Pain in the jaw

[Arlescote]

Is it usual to have rheumatoid arthritis in the jaw? How can the pain be eased, does it last for very long? Y dentist has confirmed that the severe pain I have in my left jaw and the shooting pain is due tonRA,

[AgedCrone]

Yes..I think it’s quite common.I had it on & off when I was first diagnosed..but don’t get it much now

I just took whichever painkiller I was on at the time.

Like you I thought it was a dental problem….but nope…good old RA was the culprit!

Hope yours eases soon.

[vonniesims in reply to AgedCrone]

Me too

[AgedCrone in reply to vonniesims]

I’m smiling here because I just got a new hearing aid…with a tinier tube that goes in my ear……after a week or two….I got the jaw pain.Being slow on the uptake I just thought dammit…RA acting up as I was getting some niggles. But……I don’t use the HA when I’m ‘Home Alone’…..& it dawned on me…no jaw pain!

The darned think compressed a nerve…..so it’s back to audiologist…one day!

[vonniesims in reply to AgedCrone]

Good luck with that

[Knip in reply to AgedCrone]

I have this intermittenly as well. My dentist referred me back to my GP who had already referred me to him! Swings and roundabouts...now I take a painkiller...sometimes paracetamol, dissolved under my tongue...or, depending on the severity, co-codamol. It eventually clears again.

[AgedCrone in reply to Knip]

I agree…. & those with RA may be more likely to blame it onRA…like blaming our meds for a tummy upset.But on the whole I think it does clear up on its own…although a painful nuisance at the time.

[Quinny51 in reply to AgedCrone]

Yes i have had in my jaw it lasted about 3 to 4 days i had to use a straw but it has calmed down now i use arcoxia anti-inflammatory tablets and its gone in an hour it works for me but everyone is different tho

[MadBunny]

Yes I had it a few years ago but it suddenly stopped and fingers x I haven' t had it since. I took painkillers to ease it. Hopefully yours will settle too.

[Love2camp]

Yes I had it in my jaw before finding the right treatment for my RA. It was very painful and made eating difficult. I found the only way to treat jaw pain was to get my inflammation under control.

[Runrig01]

I have ankylosing spondylitis and used to suffer severe jaw pain, where I couldn’t chew and it would cramp easily. The inflammation also caused vascular lesions and spasms in my tongue, as well as burning temples. All caused by the inflammation pressing on surrounding nerves and vessels. The only thing that eased it was dmards, Azathioprine for the first 2yrs then methotrexate which I still use now. If I miss my MTX the jaw pain quickly returns. I was referred by my rheumatologist to an oral medicine consultant, which is a dentist who has also trained as a dr. There are few of them and you generally have to travel to a large city to see one. The advantage is they are focusing on medical issues that affect the mouth, whereas Maxfax are focusing on surgery. They confirmed it was my ankylosing spondylitis that was responsible for all my symptoms. I was also referred to a physio who specialises in the jaw joint, who gave me massages and exercises to do, which did help, whilst I waited for the meds to kick in. Hope you get to the source of the problem and get it settled 🤞

[Dobcross1]

Yes, I had this when first diagnosed - made speaking and eating impossible for a few days - then it suddenly eased, presumably because methotrexate got my RA under control. Hope you get yours sorted soon, I really feel for you 🤞

[Norma63 in reply to Dobcross1]

Finally ENT found infected salivary gland on left caused ear pain,swelling in lower) jaw) pain down into shoulder.blamed sjogrens,b but I have RA too. Prednisone, salt gargle, hot cloth neck,) behind ear,]

[Loopy1999]

Yes. It was one of my first symptoms along with my fingers. Before I was diagnosed,I actually ended up having a wisdom tooth out because we thought it was that. I still get jaw pain.

[Ginger46]

Hi yes I had this in my jaw when my RA came back after a remission from having RA (not JIA but that's another story) as a teenager. When I got pregnant all went into a state of remission then wham 4 months later RA back but not in the jaw xx

[Marionfromhappydays]

Yes, as others have said mine was at its worst when RA not under control.

I also clench my jaw at night so have to wear a mouth guard as its aggrevates my already sore jaw.

I found a heat pack would help ease the pain a little along with pain killers

[sunnyweek]

Yes i've had it in my jaw. I remember sitting at work with my jaw cupped in my hand very painful. I was stressed at the time due to illness in the family. After about a week it eased I probably took anti inflams and painkillers. I hope yours eases very soon.

[Lolabridge]

Yes I get it too from time to time. Paracetamol takes the edge off the pain a bit I’ve found.Thankfully it’s one of the few parts of my body not hurting at the moment!

[fangrock]

Me too, left side of jaw ☹️

[ColinRR]

Yes, I have had it in the past in either the left or right hing joint making chewing difficult/ painful. Luckily it didn’t last for long unlike the other pains from RA.

[Caza]

Yes I get flares in my jaw. I find this the most painful place. Luckily for me I don’t get it very often, normally when I’m under extreme stress. Heat & strong painkillers help. For me it normally only lasts for about 48hrs Thank goodness

[Sheila_G]

I have had jaw pain in the past and it was awful but like others have said it has settled down and I haven't had any problem with jaw for a few years now. I hope it settles down for you soon too.

[Nellies47]

Hi.I had this too, and up into my ears. It's comes and goes and sometimesmy jaw locks when it's there. Hope it settles soon for you. I saw dentist, ent an rheumatologist. It was decided it was joint pain. Nelly.

[CagneysMum]

I had pain in my jaw (and all my joints) when I was initially diagnosed with RA just over 3 years ago but my Rheumy got it under control within a couple of months using methotrexate, naproxen and steroid injections. The rest of me took longer but my jaw was first to improve. Not had it since thankfully. Hope you get yours sorted 🤞🤞

[Evie3]

I was plagued by that in the early years….my doc injected steroid into the joint which eased it. They might not do that now. I used to heat up a micro bag and lay my face on that, which soothed it.

[Julia31]

Yes I've had it too. Sometimes it lasts a while.

[Lou_Miss1]

Yes, I had jaw pain really bad, the whole side of my face neck and ears were hurting, Lastested about 4 months, Went to the ear, nose, throat doc. He said I had RA in the ear. It has let up alot, but still there.

[lily2003]

I get it now and then, perhaps twice a year since diagnosis. I think my dentist and my rheumy (both wonderful women who I admire) might chalk it up to TMJ, however, "I know when I know" (just made that maxim up!) and I know it's RA and it will (usually) subside in a day or two.

However, of course, we are all different, so not easy to say if this is true for you.

[Createsomething]

I have jaw inflammation and pain, on both sides of my face. I find that massaging the area gently helps a lot, or else it seems to build up and build up and get to the point where it's difficult to eat. I use lavender (or another soothing oil if you don't like lavender) essential oil drops in some almond oil. I massage top and bottom joints, then round my ears and down the sides of my neck. Sometimes it's difficult to do it cos my hands are affected, so I use a jade facial roller. This has a cooling affect on the swelling too. Hope this helps x