EventFish Posted March 8, 2011 Share Posted March 8, 2011 Hi, just a quick question. Recently I have been waking up with my jaw aching on the right hand side, always that side alone. It doesn't happen every day, but at most days. It's quite painful at first, but goes off after 1-2 hours and hurts when eating as opening is painful. I have googled it, but it doesn't really say much about it. I wondered would you see a doctor or dentist? Thanks in advance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clairelaw123 Posted March 8, 2011 Share Posted March 8, 2011 Hi, just a quick question. Recently I have been waking up with my jaw aching on the right hand side, always that side alone. It doesn't happen every day, but at most days. It's quite painful at first, but goes off after 1-2 hours and hurts when eating as opening is painful. I have googled it, but it doesn't really say much about it. I wondered would you see a doctor or dentist? Thanks in advance. Does it click at all? I had something similar and neither the doctor or dentist could help, in the end I was refereed to some sort of jaw specialist and given a gumshield (you might be grinding your teeth) so I'd say doctors is your best bet! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EventFish Posted March 8, 2011 Author Share Posted March 8, 2011 Does it click at all? I had something similar and neither the doctor or dentist could help, in the end I was refereed to some sort of jaw specialist and given a gumshield (you might be grinding your teeth) so I'd say doctors is your best bet! Thanks for your advice. No it doesn't click, but seems to take longer and longer to stop hurting. Still painful now from this mornings wake up. I think i'll book in with the dr. Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blade73 Posted March 8, 2011 Share Posted March 8, 2011 Thanks for your advice. No it doesn't click, but seems to take longer and longer to stop hurting. Still painful now from this mornings wake up. I think i'll book in with the dr. Thanks Doctor's first as you have to pay to see a dentist. Could be lock jaw? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evildrneil Posted March 8, 2011 Share Posted March 8, 2011 Try your doc - sounds like it's probably bruxism. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HeadingNorth Posted March 8, 2011 Share Posted March 8, 2011 Could be lock jaw? That's unlikely in the extreme, if you mean tetanus, which was commonly known as "lockjaw." That tends to manifest in other parts of the body first, and it's exceptionally rare nowadays in any case. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yummymummy88 Posted March 8, 2011 Share Posted March 8, 2011 Ive got a displaced jaw my doctor didnt have a clue but dentist gave me a sheet of jaw exercises. you look like a prat while you do them but they work for me :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Canx Posted March 8, 2011 Share Posted March 8, 2011 Could be TMJ (tendero mandibular jaw) dysfunction, which can be exacerbated by stress - your doctor could prescribe you stronger pain relief than obtainable in the chemist, your dentist could fit you with a bite guard to wear overnight to prevent bruxism (teeth grinding) exacerbating the problem, either your doctor or your dentist could refer you to the Charles Clifford Dental Hospital for further investigation/treatment. However, their waiting lists are long, even after referral, it will take two-three months to get a letter asking you to call them for an appointment, then that appointment will probably be another two-three months after. As well as the facial/jaw exercises, they have prescribed tranquilizers (to relax the muscles), without informing that, if you're not depressed, depression can actually be a side effect - not good if you're already in pain. Over the last few years, botox injections into the facial muscles, to stop them tensing up, has been a new treatment. Arthrocentesis operations, to wash out the jaw joints of the debris caused by the grinding of badly fitting joints, is an option, but you may have to push for that as operations cost money they haven't got. Arthrocentesis doesn't work for everyone, for some people it works fantastically, totally eliminating pain after the initial recovery period of approximately one-two weeks; however, for some people, after an initial pain free couple of years, the pain can return. Hope you get it sorted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
medusa Posted March 8, 2011 Share Posted March 8, 2011 Do your teeth feel like they're meeting differently to normal? Do you grind your teeth when you sleep? I have a recurrent issue caused by the subluxation of my jaw on one side or the other. This is very painful especially when I try to chew and I've chipped a couple of my teeth because when the joint is not pivoting correctly my front teeth don't align properly and clash when I try to chew. My problem is caused partly because my ligaments are generally rather loose and I have joints which are too bendy and a lot of jaw pain of this sort comes either from the ligaments being too loose or by the joint being too tight caused by muscle and ligament strain from tooth grinding. If you grind your teeth or clench your jaw a lot in your sleep then there are exercises that can help with this or your dentist can make you a guard which is like a gum shield which reduces grinding and thereby reduces the damage to both your teeth and your jaws. My problem is treated by chewing as little as possible for a period of a couple of weeks and just consciously pulling my jaw back into the correct place as much as possible. I think it very unlikely that you have lockjaw, or tetanus- you'd be profoundly unwell if you did have it. Personally I'd consult your GP first. In the unlikely event that there is something seriously affecting your mandible then you will need a referral to a maxillo-facial unit and that needs to be done by your GP. If you follow your GP's treatment for a couple of weeks and nothing improves then I'd go to see your dentist to see if they have anything to add that could help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flowersfade Posted March 8, 2011 Share Posted March 8, 2011 Visit your doctor first if needed they will refer you to your dentist.It could be a wide range of things from sinus pain to Arthritis . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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