My jaw is SO stiff most of the time. Sometimes it gets so stiff it feels like it locks up for half a second when I chew food or when I close my mouth to swallow.
It's very uncomfortable and scary!
Does anyone else have this? It's driving me crazy. I am scared that it's going to get so bad that it will get locked that way and I'll have to go to the ER or something.
Anyone have any advice on what might help it (especially those who also have this problem)?
Posted by LS (Member # 27740) on :
I have had 9 months of jaw pain on the left side. It hurts only when I use it to eat, yawn, yell, etc. I am down to eating only soft food (hurray for ice cream!) I don't feel like it is ``locking up'' and ``unlocking up'' but I do have a consistent limited range of motion and pain.
I have just discovered Lyme as a possibility and have not confirmed that I do have it or not.
Either way, a muscle relaxant does help with my range of motion and allowed me to eat more easily. However, it does not help with the associated pain.
Posted by Robin123 (Member # 9197) on :
Hi - this is TMJ - a locking of the temporal-mandibular joint. A splint can help this.
I get my TMJ lightly adjusted by my chiropractor, who uses an arthrostim machine. It helps it temporarily.
It's called the KST technique. You might call around and see if there's a chiro in the area who uses it, or check with the KST folks - Koren Specific Technique.
Posted by sixgoofykids (Member # 11141) on :
Mine would lock up. Mine would lock open, but my TMJ ortho said it was more common to lock closed. Mine no longer does that since I had the TMJ problem fixed.
Posted by Marnie (Member # 773) on :
You are not taking Fosamax or Boniva are you?
"Following my last dose of Boniva I've had ***extreme pain in my jaw*** which began during the night and was excruciating. The severity has lessened but both side of my jaw ache constantly and I have an appointment to find out if this is osteonecrosis or just TMJ."
You need to get images of the bone structure to be sure that is in order and, if not, what the entire skeletal area looks like to the trained TMJ specialist. You may also need neck images.
Magnesium is one of the very best things for TMJ, in addition to gentle manual treatments (maybe a hard splint, never soft) and re-education of how to move your mouth correctly when you chew and a good pillow for sleep.
A say never a soft mouth splint as then your mouth will chew on it like gummy bears. I tore through several of those very fast, swallowing a bunch of the gummy stuff in my sleep.
A very hard acrylic splint worked best for me - but ONLY with magnesium, too. Otherwise, I'd also attack that in my sleep.
I could not have learned the muscle re-education without having been hooked up a biofeedback machine for a couple times a week for about 6-8 weeks. Insurance normally does not cover anything TMJ related but it did cover biofeedback with a P.T. for migraines. Be very guarded with the TMJ diagnosis regarding insurance. It's sort of a no-man's land.
Feldenkrais method/technique - not just for jaw but entire body mechanics and re-education.
Upledger cranial-sacral. Just google for those near you who are trained in this gentle methods (there is no "twist & shout" or "snap & crack").
Massage
Tai Chi or Qi Gong (Qi Gong requires less turning of the head).
And remember MAGNESIUM. You may need up to 1,000 mg a day - or more. Take it to bowel tolerance and back down a bit. You may need shots or IV, though. If so, take with B-12 in the syringe so it does not sting so much.
Taurine is good, too, for relaxation and muscle nutrition. -
Posted by disturbedme (Member # 12346) on :
Marnie, no, I am only 26, I have never taken Fosamax or Boniva.
I just have SOOOO many health issues at such a young age. Posted by disturbedme (Member # 12346) on :
Six, mine gets really stiff while closed or locks up a little bit while closed or trying to chew.
I did go to a TMJ dentist but he was extremely stupid. He didn't help me at all. It was a worthless appointment. He was young and he leaned against the wall the entire appointment while I was talking of the problems and he just told me to eat soft food. He did take x-rays of the joints and jaw and said the x-rays showed nothing wrong and that everything looked good and that because of that, he couldn't do anything to help me.
I was hoping to have a splint done or something... but no, he was of NO help whatsoever.
Posted by sixgoofykids (Member # 11141) on :
Wow, that stinks!
My first ortho (we moved, so I had to get a new one), said something about the disk slipping and that was what caused it to lock up, then it would move again and you could open/close it.
My x rays do show damage. Much of the bone is worn away. But early on it would not have showed that, right? It has to start sometime.
If it's locking up, I'd talk to your dentist about it at the next appt. Maybe he can give you an appliance.
My 22 year old daughter had her TMJ fixed before she had a lot of damage like I did. Hers would lock closed .... made it interested one time when it locked closed when she was brushing her teeth .... from then on she was sure to brush with her mouth open. Posted by disturbedme (Member # 12346) on :
That is extremely scary, Six!!!! How long did it stay locked closed??? Mine has only ever stayed that way for a few seconds and I hope it never stays closed longer, it's really scary.
Posted by mcg08002 (Member # 24617) on :
Hey! I have this ALLLLL the time.
Its TMJ. The very FIRST system I had from Lyme.
1) Do NOT chew gum.
2) Get a splint from your dentist. My dentist did a xray and was able to get me one.
Posted by Hoosiers51 (Member # 15759) on :
My brother had pretty severe TMJ for awhile. I don't think he would get any kind of locking, but he just had lots of pain to the point that he spent a long time only eating very soft foods, out of necessity.
