Jaw pain and slightly swollen cheek

[Mires]

Hi does anyone get jaw pain I also get earache and a slight swelling to my face, I’ve had my teeth checked and it’s not that, I’ve had bloods taken and a scan which showed nothing, I’m awaiting a max facial appointment but the waiting list is so long. Any help would be much appreciated x

[Blue-52]

hi, u may have tmj , please type this into search, as my brain will not let me spell, it’s painful, and a lot of people with fm get this, mine is playing up at the moment, due to biting down, and my guard isn’t helping.

[Mires in reply to Blue-52]

Thank you for your reply, I do find myself biting down a lot, does this also cause the face to look puffy at one side x

[Blue-52 in reply to Mires]

I don’t get the puffy face, so I’m not sure what that is, but we are all so different, and experience different symptoms.

Try putting some gentle hot or cold on it, see which one might help, I hope it eases soon.

[Mires in reply to Blue-52]

Thank you, im putting a cold compress daily.

[Blue-52 in reply to Mires]

Ahh bless, when you go back to your dentist, discuss a bite guard, they do help sometimes, and you actually feel, when you are biting down.

Good luck.

[Mires in reply to Blue-52]

Thank you, I will

[Debsdelight72 in reply to Blue-52]

I used to grind my teeth whilst asleep and would suffer for it the morning after,

I don't need a bite now 🦷🦷🦷🦷🦷

[Blue-52 in reply to Debsdelight72]

That’s great, you don’t need one anymore.

[Elle247]

Yup sounds like TMJ disfunction. It started for me in feb 2021 and and I got diagnosed at the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery dept at my local hospital (OMFS). Its the worst pain I have TBH. Antidepressants can exacerbate the problem as they increase jaw tension. I have tried many medication to help manage the pain but to no avail. I wish you luck on this journey and hope you get a better outcome than I. Take care 🙂

[Mires in reply to Elle247]

Thank you for your reply, I’m getting no where the doctors have basically told me I have health anxiety and yes I probably do, but when you get no answers it’s worrying. I see my dentist on Friday who are pretty good to be fair so hopefully she can tell me for sure. I’m sorry for your pain and lack of help and support 😢

[denny_the_wench]

Do you actually notice yourself clenching your teeth? If you do (and I still have this issue from time to time) I found it helps to re-direct the stim to something else like a stress ball or squeezing a small piece of blutak between thumb & forefinger (I tend to make mine into a small 6 sided box or dice!)... do this until your shoulder muscles start to relax. Generally after a couple of weeks I find that it subsides.

Before I discovered this I went to the dentist on numerous occasions - was a given a bite guard but all this did was protect me from chipping my teeth and it didn't stop the clench and pain in my muscles. Also, as you may also be tensing other muscles without realising it - learning calming deep breathing using a relaxation app or cd or taking relaxation classes or yoga will help in the long term - and may stop you having to take more medication for your anxiety on top of everything else.

Do hope you find a release soon xx

[Mires in reply to denny_the_wench]

Thank you. Yes I’m always finding myself clenching my teeth, I’m getting a lot of pain at the bottom of my skull at the moment but I know it’s all to do with whatever it going on with my jaw, it’s the swelling that concerns me but looking at things I’m sure it’s all connected. I’m not on any medication for anxiety I see different doctors at the surgery and I just feel like an inconvenience so I tend to just get on with things. I will try the things you said and see how things go xx

[rainbowqueen18]

when I get acid attack I have all that n more..like having heart attack the pains horrendous..acid attacks have me rolling on the floor unable to get any where that helps the pains…gaviscon liquid does help but lately not much .so yours could be that.take large spoon of it next time you have these pains n see if it helpsxxx🌹🥰❤️

[Winnie123xxx]

the left side of my face is permanently swollen has been for the last few years. I’ve gone through the process of max facial just had another scan done on my face. Everything comes bad normal but clearly somethings going on to cause swelling. It drives me nuts 😩 had an ice pack on my face last night. Strange I just came across your post and you mentioned pain on the skull. I’ve had a lot of headaches etc maybe that’s why the swelling has gone worse the last couple of days.

Thank you for posting because its interesting to find out that there’s someone else who has similar symptoms.

I hope you are feeling a bit better and I’m sending gentle hugs 🤗 💕😘

[Mires in reply to Winnie123xxx]

Thank you so much for your reply. I honestly thought something sinister was going on because you are the only other person I’ve heard from with a swollen face, left side too. I feel my face looks so different at one side it really gets me down I’m still experiencing the pain which affects me too. My dentist was unsure what it was they said I am grinding my teeth so they made me a mouth guard for a night time, I’m afraid I’m not really tolerating it, it makes he gag. I do hope you have better days, it’s always the not knowing isn’t it. Sending gentle hugs, and I really appreciate your reply ❤️

[Winnie123xxx in reply to Mires]

Ooo make sure you ask if you can be checked for sleep apnoea I discovered I have that and it could be contributing to it with teeth fringing. I have a machine and mouth guard which is a pain to get used too. With the guard you can ask for it to be trimmed, I got the inner bit trimmed and right at the back and it feels so much better 👍Can’t believe you’re is on the left too!!

I think it’s mostly Fibro this swelling but good to get everything checked out. I completely feel the same way I get so down about my face I’ve even changed my hair parting. I just want my normal face back 😢 it’s been like this for about 2/3 years now xx

[Mires in reply to Winnie123xxx]

I will do, thank you, I feel exactly the same I wear my hair on my face now to try hide the swelling, people are kind and say it’s not really noticeable but I feel totally different I used to love dressing up and when I had the energy meeting friends, these days I’m happier hiding away at home. It would just be nice to have some answers wouldn’t it. It would be nice to have the old me again I’m sure everyone going through this feels the same xx