Tenderness in jaw

[Booboos171]

Hi, I'm sorry to bother you again but I'm worried and would appreciate your thoughts and advice please. I promise I'm not a hypochondriac! I feel as though I'm always asking questions on here.

I was diagnosed with PMR in June 2019 and currently on 5.5mgs of pred. I have been experiencing tenderness in my jaw (both sides) for around 4 weeks. It was intermittent at first but the last couple of days it's been all the time. This evening it feels much more noticeable, not pain exactly but tender to touch and my neck has been feeling achey too. I'm just concerned, as I'm sure most people with PMR will appreciate, that it's GCA. Any advice much appreciated.

Many thanks x

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Is it worse when you are chewing? Try chewing gum at one chew per second for 2 or 3 minutes - if you get pain that then goes away when you stop, that is very indicative of GCA.

I think you do need to see someone at the practice to assess the pain - there are all sorts of things it could be. Don't worry about asking questions - there have people who asked lots more than you.

[Booboos171 in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you. I've just tried your suggestion and it didn't feel any worse... I will call my surgery in the morning and try to see a GP, wish me luck!

and hank you again for your quick reply x

[Hidden in reply to Booboos171]

I was diagnosed almost same time a youself....mine Nov 2019. First it was just PMR, 4 months later GCA. Upped from 15mg to 40mg where I am currently back to taking 5mg. Recently I have been noticing an achey jaw, not too bad today, so who knows what it is. My sypmtoms were: Jaw Claudiaction...mine was only when I opened my mouth wide and not so much when eating. Tender head to touch and a different sort of headache. I'm suffering painful left shouldere and neck (which cracks on movement of my head) Pretty sure it's OA with me.

[Booboos171 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you for your reply. I have to say my jaw isn't anywhere near as tender today! Which is a good thing! Mine doesn't hurt when I eat or open my mouth wide, I haven't had any unusual headaches either, just tenderness and my neck is a bit achey. After reading the replies and now it's a little better today, it does make me wonder if it's something different or just getting older! Who knows? I hope your shoulder and neck aren't causing you too much discomfort. Thank you again x

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Booboos171]

Are your shoulders and neck stiff/sore? Upper back muscles being tight can cause all that.

[Booboos171 in reply to PMRpro]

Funny you should say that, my upper back has been tight the last couple of days, which is unusual for me, I never connected the two? That could be it! I'll see how it is over the weekend, mybjaw is still tender but definitely not as bad as it was yesterday which is a relief. Thank you so much, you're so knowledgeable!

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Agree with PMRpro -needs further investigation -could be GCA but could also be TMJ/TMD….

[Booboos171 in reply to DorsetLady]

Thank you for replying so quickly. I had to look up TMJ, I've never heard of it before. Well, if I understood it correctly it certainly sounds better than GCA so that would be a relief! I will let you know the outcome. Many thanks again

[winfong]

I find my PMG/GCA/LVV to be a great excuse to be a "hypochondriac." I can now be quite "paranoid " about all sorts of things, and feel no qualms in getting them checked out.

This is in marked contrast to how I was before getting diagnosed. I could be missing a limb and wouldn't want to "bother anyone" with it, assume it would feel better in the morning, just feel it wasn't a big deal, "others have it worse," etc.

Not any more ...

[Booboos171 in reply to winfong]

Yes, I completely understand! I guess as soon as I felt something wasn't quite right in my jaw, I panicked. I've just been looking at my temple to see if I could see if my veins looked raised, it's hard to tell as I've never really noticed on a day to day basis, but I noticed the vein on my jaw is more visible, I've never noticed that before! I think I'm a little hesitant to go to the hospital ( as as it would be over the weekend) as, from what I've read, a lot of the time they seem to give you high doses of pred even when they're not sure if it's GCA...

[winfong in reply to Booboos171]

Better than going blind ...

[Booboos171 in reply to winfong]

You are completely right of course!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Booboos171]

It isn't veins you need to worry about - but arteries.

[Booboos171 in reply to PMRpro]

Ah I see, thank you

[Zebedee44]

Hi Booboos, in five years of PMR I have regularly experienced jaw pain and naturally been anxious about GCA, although reassured from the start that once on pred for PMR that GCA is less likely to present. I have since found that not to be the case, as Staplehurst and Sheffield Jane have found.

I think it is all part of the cross over of PMR, GCA and LVV which has proved to effect more parts of the body than shoulder and pelvic girdle. I reported it to Rod Hughes, the highly respected consultant at Chertsey, and he drew a diagram to include jaw and crutch area but made no further observation.

I do find the cold makes it worse and I probably have TMJ from clenching my teeth, and I do also often feel like a hypochondriac. But this forum reports so many aspects to PMR that I have accepted that each of us experiences the condition differently. It is always a comfort to read the comments and suggestions on this forum and to learn from each other.

[Booboos171 in reply to Zebedee44]

Thank you Zebedee44, that's very interesting. I too experience pain regularly at the top of my inner thighs, it's where the PMR first appeared (and in my hamstrings). It really is slightly different for everyone isn't it? Can I ask, have they never offered a biopsy or given you a higher doseof pred when you'vementionedthe jaw pain to a GP or your consultant? I don't know what I'd do without this forum! I'm sure so many of us feel the same!

[Zebedee44]

hi, simple answer is NO. Frankly nobody that has treated me over my five years of PMR has shown any real interest. I feel that I have been left to deal with it myself and have only learned how to manage it from this forum of caring, interested and experienced folk.

[Booboos171 in reply to Zebedee44]

Oh I'm sorry to hear that. This forum really is an amazing support. I do hope you're feeling ok at the moment