TMJ?

[AbeLinkedIn]

Has anyone here have experience with TMJ? Since Wednesday (Before I hurt my foot) I've had a pain on the left side of my jaw. It's not excrutiating by any stretch but it's more painful when I open my mouth wide. I also notice some popping in my ear when I move my jaw around. What can I do to aleviate symptoms until it goes away or could it be my tetanus fear coming to life since jaw locking is the first sign. Mine's not locked, just painful on one side and I'm not sure how it happened and frankly it's inconvenient and scary

 

[mia23]

When I'm really anxious i clench my jaw without realising, and it gives me nasty tension headaches. A few weeks ago i was also worrying about tetanus and freaked out that the tense jaw and any referred pain had to be caused by it, turns out i was worried for no reason, because i never did get tetanus lol. I'm sure if you relax the tense jaw issue should subside some. Also, if it really was tetanus you'd be displaying other symptoms at this point, not just jaw pain

 

[AbeLinkedIn]

When I'm really anxious i clench my jaw without realising, and it gives me nasty tension headaches. A few weeks ago i was also worrying about tetanus and freaked out that the tense jaw and any referred pain had to be caused by it, turns out i was worried for no reason, because i never did get tetanus lol. I'm sure if you relax the tense jaw issue should subside some. Also, if it really was tetanus you'd be displaying other symptoms at this point, not just jaw pain

I first had tetanus fears since this last Wednesday when I stepped on a nail outside and they say symptoms start days or weeks after the injury. Even still I had my shot years ago when I first entered college and graduated early this year. I'm not used to this feeling and it sucks.

 

[AbeLinkedIn]

Update: It feels like it's getting better but I'm not sure. I still have a slight tetanus fear and this isn't helping

 

[AbeLinkedIn]

Update again: It's a roller coaster of pain, some times it's fine other times I'm in agony. I went to bed okay but upon waking up I'm almost back to square one. This is freaking me out

 

[bin_tenn]

Sounds like possible TMJ disorder to me. This is what I go through often. I've not been formally diagnosed (haven't talked to my dentist about it) but I'm 98% sure that's what I have. Not a big deal. It's painful sometimes. Even worse when waking up in the morning, because you haven't been moving your jaw as you do during the day. It gets stiff and moving it even a little is painful.

 

[AbeLinkedIn]

Precisely what happened this morning to me. I was fine last night but upon waking up it was painful and I'm still not 100% two hours later

 

[bin_tenn]

Typical. It sucks, and unfortunately I haven't found anything that really relieves the symptoms for good. I sometimes take Tylenol for the pain, but otherwise I just let it run its course.

 

[triceps]

Hi AbeLinkedIn. Am so sorry that you're putting yourself through this. I'm confident that your fear of having tetanus is allowing your anxiety to cause these symptoms. As soon as you get past those tetanus fears, that jaw will be fine.

 

[AbeLinkedIn]

I took two this morning and while it's calmed down some after moving around, I still got pain if I move it a certain way. I can open my mouth fully but I feel some inflammation on the painful side inside my mouth.

Hi AbeLinkedIn. Am so sorry that you're putting yourself through this. I'm confident that your fear of having tetanus is allowing your anxiety to cause these symptoms. As soon as you get past those tetanus fears, that jaw will be fine.

The jaw thing started before my tetanus fears began

 

[triceps]

I understand that it started before the tetanus scare but in my opinion, it is anxiety related also and will go away when you move past the tetanus worry. Again, just my opinion.

 

[AbeLinkedIn]

I'm more or less over the tetanus, my main issue is the jaw pain and my anxiety's focusing on that.

 

[bin_tenn]

I'm more or less over the tetanus, my main issue is the jaw pain and my anxiety's focusing on that.

It's nothing to worry about though. It's normal, especially with TMJ disorder.

 

[AbeLinkedIn]

How long does yours last, just out of curiosity? This is the 3rd day I've had it

 

[AbeLinkedIn]

Anyone? Am I doomed to have this forever? This is starting to get to me bad

 

[bin_tenn]

Usually a week or so, give or take a few days.

 

[AbeLinkedIn]

Status report: I still feel soreness but it wasn't as extreme as it was yesterday morning. I can open and close my mouth with little discomfort (I still feel a tinge of pain) but certain movements bring it on worse. What made me freak out was stories of people who've had this for months or years even though Bin says a week or so. It only hurts when I do certain positions like if I open my mouth super wide but I can still talk perfectly well

 

[bin_tenn]

Status report: I still feel soreness but it wasn't as extreme as it was yesterday morning. I can open and close my mouth with little discomfort (I still feel a tinge of pain) but certain movements bring it on worse. What made me freak out was stories of people who've had this for months or years even though Bin says a week or so. It only hurts when I do certain positions like if I open my mouth super wide but I can still talk perfectly well

Again, not abnormal for TMJ disorder. It sucks, I know, but it's nothing to worry about. The only other advice I have is: rest your jaw as much as possible. Try to avoid food that requires heavy chewing. But at the same time, try to slowly exercise the jaw. Resting it helps the pain, and the exercising of the jaw builds some strength and helps it get back to where it should be.

 

[AbeLinkedIn]

I tried some exercises but they don't seem to be very effective, unless I have too high of expectations for them.

I guess the biggest question is this: Is there a difference between TMJD and lockjaw? That might put my mind at ease some

 

[bin_tenn]

Exercises are not immediately effective, nor will they resolve the issue in an otherwise short time. Just keep resting your jaw, but also exercise it slowly.