So, I’m still dealing with this Oromandibular Dystonia since 2007. Mark and I have been through innumerable medical professionals regarding addressing the often disabling and sometimes painful symptoms. In my case the situation has progressed that the upper and lower rear molars have worn almost to the gum line in some places, causing them to be pointed Because of the inflamed Trigeminal nerve being so irritated and causing the jaws to open and close, the two molars clamp down on the inside skin of my mouth. The sharp teeth cut the skin and it is extremely painful. Both jaw joints are misaligned and cause big problems when I sing or speak. I found a bizarre way to cushion my back molar from cutting into my inside skin: I need to place a large wad of gum and keep it in place right under the back molar. This has helped to avoid the teeth catching and cutting the skin. But, it is very distracting when I have to sing because it falls out of place in the middle of a song and my tongue has to push it back into place.
I daily have to battle depression and hopelessness because I remember how effortlessly and joyfully I could sing anything, and for hours at a private party. Today, even speaking and praying causes my jaw and upper body to convulse. On top of this debilitation, three past Covid 19 attacks caused my lung capacity to be very challenged. Somehow the regulation of my body temperature, ability to tolerate humidity and any changes in Barometric pressure cause the lungs to constrict. My heart has to work very hard to accommodate air when this constriction is bad.
That all being said, I am a woman of great faith and believe in the healing miracles of my precious healer, Jesus Christ. Since I have already done extensive amounts of research on TMJ-Dystonia and lung ailments, and know that usually surgery is what doctors promote, there is no guarantee the surgery will reverse almost 2 decades of extreme damage..
I also have learned that Spiritual warfare is at the helm of my ailments. Since I was anointed, (by reverend Kevin Nunn, Asbury Pak in 1990), ordained (pastors Leo and Edith Fram, Sandra Gonzalez in 2012) and called to sing and intercede as an intercessor for God’s glory, satan has a bulls-eye target to dishearten and hinder me.
All glory goes to my Heavenly Father and Jesus, for giving me this gift of worship to record my first and second worship albums. During these nineteen years of great suffering, God impressed me to write and publish my book about my difficult journey and to record my third worship album, “In the Secret Place.” It is in the secret place of Adonai, El Shaddai and Jesus where I am able to victor over this tremendous, daily physical burden.
Now that I have shared all the details of this battle, I covet your prayers for healing and restoration of my lungs, teeth, gums, Trigeminal nerve and neurotransmitter regulation. I also appreciate you praying about sowing (donation button on my website) into my ministry so I can continue to give Bibles, my music CDs and Christian materials to new believers. I am no longer able to deliver my phone book routes as I did for 15 years because it takes enormous amounts of strength and energy. Now my focus is soul-winning and mentoring. Thank you for your consideration and prayer and God bless you abundantly!
https://anitaivetteferrerasburyparkangel.org
Addendum: click on the picture to hear my concert with the brothers!
INFORMATION ABOUT DYSTONIA:
Professional singers and musicians do not typically suffer from “TMJ dystonia” as a single combined condition, but rather from two distinct, highly disruptive disorders that can present with overlapping symptoms in the jaw and face: Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) disorders and Musician’s Focal Dystonia (specifically Oromandibular or Embouchure Dystonia). [1, 2]
While TMJ disorders are structural or musculoskeletal issues causing jaw pain, clicking, and limited movement, focal dystonia is a painless, task-specific neurological disorder that disrupts the brain’s fine motor control over highly practiced musical movements. Because both conditions intensely target the lower face and jaw, they are frequently discussed together in performing arts medicine. The distinct impacts, symptoms, and notable cases for both conditions include:
1. Oromandibular & Embouchure Dystonia (Neurological)
This is a task-specific focal dystonia where the brain sends faulty signals to the jaw, tongue, or lip muscles. It is often painless but can end careers because it causes involuntary muscle contractions strictly when trying to sing or play an instrument. [1, 2, 3]
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Singer’s / Oromandibular Dystonia: Causes involuntary jaw clamping, opening, or tongue spasms exclusively while speaking or vocalizing.
- Notable Case: Thomas Wade, a Canadian country singer, lost his ability to sing and speak due to progressive oromandibular dystonia before using intense neuroplasticity exercises to retrain his brain. [1, 2, 3]
- Embouchure Dystonia: Primarily strikes brass and woodwind players, causing jaw tremors, involuntary mouth puckering, or “lip-locking” when forming a mouth position on a mouthpiece. [1, 2]
2. Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ / TMD) Disorders (Musculoskeletal)
How Nerve Damage Links to Oromandibular Dystonia
- Trigeminal Nerve Role: The Trigeminal Nerve (CN V) provides sensory innervation to the face, mouth, and nasal cavity, as well as motor control for the muscles of mastication (chewing). [1]
- Trigeminal Sensory Nuclear Complex: Signals from a damaged, compressed, or irritated trigeminal nerve feed into the brainstem’s trigeminal sensory nuclear complex, disrupting normal motor output to the lower face and jaw. [1]
- Peripherally-Induced Dystonia: Nerve injury—whether from vascular compression, dental procedures, extractions, or facial trauma—can lead to maladaptive neuroplasticity and involuntary muscle contractions in the jaw, tongue, and lower face. [1, 2, 3]
Common Symptoms
- Involuntary jaw closing, jaw opening, or sideways jaw deviation
- Spastic tongue movements or protrusion (lingual dystonia)
- Difficulty or pain while speaking, chewing, or swallowing
- Overlap with or misdiagnosis as TMJ dysfunction, bruxism, or trigeminal neuralgia [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7]
Management and Treatment Options
- Neurologist Evaluation: Diagnosis requires a movement disorder specialist or neurologist to evaluate patient history, rule out structural/vascular causes via MRI, and examine reflex patterns. [1, 2, 3]
- Botulinum Toxin Injections: Often considered the first-line treatment choice for localized muscle spasms in the jaw and lower face. [1, 2]
- Targeted Medications: Muscle-relaxants, anticholinergics, or oral medications like tetrabenazine may be prescribed depending on whether jaw-closing or tongue involvement predominates. [1, 2]
- Surgical Interventions: In rare cases involving vascular compression (such as a blood vessel pressing against the nerve), procedures like microvascular decompression or deep brain stimulation are explored. [1, 2]
- Dental and Physical Support: Custom dental appliances or sensory tricks (such as light touch to the chin or lips) can temporarily alter feedback to reduce spasms. [1, 2]
