RA and teeth

[bobbnlady]

Hi my husband has had RA for years now. He got an ear infection that is affecting his head,jaw. It also affected his ability to drink soda drinks because he would get an extreme pain in the jaw right under the ear. He has been on 3different antibiotics and it still is there. The first antibiotics that he was given gave him a severe reaction which included blistering of the scalp and area around the ear.He has had the infection for over 2 weeks. The only medication that he is on for the RA is Actemra.

My question is...Does this seem like the RA is preventing him from healing? His health care nurse has recommended that he go to the hospital and be given antibiotics by IV or to go to the dentist and have the teeth examined under a medical emergency.

Has anyone had something like this happen to them and what was the outcome.

[lovekittys]

Hi, I'm sorry your husband is in such pain. Has he checked to see if he has TMJ in his jaw? The reason I am asking is that will also cause pain under his ear in the jaw, it will also make his teeth hurt, from sensitivity to all out pain. I know you said he has an ear infection too but I would definitely ask about the TMJ. I have had this condition for years and the pain he is experiencing sounds the same, mine has gotten so bad I no longer have discs left in my jaw. Hope this helps. Good Luck and I hope you get an answer soon.

[bobbnlady in reply to lovekittys]

Thank you for your response. He has an appt with an ENT dr today, so maybe we will get some answers.

[lovekittys in reply to bobbnlady]

Good Luck, I hope they can help him with his pain.

[Hidden]

I have TMJ and also had to take 3 courses of antibiotics for a sinusitis and then a severe ear infection earlier this year. They didn't cause skin reactions but did upset my tummy. I have Sjögren's as my main disease and this gives me ENT problems I'm finding. Also the pain around my ear was due to TMD and swollen parotids, a common symptom with Sjögren's which feels very like mumps. They all seemed to flare up together last time. I think it's because I'm on an immunesuppressant so can't easily fight infections once they take hold - probably same as your husband due to Actamera.

My own way of managing/ recovering from this is to drink a lot of plain water throughout the day and eat plain organic yoghurt with a chopped banana and berries, Manuka honey and some nutmeg. Also he could try using heated wheat bags or ice pads on the area of jaw or swollen parotid to soothe, depending on his personal preference.

[bobbnlady in reply to Hidden]

Thanks for your help. He is going to see an ENT dr today so maybe we will get some answers.

[Hidden in reply to bobbnlady]

I hope the ENT doctor helps but failing that an oral consultant might be a good next step.