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Temporalis and masseter muscle atrophy

Within about 8 or 10 months, my temporalis and masster muscles on both sides of my face wasted away significantly. It left me with protruding cheekbones and hollow temples. The change has been very dramatic.

During the time that this happened, I had pretty serious TMJ problems. A disk in my left TMJ became displaced, my jaw was in a closed lock for almost a year and I was diagnosed with TMJ internal derangement and osteoarthritis. Muscle spasms and pain were very common in the beginning but have since subsided.

My health is otherwise good. I have not lost any weight whatsoever to explain the wasting. The muscle wasting became very apparent at age 27-28 and came about so quickly that this cannot be normal aging.

I received treatment for my TMJ issues 5 months ago and have regained almost full range of motion in my jaw. But I have not regained the lost muscle mass and still have major hollowness in the temples and cheeks. My TMJ specialist does not have any answers for me. I have scoured tmj literature and forums and cannot find this particular problem.

My questions are:

What could explain this? Could it be connected to my TMJ problems or is it something else entirely?  Could permanent nerve damage from TMJ explain the wasting?
15 Responses
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Avatar universal
BTW, I think it has to do with clenching of teeth and hurting those muscle groups.  Did anyone else have this habit before noticing the muscle atrophy?
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Can you guys update on how long you had this condition for? Is there even a cure?
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Avatar universal
Did your face back to norma!? I have same issue.
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Avatar universal
Omg,I have been looking into this tirelessly, a few months back I noticed some major changes in my face what almost seemed like overnight,one day I looked in the mirror on my way to work and went "what the heck" around the same time I started having jaw pains and spasms so I went to see s tmj specialist who told me it wasn't the tmj. It can't be a coincidence and all my life ive had a very full chubby face and now it's gone, I've done blood tests, gone to several drs with no answers.its destroying my life and making me very self conscious I need help
Helpful - 0
3 Comments
Hi! I have the same issue, did your face back to norma? Need some advice..
I’ve been going through this for years. No changes yet.
Hey did u guys see any doctor for this? The doc now referred me to neurology and waiting to do a bunch of blood tests, I don't know if I should bother? It seems it's not related to blood problem anyway. Did anyone do emg tests or ncs on those muscles?
663179 tn?1225118998
I have the EXACT problems. Please help, anyone hear anything or get any results to help???
Helpful - 0
1 Comments
I have exact issue!!  Any word on if it improves?
Avatar universal
Your comments sound just like me.  I was in a car accident and suffered severe whiplash when I was 20 yrs. old.  Prior to that I had not been to a chiropractor; after it, I lived there.  Had to quit my job as a CNA and have suffered with headaches for 30 yrs.  My temples are sunken and I have hair thinning on the top and right side of my head - does anyone else have this symptom?  Maybe it is from the long amount of time I have suffered from this.  Have braces right now and my ortho is looking for a comfortable position for me.  Prior to that I had an appliance since 2000.  But the headaches persist.  Somehow I have raised my family (of 8) in the midst of the pain and will persist in doing so for as long as the Good Lord allows this to continue.  Am going to see a chiropractor who adjusts the skull for tmj in August, but I have learned over the years not to get my hopes up.  On top of this I have had chronic fatigue for 15 years.  Still, life is not so bad, and there are others who have not the blessings that I have.  Prayers for you all.  God bless.
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Avatar universal
Hi There, how are you doing now? Have you got any treatment at all, is your face looking more like it used to be? please let me know. I am really desperate
Thanks
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Avatar universal
How are you guys doing now? have your face got back to normal after TMJ  treatment, I am in the same position now, feeling quite depressed and upset from the way a look. Never thought this would be the concequesnces of not treating the TMJ disfunction right away..
PLease any hope and update would be very much appreciated.
Thanks
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Very interesting.  I am 42 and have been having horrible TMJ issues.  I had a doctor inject one side of my face (the painful side) with prolotherapy.  For a period of time is had me pain free.  Unfortunately I had him inject me one last time because I still had clicking and it has been a disaster.  I am now experiencing pain in the joint (prior the pain was in my temple and eye area).  Additionally it has left my face completely asymmetrical.  The left side is much larger.  The doc says prolo can't grow tissue that way but my face is living proof that it can.  It's a thought for those of you with tissue loss.  Or you could try fillers.
If anyone knows of a good TMJ specialist, please let me know.  I'm in the northeast and considering flying to Houston to see Dr. Auvenshine.
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Avatar universal
I have the same problem and I am 36. Did anyone find anything?
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Avatar universal
I have the exact same problem. I have been suffering from TMJ problems for 4 months now and have had significant loss of my temporalis and masster muscles. My face looks hallow after a relatively short period of time. Does anyone know if this is revers able?
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I am exactly the same age as you, and I have exactly the same problem!!
I got TMJ for about 8 months now.
My cheeks and temples are sunken, and I loss almost all of my facial fat (under eyes and forehead).
So, have you got MRI yet? Is it really about nerve damage?
I'm thinking about seeing neurologist, too.
According to my TMJ dentists (I went to consult 2 tmj specialists), one said it's because of muscle atrophy, another said it's because of muscle tightness (that might cause fat loss).
I'm so confuse and doubt that it might be nerve damage as well!!!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I am exactly the same age as you, and I have exactly the same problem!!
I got TMJ for about 8 months now.
My cheeks and temples are sunken, and I loss almost all of my facial fat (under eyes and forehead).
So, have you got MRI yet? Is it really about nerve damage?
I'm thinking about seeing neurologist, too.
According to my TMJ dentists (I went to consult 2 tmj specialists), one said it's because of muscle atrophy, another said it's because of muscle tightness (that might cause fat loss).
I'm so confuse and doubt that it might be nerve damage as well!!!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Thanks for your response! I hope it is just disuse atrophy and that there is no underlying problem with the cranial nerves. But the lack of improvement is making me think otherwise. I'm going to go see a neurologist and will let you know what I find out!
Helpful - 0
1175033 tn?1492201228
I am sorry you are going through all this, that wasting isn't normal.   I have been having similar issues with my jaw,(but I don't think I have wasting) but just now getting help with it.  I have been doing a lot of research on these types of issues and I believe your issue might lay in you cranial nerves. You need to see a neurologist and get a brain MRI to see if something is damaging that nerve.  
I hope that is not the case, but I cant think of anything else that would do this type of muscle wasting that to so localized.
  I would say it could be connected to your tmj disorder, and I hope it is not permanent. Bell's palsy is where a virus attacks nerves in your face and can cause paralysis of parts of the face and that is usually not permanent, maybe it could be some form of that.

I hope it gets getter soon!  Let me know if you find out the cause,  Stacey
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