid I was to be doing this, regretted it deeply, and stopped doing it. However, it impacted me, and I started having symptoms in my head.

I can feel dropping all over my head feels like air bubbles. For the past four months, the roof of my mouth has been so painful. I can hear it clicking sometimes, and when I talk, breathe, or speak, so much air goes up from the roof of my mouth, causing a lot of pressure and pain.

I have been to many doctors and tried things with no relief. I am in a desperate situation and would love your opinion on this.

Do you think yoga would help with this, or is there anything else you would suggest?

Answer 1

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

Thank you for your query,

You have a history of forcing air through the roof or palate region for a few years. You may be having palatal myoclonus. It completely fits the kind of symptoms as you have.

But it may be other syndromes as well that may be neurologically related as well. Detrimental habits are always harmful to brain health and can significantly impact our oral cavity. You need a multidisciplinary approach to your symptoms. You should not give up hope and consult an oral and maxillofacial surgeon.

They may help you to identify whether you have a joint problem or palatal clicks are happening because of myoclonus. The diagnosis in the clinic will be clear. Suppose the surgeon feels that your symptoms are more neurologic than trauma-related. In that case, you will be referred to the neurologist.

In some clinical syndromes or neurological disorders, it also clicks sound and trapped air escaping through the mouth. It is hard to visit so many specialists at once, but this can make you ignore it for your general health.

I advise you to consult a oral surgeon and neurologist who can correlate the findings. If no such diagnosis is found after a check-up, you can see what lifestyle changes you can adopt, but that does not change the palatal or roof clicks.

I suggest you get to sleep well and stay hydrated. Yoga and meditation will certainly help you.

Please follow up for further assistance.

Thank you.