OWWY!!! TMJ issues. :(

farfalledibaciodinotte
farfalledibaciodinotte Posts: 181 Member
edited October 3 in Health and Weight Loss
so lately I have had some pain in the right side of my jaw. I can't fully bite down and there's lots of pressure... also when I open my mouth really wide the right side sticks further out ugh it hurts.. I'm sure it's not dislocated, but I'm in so much pain and ofcourse painkillers don't work.. yay me.

any ideas of what it could be??

Replies

  • BerryH
    BerryH Posts: 4,698 Member
    It might be worth seeing a dentist as when friends have had jaw pain it was related to teeth, either an infection or tooth grinding in their sleep. Hope you get it sorted quickly.
  • EmmaRankmore
    EmmaRankmore Posts: 125
    I had a similar issue and it turned out I had an infection in my wisdom tooth, the tooth was impacted (coming up sideways) and had to be removed. Painkillers didn't work on me and it felt like I had an ear infection, but it was all related to the tooth. Go see your dentist mate - hope it comes good ASAP!!
  • PBJunkie
    PBJunkie Posts: 652
    This is something you should ask a specialist...
  • cathy6566
    cathy6566 Posts: 14 Member
    I have TMJ also... and today and the past couple weeks are like GRRR!!! good luck, I've had it for at least 10 years. If you do find anybody or anything that will help please let me know, I've been to specailist and everything. They say it's just part of my life. :(
  • fitniknik
    fitniknik Posts: 713 Member
    Mine was driving me completely crazy for the last few weeks, I even thought I had an ear infection it was hurting so bad! I got a mouth guard and have been sleeping with that in for the past few days. It feels soo much better now, but I still cant bite down completely on the left. (I have had TMJ since I was 12-13)
  • kje2011
    kje2011 Posts: 502 Member
    Hi, I am a dental assistant, I see this soooo often:)

    Best idea is to get a night guard, either that fits your top arch or lower arch. It's a clear plastic piece that fits exactly to your teeth and it's about maybe 1mm thick. Go to your dentist, they will take impressions/moulds of your teeth and make this nightguard for you.
    There is another guard on the market--NTI. It fits exactly on your two front top teeth and it's about 2mm thick. It helps you not grind or clench, or clench your jaw down together and relieves pressure on your tmj joint.
    IT"S WORTH IT!!
    It will relieve your pain, and prevent you from grinding or clenching your teeth. Better to save your teeth with this than have to have them crowned or pulled.

    Have a great day!!
  • RhondaLeeRoss
    RhondaLeeRoss Posts: 186
    I have had TMJ for quite a while! It's because I clenched my teeth at night. You probably need a night gaurd (mouth gaurd) from the dentist. It help a great deal! Best of luck. I know it hurts! Mine locks on me when I eat sometimes (but that hasn't happened for a while now)
  • AZKristi
    AZKristi Posts: 1,801 Member
    I have TMJ that can be horrendous at times. I use a night guard which helps a lot. When the inflammation starts to flare up, I use prescription doses of Aleve. If it gets really out of control the doctor will prescribe steroids to reduce the inflammation.

    Try softer foods for a few days. Try to focus on relaxing your jaw as much as possible.
  • janf15
    janf15 Posts: 242 Member
    I think there is only one thing to do in a situation like this ... see a professional. Clearly a dentist might be the right choice - by examining you he/she is clearly has the ablility to tell you what this is and either treat you or refer you to someone who can.
  • healthybabs
    healthybabs Posts: 600 Member
    I got TMJ after having a series of dental work done which was a result of keeping the mouth open for long periods of time. Mine was so bad I could only open my mouth wide enough to sip tomato soup thru a straw. It can result from all kinds of things, however. My dentist did give me something for the pain but did refer me to a chiropractor for the ultimate relief. Wow, what a difference that made. After a couple of weeks of treatment, TMJ gone and my chiropractor taught me how to manipulate a spot, actually the socket between the ear and jaw if I feel it coming on again. Now at the dentist, we take frequent breaks so I can relax the jaw and it is no longer a problem.
  • gipperakh
    gipperakh Posts: 102 Member
    I have TMJ also and when I open my mouth or eat sometimes you can hear it pop LOUDLY. I've seen my doctor about it, she says it's severe and told me to see my dentist so that I could be referred to a maxillofacial surgeon. Needless to say, I'm scared and have NOT gone yet. It even gives me headaches, migraines sometimes, and neck pain. I use a lot of excedrine migraine and I try to just massage the area to help. Night guards sound like a good idea. Maybe I'll try that too!
  • ambie443
    ambie443 Posts: 40
    all the advice given is great, mouth guards do help. but keep this in mind, if you are doing a lot of chewing it is gonna hurt more, so foods like steak, and sweets like gum where it takes constant chewing you might wanna give them a break. I am also another who suffers from TMJ disorder, some days are ok other are no good, some days I look like a mouse with my cheeks full of food because of swelling. and like everyone else I do think it would be wise to see a professional.
  • RhondaLeeRoss
    RhondaLeeRoss Posts: 186
    I have TMJ also and when I open my mouth or eat sometimes you can hear it pop LOUDLY. I've seen my doctor about it, she says it's severe and told me to see my dentist so that I could be referred to a maxillofacial surgeon. Needless to say, I'm scared and have NOT gone yet. It even gives me headaches, migraines sometimes, and neck pain. I use a lot of excedrine migraine and I try to just massage the area to help. Night guards sound like a good idea. Maybe I'll try that too!

    You need to get to the dentist my friend! Don't mess around with it!
  • PegasusDeb
    PegasusDeb Posts: 665 Member
    I have jaw issues as well, and you definilty need to see a professional. Mine told me the best thing would be to break my jaw & reset it. Needless to say, that will NOT happen! (Although I'm sure a wired jaw would help in my weight loss!) My dentist fit me with a bite guard, that did help when I wore it, I usually woke up to find it somewhere in my bed, once, in the dog bed, with HER teeth marks in it! lol My teeth are shifting so much though the guard don't fit anymore. I have found that chewing gum is bad, but I still do. :-(
  • Kambriasgranny
    Kambriasgranny Posts: 35
    I have TMJ and didn't realize it until the pain was so bad every mornign when I woke up that I couldn't even open my eyes. I finally went to my dentist, thinking it was a tooth issue. He took one look at my face as I described the pain and made a custom mouth piece that I wear at night...totally took away the pain. I don't grind, I clench my jaw and that can be very harmful to teeth, not to mention the pain. I do have to go back every couple of years and have it tweeked because I make dents in it!! Good Luck!
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