Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group Who has tmj / jaw pain here?

How many of you have had tmj / jaw pain related to AS? For the last couple of days I feel as if someone landed about four square punches to the left side of my jaw, and have no idea why. It's coinciding with a flare-up, so I figure it may have something to do with the AS. The rheumy, of course, says it probably has nothing to do with it, but I tend to trust you guys a little more.

Many of us have TMJ problems. It's a joint, is it not?

I don't get much pain in mine for the most part, but man the muscles in there get so tight. Do you grind your teeth? If so, a night guard might help ease things. I know that since I got mine, I don't wake up feeling as tho my jaw was locked up tight anymore.

Hugs,

Heck yes! I think for me it is tendon pain as much as anything. I get terrible tendonitis in my right arm and then the TMJ really flared up. The sulfasalazine really helped hugely... but I think it has finally gotten to my gut and I've stopped it. Yikes. I hope I can find something to work that doesn't kill me.

Sometimes I can't tell if the TMJ pain is from a sore tooth, sore sinuses or a sore neck. They're all connected. Once, my sore neck stopped when I had a tooth filled and once I spent two years with a sore neck only to find out I needed a root canal. And once, I massaged my jaw muscles and that eased everything!

Hugs,

Hi, seattle17:

Quote:

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The rheumy, of course, says it probably has nothing to do with it, but I tend to trust you guys a little more

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To be polite, your rheumy is downright dangerous and you should have NOTHING further to do with this 'so-called physician.'

I've had TMJ many times, and often my mouth could not open more than half an inch, which made dental work impossible.

Eventually, I decided that TMJ was Nature's Way of telling me something's wrong (to quote 'Spirit'...a group from the '60s). Fasting helped to eliminate this and other symptoms, but in the nearly eight years since starting the NSD I have only had two or three very mild episodes of TMJ whenever I strayed from the diet or my antibiotics did not work (in the early days).

Once, while playing around with Wayne Green's 'Bioelectrifier,' my TMJ spontaneously relented after less than two minutes. I can't believe there is a connection, but I've never had such a quick result from anything related: We take a long time to get this way, so things do not usually get better so quickly.


Good luck to You,
John

YES!!!!
First Dr. I saw was concerning that exact thing...I went to an ear/nose/throat, about the pain, the sometimes plugged ear feeling (and many other wierd symptoms)...I can tell storms coming/going by my jaw pain...still can
A night guard can help a little...but here is the thing,
you usually only grind your teeth at night to the extend that you clench them, tighten your jaw ect. during the day...So here is what i tried...I bought a mouth guard from a sport store (tried a few, i would recommend the kind that has top and bottom with a set air space...it avoids the gag factor and rests your jaw) and if you can wear it a few times during the day to tran yourself to not clench them during the day...you will be suprised how often you do...I found that after just two days i was able to learn "triggers" and how to catch myself...its a retraining...but worth it...at night you wont do it so much and will feel less pain in the am...at least it worked for me...and when i start getting stressed i have to do that all over...usually it helps...it might be worth a try...ive passed this info on to some friends and it sees to help.
The ENT recommended when in flare up to use heating pads, IB to reduce swelling/pain, chew soft foods, AVOID GUM, and the guard at night. It was my dentist who put the connection with the day/night time clenching/grinding...so that is how i came to my "experient"
feel free to pm me.
Jaye
ps I think the jaw pain is one of the worst...cant eat, cant focus with the nagging pain...weather makes it worse...
Im feeling for you big time!!!

Yup, I do tend to clench my jaw during the day. But then, I often end up relaxing muscles all over my body that have clenched spontaneously at various times during the day. I do some deep breathing and open my mouth really widely to get my jaw to relax. And I try to bear in mind the "lips together, teeth apart" idea as much as possible.

I had my nightguard made to fit by my dentist. It's only the top teeth, but it works a treat. It was pretty gross getting the mould of my teeth made. I have a fairly strong gag reflex (that's an understatement) and having to have that gunk in my mouth while it set - let's just say it took a while to get an accurate mould made because I kept clenching my jaw from the stress of trying not to vomit. Bad gag reflex. Bad BAD gag reflex. We decided not to go with one for the bottom teeth because of it.

Hugs,

Thanks, guys!

I agree I cant believe he said that...the jaw is a joint on 2 sides and I have had a horrible time with both sides.

As usual when I take pain meds or steroids the pain eases up so I know it is inflammation there.

The sad thing is alot of times the best remedy is non-movement which means no eating or talking just when you can to give your jaw a rest.

Good luck!

Lisa

hi there!
sadly i too have tmj/jaw pain. one of the first things my rheumy mentioned was that it was either TMJ or simply because my pain levels were increasing thus causing me stress and grinding my teeth at night due to the constant pain.

he pretty much summed it up on another occasion that anywhere there is a joint we might suffer inflammation including my temple...i forgot the bone that runs through there..but i had inflammation there pretty constantly and i had to get an mri because of it...it came out a okay..inflammation from the AS monster.

i have a mouth guard that was made for me by a TMJ specialist last year. it helped me but i have had a hard time adapting to it. just me. i have asthma and bronchitis often so i wake up wheezing and the guard just freaks me out a bit...but thats me ..the big chicken bug.

when my neurologist couldnt figure out my abnormal brain mri and dark spots that he thought were at first MS...my neurosurgeon did..he said AS causes inflammation even in the brain..eek! that was scary !

like many folks mentioned...liquids is your best option or very soft food till the pain subsides. its no fun. if it continues you might want to see a TMJ specialist to help dx if thats the problem. it could be a sore tooth like Kat mentioned or a number of other problems so its best to play it safe and get it checked out if it continues.

take care !