jaw pain?

[SarahLindsay]

For the past week or so, I've had pain on the right side of my face (from my bottom jaw all the way up to my ear). There's a mild ache all the time, but sometimes it gets so bad I can hardly open my mouth, much less eat or yawn normally. My ear is a bit sensitive to pressure, also. Have others experienced this? If so, did you find anything that helped?

I have an appointment with a rheumatologist at the end of December - so I'm also wondering if I should try (again) to get an earlier appointment there (or at a different kind of specialist), or if this is likely to go away on its own...

Thanks!!
Sarah

[Joe S.]

Try to get in to see your GP first (fastest) S/He could refer you to an ENT sooner.

[~elizabeth~]

I've had pain in my ear/jaw region for years, went back and fore to ENT about it for months with no joy, and I do wonder if the acute pain might have been a parotid gland adding to the problem.

My dentist thinks it's probably temporomandibular joint problems. Does your jaw ever feel like it 'clicks' ? Have you seen your dentist about it? Even if they can't do much for it, they can refer you to specialist dental clinic at the hospital who can look into it further.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temporomandibular_joint_disorder

Good luck, any toothache pain leaves you feeling completely miserable.

[Patze]

Hi Sara,

Oh boy, have you had a chance to see your primary (or ENT maybe)?  

Now I don't know if you have TMJ or not (as I'm not in the medical field), but I've had the disorder for years, and it's not fun when it decides to flare (it comes and goes for me).  

When it flares, the pain from the TMJ can radiate down and around the upper or lower lip (one side or the other, never seems to be both sides at the same time), and those are the days that I just wanted to rip out my jaw off as the pain was not to be believed.  And then the migraine would follow, one fun after the other.  

I have found that being on Lyrica has helped to lessen the pain of a TMJ episode, and mellowed the migraine pain a lot too.  

Good luck, and hang in there and I'll keep my fingers crossed that you'll get an answer soon.

Take care -

Patze

[missyb]

OK, I've had an ice pick feeling in the area you describe for year and years, then it hurts to turn my head, the last few years I get dizzy, vertigo, feel like I'm floating etc.. all these things seemed unrelated, finally an ENT did  a special cat scan, and discovered I have Eagle's Syndrome,he said it very rare, I'm his 3rd patient in 25 years, butit all started right there belwo my ear and behind my jaw, and felt an ear ache..just in case you don't get any answers.. I'm having the 1 st surgery next week, as long as the cardio clears me today. THe ENY has to remove them one side at a time, so I'll have the next surgery, probably early in the year.

[SarahLindsay]

Thanks everyone, for your help - it's still a mystery, by the time I was able to talk to my primary physician the pain and tightness had subsided and she wasn't really able to offer any more information. It was isolated pain - no clicking, or dizziness, or other symptoms that you all mentioned- it almost felt like I'd just come from having thorough dental work done, only it lasted days instead of hours. I am due to see the dentist soon (the first time since my diagnosis with SJS), so I will definitely bring this up and see if anything can be done...

thanks!
Sarah

[ErinG]

Hi Sarah,

I recently started having pain similar to what you are describing and I told my dentist about it.  He showed me an exercise that helps stretch the jaw and he gave me an information sheet on TMJ.  The suggestions on the sheet included using a heating pad, ice packs, and to refrain from eating tough food (bagels, pizza crust) and chewing gum.  I have significantly cut back my gum chewing and switched the sugar free candies (Halls Refresh) and my jaw doesn't hurt nearly as much anymore. 

I hope you find relief soon!

Erin