Jaw Popping

[Robinsnest72]

Been off pred for 2 months now. Feel pretty good and some of the fatigue is going away. However, a couple weeks ago my jaw started to pop on the one side when I was eating. I really have no pain with it but am worried it could be OA as I have certainly suffered from it since stopping prednisone. Any one else experience this problem?

[SnazzyD]

If you can see a dentist it might be worth them checking for temporomandibular joint dysfunction caused by muscle or ligament problems from teeth grinding for example. Might even be easier at this time.,I certainly got it when my muscles were weak from Pred. It felt like bone crunching in the joint but was only soft tissue and resolved.

healthline.com/health/can-y...

[Robinsnest72 in reply to SnazzyD]

I sure do appreciate hearing from you because my muscles have been weak after being on pred. I used to be able to do anything and everything but not any more. My hope is as I stay off Pred longer and use these muscles that some strength will come back. My son had said the popping is a muscle issue. I had read on the internet that muscle relaxants will help.

[SnazzyD]

I have found muscle strength comes back slowly but it’s not like just getting over the flu! I would get some advice from a dentist and purposefully chewing on that side to strengthen it up can make things worse.

[Robinsnest72 in reply to SnazzyD]

According to the info on computer you can have it for three weeks before it might clear up. I am glad you told me about not chewing on that side.

[powerwalk]

I've had that really bad. My husband could hear acrosss the other side of the room. A few times it clicked so bad i thought "thats it, its broken". I got a bite guard to use at night from the dentist which helped as i was clenching at night which wasnt helping. It settled down but its back again. I think its one of a list of peculiar things ive had since starting pred. You should get it checked by dentist to make sure nothing else is going on maybe.

[Robinsnest72 in reply to powerwalk]

I will get it checked by dentist but going to give it a few more weeks to see if it settles down. Thought I would try a muscle relaxant. The dentist is very expensive but I will eventually go. We have no plan so want to give it time. It only clicks when I am eating. No pain but sore after my meal is over.

[powerwalk in reply to Robinsnest72]

Hope it settles for you. Let us know how you go.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

I had something similar a couple of months ago - no pain at rest but I felt a pop while eating dinner and after a few minutes it got uncomfortable. The same happened at every meal. The physio worked on the soft tissues surrounding the joint and after 20min it was back to normal.

[Robinsnest72 in reply to PMRpro]

Exactly what is going on here.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Robinsnest72]

Can't remember what the physio said now - but she wasn't in the least surprised to find it in a PMR patient. Something says it was a combination of sternocleidomastoid and TMJ problems

physio-pedia.com/Sternoclei...

therapeuticassociates.com/a...

Which would be affected by tight/spasmed upper back muscles in myofascial pain syndrome - closely allied to PMR

[Robinsnest72 in reply to PMRpro]

Went to physio yesterday and that is exactly what he thinks it is. Hopefully he can correct the jaw. He mentioned that because of the muscle aching I have I could have myofascial pain. He worked on my neck and my jaw with home exercises but said it would take time. He also said there is no cure for myofascial syndrome. What next?