TMJ likely?

[SID3]

Eating crisps last night I had a sudden very sharp pain under the right ear and a sense of near dislocation. Massage helped. Did chewing gum test today - sore to chew still on right side but from the outset; no worse after three minutes and no headaches or other symptoms. This does not seem like claudication to judge from accounts given here. Fingers crossed.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Does sound more like TMJ issue - have a look at this -

nhs.uk/conditions/temporoma...

[SID3 in reply to DorsetLady]

Thanks so much for the rapid reply

[SnazzyD]

The feeling of dislocation and the sharp localised pain sounds like TMJ to me. My experience of claudication was the muscle just running out of puff and the lactic acid burn you get like in your legs when you’ve walked too many stairs. I did also get TMJ problems when my muscles were at their weakest on Pred. Perhaps a trip to the dentist might be worth it. They may or may not suggest referral or x-ray etc.

[SID3]

Indeed. With the major three day strike at present in the NHS judgements about seeking help from the GP or A&E (or not) are particularly tricky.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to SID3]

A&E aren't on strike, they aren't allowed to. The problems would be with admissions as patients can't be discharged off the wards causing bed blocking. But emergencies will still be dealt with. Just like at Christmas ...

[Fries in reply to SID3]

Hi SID3 yes it is tricky but I had to go to my local A & E Monday Tuesday overnight 3.30 a.m. when they were on strike. Ok I had to wait a long time (6.5 hours) but you get treated very well by such kind, considerate people who are so dedicated to their profession and helping people in their hour of need. They did several checks - blood tests, a scan of my kidney area (I have polycystic kidney disease) I was getting an occasional extremely sharp pain in my left side, They ruled out many things and said that it was a bit of a mystery. It could be muscular but prescribed some antibiotics in case there was an infection going on and told me to come back if the pain got worse. I went home and slept for several hours which was very welcome. I also napped in the waiting room at the hospital.

Please go to A & E if you're at all worried about anything. Just say you have GCA and are on steroids and basically having GCA or suspected GCA they will see you I am sure. I said to the doctor that having GCA you don't really know what the symptoms are. A problem that we all have on this Forum.

[SID3]

You are right - but the knock on effects are considerable, as you say. My son in law is an A&E consultant and his life has been particularly tough these last years.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to SID3]

My daughter also works in A&E - NOT a bundle of fun. The rotas she works are unbelievable to anyone in a "normal" job.

[Sandmason]

I had a sudden very sharp jaw pain in May that scared me. I was taking a first bite of my favorite dish. So there is something called "first bite syndrome", (salivary cramp) in addition to the obvious TMJ, which I have never had, and the GCA threat that looms over us.

Anyway I had some minor repeats of pain there and in Sept I had pain and swelling under that ear into my face. Consulting my doc hubby we decided it's probably my parotid salivary gland. I swished some vinegar around my mouth to make that gland produce. They can get stones, or inflammation that clogs it up. The swelling went away. But with my blurry eyes, that seem to get goopy in the corners, I thought of Sjogren's. The rheum I saw said I had reduced salivary pooling. I doubt being on 13mg prednisone I would have Sjogren's symptoms, but my sister has had it for years, takes Plaquenil for it.

Just another angle.

[SID3 in reply to Sandmason]

Thanks, that’s interesting. My pain has subsided and so I guess it was TMJ related. I do hear a bit of grating now and again in the jaw joints.