A lot of dentists were telling him there is basically no solution, in his case. But they were telling him he could be clenching his jaw at night while sleeping, and to use a mouthguard. I think that puts less stress on the jaw.
I'm not sure if it helped, but his problem seemed to get better with time. Though he is still affected by it, it seems much better.
I am bringing the mouthguard thing up because it doesn't seem like your dentist did. Not sure if it will help you or apply to you, but it's another suggestion.
Posted by disturbedme (Member # 12346) on :
Hoos, thanks for the info! I actually do wear a mouthguard. I don't wear it religously, like I probably should, but I wear it every once in a while.
I will ask my dentist about a splint, but I believe I asked my dentist before and he does not do that type of thing and the TMJ dentist he recomended I see did not take my insurance, so that is why I ended up going to some idiot who was of no help whatsoever because my insurance covered him.
Now if only I could find a TMJ dentist that my insurance covered that was actually GOOD.
Posted by TS96 (Member # 14048) on :
As far as I know TMJ is not covered unless you have sixgkids insurance.
I'm on my 3rd splint at 2 grand a splint and while it keeps my jaw in place it does not keep it from clenching or free from tightness and pain. I wear mine 24/7.
When i have a bad h/a my TMJ kills me. Feels like tight rubber bands holding my jaw shut. And when I yawn i get a ripping noise like my masater muscles are tearing.
TMJ dentist in Syracuse, NY says the only way to fix it is to slowly move the jaw into the "perfect" position with splint therapy and then grind down all the back teeth and put crowns on.
No way I said, Had all those amalgams out and got nice teeth now and now you want to grind them all down. I'll live with the pain for now till they come up with a better solution. 8 crowns ain't cheap either.
BTW my jaw locked shut, but I did have something like a 10-15 mm opening so I could get a straw in or a spoon with a little on it. Felt like my head was in a vice grip.
Had this for 3 months before i trekked out to Ohio Dr. S near Columbus a great guy unlocked the darn thing in less than a minute with his eyes shut. Exruciating pain afterwards when the numbing stuff wore off but hey my mouth was opening.
Dr. S said my discs were flatter than flat, non-existant but that my condyles were not too worn. Both condyles were totally out of place when I went to Dr. S
hope that helps you some
Posted by hadlyme (Member # 6364) on :
Seeing a dentist that specializes in TMD is what you need.
The joint has a boomerang shaped disc that is between the joint. If this disc is displaced, you will have locking up, pain, and clicking noise. It could even lock up and you won't be able to close your teeth together.
Your bite might be off, you might be grinding your teeth... many different reasons for this.
You need to sleep on your pillow on your back, no force on the side of your face pushing on it.
No sticky chewy foods, no steaks, heavy chewing. You treat this joint as a sprained ankle... not heavy use.
Lips together, teeth apart. This will drop your lower mandibular jaw into a relaxed position.
You'll need a Panorex, full mouth/joint xray and the dr. will have other tests to do to see the severity of it.
Mouthguards are the best way to go, but a life style change in what you eat and how you sleep has to be done too.
And remember. Lyme loves joints.... and this is a joint. Even if you have this pain from a non lyme type situation... lyme will take advantage of a weak area and you'll get pain easier in this joint like other joints in your body.
Sorry, I've been in dentistry way too long... and have dealt personally and professionally with this matter. Was locked sideways for 9 days once, and on going problems, but since I work in the industry, have been able to live with it.
Posted by Florence1 (Member # 22960) on :
for as long as i can remember i have had TMJ symptoms....but i find now if i am talking for a long time it feels like it gets stiffer and i find as the conversation goes on my mouth doesnt open as much, like talking through gritted teeth........
Posted by sammy (Member # 13952) on :
My jaw has locked shut a couple times and frequently gets stuck so that my teeth do not meet together. I also have episodes of pain and clicking noises. I notice that it flares with other symptoms and has gotten better with Levaquin. I know that TMJ issues are not covered by insurance so I'm hoping that it continues to get better with treatment.
Posted by INEBG (Member # 27690) on :
I've had TMJ for decades. It began with jaw pain and infrequent lock-ups on the right. At first the lock-ups were of short duration, but over time they became more frequent and severe. One morning I woke up with a locked jaw and it did not unlock. Not for a day, not for a week, not for an entire year. During that year I visited many specialists, TMJ dentists, TMJ surgeons, chiropractors, physical therapy centers, and nothing worked. It was very painful; my mouth only opened about 1/2 inch, and any yawn or sneeze or sudden involuntary motion was agony. I finally decided to have surgery based on the latest panoramic xrays and evaluation. That was in 1992. It turns out the disc was mangled and I had a bone spur that did not show up on the xrays. Since the surgery, I rarely have trouble with my jaw and have never had a lock-up again. Residual effects: I cannot tolerate long dental visits because my jaw will become misaligned and the muscles will tighten. I cannot chew gum or eat tough food. Also, I have limited opening, so had to find an understanding dentist with slender fingers. Every once in awhile I need to go back to physical therapy for relief, but mostly it's good. So based on my experience I think it's a good idea to be checked thoroughly so that you and your doctor/dentist understand what is causing your jaw problems. Then, it's a good idea to pursue treatment sooner rather than later. If I had it to do again, I would not have waited a year to get it fixed. During that year the ligaments and muscles attached to my jaw atrophied and shortened; the PT to get me back to having a mouth that opened was extremely difficult.
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