TMJ?

[AbeLinkedIn]

Morning update: I more or less have normal function without much pain. The muscle itself still feels sore but even if I open my mouth wide the pain isn't intolerable. I think I downgraded from agony to discomfort. I'm not out of the woods yet, but I'm on the right track.

 

[Gemma214]

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

Sounds like you might be grinding your teeth in your sleep! I've done it for years and had a lot of trouble with jaw pain, popping, stiffness, etc. It's so inconvenient. To answer your question about lockjaw, lockjaw is caused by TMJD and it's when your jaw physically gets locked into place. It's not permanent, but it doesn't sound like that's what you're dealing with since you still have mobility! Hope this helps

 

[bin_tenn]

Sounds like you might be grinding your teeth in your sleep! I've done it for years and had a lot of trouble with jaw pain, popping, stiffness, etc. It's so inconvenient. To answer your question about lockjaw, lockjaw is caused by TMJD and it's when your jaw physically gets locked into place. It's not permanent, but it doesn't sound like that's what you're dealing with since you still have mobility! Hope this helps

Yep, TMJ disorder can cause the jaw to lock, but it's not the same as "lockjaw". Lockjaw is synonymous with tetanus. Just so that's clear.

 

[Gemma214]

Yep, TMJ disorder can cause the jaw to lock, but it's not the same as "lockjaw". Lockjaw is synonymous with tetanus. Just so that's clear.

Lockjaw is colloquially synonymous with tetanus, since it's the most recognizable symptom of tetanus. I thought it was important to point out that lockjaw can be caused by other things, since the person posting seemed nervous that it might be tetanus. TMD can also cause lockjaw. It seems very unlikely that the person posting is suffering from trismus caused by tetanus as it seems to wax and wane and get particularly bad in the morning, something associated more with bruxism and anxiety.

What Causes Lockjaw?

Lockjaw is when the jaw muscles spasm. The condition is also called trismus. Learn what causes lockjaw and how it's treated.

www.verywellhealth.com

 

[AbeLinkedIn]

Update: This morning I don believe I have any more symptoms beyond some tenderness on my face where the affected joint is. I'm able to open and close my mouth without pain and even eat without much discomfort.