Jaw pain

[luv2read]

I have been experiencing jaw pain for a couple of weeks now. It does not hurt when I chew, it is tender all the time. Two tylenol takes care of it, but after 4 hours I need to take it again. I was diagnosed with GCA last November and I am currently taking 7 mgs of prednisone. Is this a flare up? I experienced this a few months ago and thought it was a dental problem, but my dentist found nothing that would indicate any teeth issues. Thanks in advance for any response!

[SnazzyD]

Is there a tender spot to touch?

[luv2read in reply to SnazzyD]

only before the tylenol kicks in.

[SnazzyD in reply to luv2read]

Can you put your finger on exactly where it is?

Did your doctor say anything about your temporomandibular joint?

The Tylenol getting rid of it and the fact that it is there all the time and if it is in a specific spot only makes GCA less likely. However, as with any persistent pain, it’s worth getting it checked out. Have a read of this in the meantime

mayoclinic.org/diseases-con...

[luv2read in reply to SnazzyD]

That is exactly where the pain is. Thank you so much for guiding me to what I believe is the answer! I have made an appointment with my dentist. XOXO

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Hi,

If Tylenol addresses the problem and you have no pain chewing then doubtful it’s GCA, but as we all said in response to your previous post you have reduced very quickly - so you cannot afford to discount entirely.

If your dentist cannot find any obviously issues, then it needs following up with your doctor.

[luv2read in reply to DorsetLady]

Thank you!

[jinasc]

I think I would take 10mg and not the Tylenol and see if it goes completely. A couple of days won't do any harm and if it does go..........you then know you were too low. If it does not go.........it is something else.

[luv2read]

After reading Snazzy's reply and checking out the mayo website regarding TMJ, it seems this is the cause of my pain. I have an appointment with my dentist so I will hopefully get an answer from him. Thanks for your reply!

[Hidden in reply to luv2read]

In the meantime relax your jaw as often as possible. Just put the tip of your tongue between your front teeth to relax it. I have to eat softer food when it flares up. Usually due to clenching my jaw. Hope you get answer at dentists.

[loopy4me]

I continue to have some slight jaw pain, but not when chewing. It is tender to touch. I was on Prednizone for a few months cause I thought I had PMR and my jaw pain was pretty bad. Well, I have lupus instead. I am learning the pain in my jaw is swollen saliva glands related to Sjorgens. As I reduced the prednisone, the pain wasn't getting worse or better. Still after taking plaquenil for a few months for lupus, it has improved quite a bit.

[GrahamBa]

I had TMJ pain diagnosed after starting Pred for PMR and sounds like this. Apparently Pred can loosen joints including this one. My jaw joint is still loose on one side but not very painful since reducing down to 5mg.

[Pippah45]

I have had jaw pain recently coinciding with a drop from 25 - 20 mg prednisolone. I didn't make the connection until I was fobbed off to see a nurse and she asked when it hurt. For me it was worst at about 4 am - in other words to me - it was when the pred was losing it's effect. I took myself back up to 25mg and it is miles better. Nurse thought it might be jaw pain and then seeing a doctor on Tuesday - he suggested TMJ and a visit to the dentist. I am pretty sure it's not my teeth. I too will explore the link to TMJ although I have a much more relaxed jaw since I got false teeth which I don't wear all the time. Before that my dentist was always complaining about the strength of my bite!

I hope you find the answers for you. GCA is rather a worry to put it mildly.

[Lee1945 in reply to Pippah45]

Perhaps try reducing just 1mg per time

[Pippah45 in reply to Lee1945]

Thanks Lee - I was thinking of going more slowly than 5mg a time. I have been looking for the dead slow method of reducing and haven't found it yet. This isn't the first time I have had to go back up either so slower would make sense.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Pippah45]

healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk...

[Pippah45 in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you PMRpro

[casca312]

I have GCA but am now down to 4 mgs Pred. About three months ago felt jaw pain. My dentist xrayed my teeth and found nothing, After seeing GP I eventually got appointment with my rheumatologist who did ultra sound and confirmed that there was no more GCA . The pain was like tooth ache but not there all the time and not while chewing. There is still a *chafing* sound whenever I move my jaw but no more pain so hope it is going. I assume it must be TMJ, Hope yours will also go

In time.

[clieder in reply to casca312]

I'm curious about ultrasound. I didn't know this was a tool to determine GCA's presence. Or only if they did a biopsy to determine that it existed in a location?

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to clieder]

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/279...

The TABUL study showed that u/s is comparable to TAB but of course is non-invasive.

[Tonch]

In my case I had pain and felt jaw joint certainly felt loose and Rheumie did say joints were loosened by Pred. Never had any trouble with it before Pred. I rushed to GP thinking I had GCA as jaw pain is red flag for GCA apparently.

[clieder]

For background, I have had TMJ, sort of, for 67 years. The only symptom was that my jaw would go out of joint if I opened too wide. At 13, I learned not do so, but failed on at least three occasions where someone had to assist. Never any jaw pain. Now, at 4 mg for the first time on my 4.5 yearPMR ride, I have had what feels like tooth pain, but not like a tooth ache. Dentist thought swollen sinus may be causing it as it runs right over the suspect tooth and tooth is not in bad enough shape nor does the type of pain fit. They suspected GCA at the time I was diagnosed with PMR and started me high dose. I could not get below 6 in year 3 because headaches resumed whenever at five. Now, five okay, but four is headache and this silly tooth/jaw/sinus ache. Interesting to hear that pred can cause this, but why when it is removed or lowered? This is such a muddle. Increasing ocular migraines, too, at this level. Feels like pred is the glue that is holding me togther, except it may be what took me apart. Hmmmm. If the potential for GCA were not lurking in my mind, I think I could overlook some of these symptoms. Are there other vascular ailments that affect this tooth;/jaw thing?

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to clieder]

I think subclavian steal syndrome may cause similar problems,it is a differential diagnosis for GCA. I have a friend who has ankylosing spondylitis and that that caused GCA-like symptoms and was suspected to be that. The neck problems restrict the blood flow to the jaw and tongue whatever the cause.

[clieder in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks! The restriction is what I am looking for as it seems to be a common thread in all these "little" issues.