Jaw claudication - what is it like for you?

[Octi]

Can anyone please describe to me how jaw claudication feels to them? I experienced a sudden, very uncomfortable, strange sensation in my right jaw yesterday for the first time since being diagnosed and put on pred in June 2021. (I've tapered right down to 1/ 1.5 mg on alternating days and have been on this dose for a month).

I'm finding the jaw sensation very difficult to describe. I wasn't talking or eating at the time. It came and went within a couple of minutes, but was so extreme that I felt light headed.

When I finally saw a rheumy in September, well over a year after diagnosis, she said she thought I may have been misdiagnosed and I'm still waiting for the results of a jaw x-ray that she arranged. This is why I'm keen to hear descriptions of how jaw claudication feels to other people.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Claudication by definition is a pain that develops when muscles are being used and resolves when the action is stopped only to reoccur when the action is resumed. It is caused because the relevant muscle requires more oxygen supply when it is active but the restricted blood flow doesn't allow that.

In the jaw, onset is typically when chewing and even talking loudly or singing. It may be as minor as just feeling tired or weak when chewing, especially more solid or chewy foods. An Australian group developed a test: chewing gum for one chew per second for 2-3 minutes is practically diagnostic of jaw claudication and possible GCA though there are other conditions that could cause it.

osmosis.org/answers/jaw-cla....

[Octi in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you, that's really informative.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Mine pre diagnosis was so painful that at times when trying to eat a sandwich - I could only manage part of one. Hurt to swallow as well.

Yours doesn’t sound typically GCA jaw claudication-but that’s not to say it couldn’t be.

[Octi in reply to DorsetLady]

Thank you

[Bluey-1 in reply to DorsetLady]

Ditto for me when diagnosed with GCA.

[SnazzyD]

My jaw muscles became stiff and achey while chewing like one’s legs go when you’ve decided not to take the lift to the top of a high rise building. If I stopped it went away after a minute. Other times my jaw and side of face didn’t feel right but not painful. I did become irritated by cold wind on the side of my face and brushing my hair felt like I was using a garden rake.

[Octi in reply to SnazzyD]

Thank you - great description.