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LevisBmom 
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Joined: 24 May 2005
Location: United States
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 Topic: jaw Pain
Posted: 24 May 2005 at 4:17pm |
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I have right lower jaw pain, headaches. The lower jaw pains wakes me up at the same time every night. Does anyone else experience this?
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dyna
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Joined: 02 April 2005
Location: United States
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Posts: 374
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Posted: 24 May 2005 at 6:06pm |
Welcome Melissa,
You didn't say what medications you are taking. I take Enbrel, Imuran, Celebrex and Prednisone. Have you had your teeth checked lately. If not, an x-ray of your mouth might be a good idea. I have had 2 massive jaw infections while taking immunosuppresants. The infection was under a molar and along the jawbone both times. I ended up having to have the molars pulled before the infection could be brought under control. This may not be the problem in your case, but its something to think about.
Another possibility is arthritis in your jaw joint, the TMJ. It can cause you pain like you're describing. Many people with RA also have jaw arthritis. There are things that you can do to relieve the pain you describe. Maybe your meds need an adjustment. Application of heat or cold. A change of diet, softer foods when the jaw is painful. A dentist can also prescribe prosthesis to wear at night.
You'll have to do some detective work. Write down when your jaw hurts and if anything seems to make it either better or worse and then talk to your Dr. Good luck to you.
Barb
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mountain valley lady
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evei
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Joined: 01 March 2005
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Posted: 17 June 2005 at 3:49pm |
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Yes, I suffer from jaw pain and have been to the dentist. He says all is well. I also have it at the same time every night. I think it's because my meds have worn off by that time. I also have other aches and pains at that time too. My dentist did say it could be from grinding my teeth. I don't know if I do that. Hope you get some relief soon. Evei.
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evei
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your2msart
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Joined: 14 July 2005
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Posted: 14 July 2005 at 7:03pm |
I too have a problem with my jaw I can't open as wide as I used to. I'm having a hard time just eating simple foods like donuts, cheese balls, biteing an apple. Will I ever be able to open my jaw again
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evei
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Posted: 16 July 2005 at 10:34am |
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Hi your2smart, welcome to the site. & nbsp;
Yes, you will be able to open your mouth again. Of course you should get it checked out. Are you seeing a rheumatologist? If you're in a flare or the ra is acting up in your jaw, it will come and go. Sometimes if I eat chips or crunchy things, it causes my jaw to act up. Hope you feel better soon. Evei. & nbsp;
ra, oa, degenerative disc disease, heart problems.
methotrexate, prednsione, and bp and heart meds
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evei
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IrishEyes
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Joined: 18 July 2005
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Posted: 19 July 2005 at 7:52am |
I too suffer from this dread aspect of RA.
I just got over two weeks of a flare in my hips that was beyond horrible. Now, it has moved into my jaw and I wish it was back in my hip. It's hard when it hurts to walk, but it's worse when your whole head hurts.
I do have degeneration in the jaw joints and really not a lot they can do but to use a splint, heat compresses (or cold for some, heat for me) and I also use lidocaine cream to numb the pain. I've had cortisone injections in the muscle. Not the joint. It did help immensely but very expensive so only once. This whole thing gets so bad it goes into my neck, shoulders, and back, makes my head hurt and next thing you know, I'm in bed. It affects everything.
IrishEyes
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May you have warm words on a cold evening,
A full moon on a dark night,
And the road downhill all the way to your door.
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Starling
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Joined: 09 May 2005
Location: United States
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Posts: 47
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Posted: 20 July 2005 at 3:21pm |
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This is SO STRANGE! I had been having pain in my left ear for months, and thought I had ear wax. I tried everything, hydrogen peroxide, Debrox drops, olive oil, to no avail. It kept feeling worse. Finally, last week, I made an appointment with an ENT to have the wax removed. The office is next to my rheumatologist's office. My appointment was this morning. The conclusion: I have no ear wax, no fluid, no nothing in my ear. My hearing is perfect, which I knew. During the exam, he squeezed my jaw as he opened my mouth to look in. It hurt like crazy! His conclusion is that the pain that I thought was my ear is RA in my jaw. I told him that I have RA during the appointment, and thought I had an ear infection from all the immunosuppressants I take. I don't grind my teeth at night. I have no pain eating or chewing. It just feels like an earache. But during the course of hunting for the nonexistant ear wax, I think I irritated the skin in my ear and have discomfort from that as well. I never would have thought my jaw was affected, but the ENT said that my pain is coming from the jaw and the tendons around it that are near the ear.
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jerome
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Joined: 02 July 2007
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Posted: 11 July 2007 at 6:58am |
I have had RA for many years, took all drugs, finally MTX, but in LAST MONTH, MY JAW on left side up to my ear started CRACKLING when I open my mouth. Asked rheumatologist, he said nonchalantly, oh yes you can get jaw arthritis. Oh great! Glad I just began Humira, for I do not want it to get worse. Problem with RA is, you never know where it is going to strike next!!!! Crackle, crackle, crackle. Hope I don't start CACKLING!
Take care
Joanne
"The mediocre are always at their best"
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"the mediocre are always at their best"
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justsaynoemore
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Joined: 02 February 2007
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Posted: 11 July 2007 at 6:45pm |
I have terrible jaw pain. For years I was told it was TMJ, but its RA. And I have been told I have some sort of overgrowth of bone in the bottom of my mouth that is growing rapidly, and the dentists and dental hygentists are always so surprised, because its so prominent. Well, its RA. I cannot wait for my next dental appointment. I have spent hundreds of dollars of the years on these stupid plastic things they want me to wear at night and my RA throat is so bad I put them in and start gagging, they never work. And I have had the crackling in the jaws for maybe 20 years now. At least I know what it is finally. Best of luck to all us jawbreakers
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CindysVocals
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Joined: 08 August 2007
Location: United States
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Posted: 08 August 2007 at 11:13am |
Looks like it'sbeen awhile since anyone posted anything here ... I just discovered this site ... How cool to be able to talk about your ailments with others who have the same problems.
I've had jaw pain since April 2007. I was told by a quack that I had an ear infection. After a Z-pack, I still had terrible ear pain. Was taking Topomax for migraine maintenance. I couldn't stand the ear pain so weaned off the Topomax and it seemed to help the pain a little. In mid-July, I was told I had another ear infection. More antibiotics, but still had pain, now behind my ear.
After seeing two ENTs, they say that I have arthritis in my jaw. At first it was just on the right side; now it is also on the left. My neck muscles are also very tight. One ENT blew me off and said, "Go get a therapeutic massage." I could've killed him.
I'm 41 and just can't believe that I have arthritis in my jaw. It is one of the most things I've ever endured! Ibuprofen is helping but not solving. Is Alleve any better? I'm so sick of going to the doctor over this, but I'm really not getting any relief. Not to mention how much my copays are adding up!
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