Yes, it is likely that your GI doc will be clueless, like most physicians tend to be....We want them to be like House or Sherlock Holmes...to be interested in a mystery and to solve it. But 99% of them, in my experience, just punch the clock and have no intellectual curiosity. After 18 specialist with no clue, I decided that I was in charge and I would use them like tools in my belt.
Now, Dr Klemons at
www.headaches.com who I mentioned above is one of the good ones. He is a dentist who specializes in the jaw. He is known worldwide in this field, and is considered the world's foremost expert, and very likely has a like minded colleague in the UK.
I would call his office and ask. I was able to speak with him directly on the phone and he referred me to one of his like minded colleagues on the other side of the USA closer to myself.
I might warn you guys that not all TMJ doctors are good. You really should contact Dr Klemons for a referral.
If you happen to be in the middle of the USA, then you can see or call:
Dr Robert Talley
Craniofacial Pain, TMJ and Sleep of Oklahoma
www.tmj-pain.com
448 36th Ave. N.W., Suite 103
Norman, Oklahoma 73072
Phone: 405.321.8030
You might also like to read this book...again by a dentist /jaw specialist ...it explains the issue and also provides a number of self therapy options
http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/1572241268/ref=dp_olp_used?ie=UTF8&condition=used
The basic therapy from one of these dentist jaw specialists, is to give you a set of two mouthpieces, one on top and one on bottom. These mouthpieces only allow your front teeth to touch. Your brain won't press hard on those front teeth for fear of breaking them, and so your brain tells those jaw/neck/face muscles to relax. It takes a couple weeks for your brain and muscles to fully respond, but the relief is almost immediate.
One last thing....I mentioned LDA Immunotherapy above...in the UK it is known as EPD and I believe it is available on the NHS
http://www.foodsmatter.com/allergy_intolerance/management_treatment/articles/epd.html
Taking LDA (EPD) will dramatically loosen your jaw / neck /face and upper back muscles...or at least that has been my personal experience.
My doctor likes to use LDA Immunotherapy (EPD) and LDN (low dose naltrexone) together.
I take both LDA Immunotherapy (EPD) and LDN (low dose naltrexone).
The LDA immediately gave me tremendous relief from pain in my back, neck, jaw, and face too. And then a couple months after beginning LDA (EPD), I started LDN (low dose naltrexone) and this again loosened all those muscles and markedly reduced my pain.
This loosening not only almost totally eliminated pain, but it also dramatically improved my vision and balance. The theory is that the tight muscles in your neck/jaw/face pull on tiny little muscles inside your ear and these control your balance as well as some part of your vision. TMJ is well known for also causing eye ball and face pain.