Jaw pain
Posted , 10 users are following.
I know that jaw pain can be an indication of GCA. But I'm fairly confident that is not what I have. For the last month I have been experiencing a tremendous amount of jaw pain on my right side. What happens is I wake up in the morning with jaw pain and it stops hurting within about an hour or two. Since that's the only symptom I have i assume it's from me grinding my teeth while I sleep. Here lately the pain has continued throughout the day and it's gotten to the point where it's difficult to eat I even feel it in my ear. I have an appointment next week with my dentist. This isn't the first time I've grinded my teeth at night, I've just never had the jaw pain like this. So I have tried the mouth guards before and have had no success keeping them in my mouth when I sleep. So that is really not an option for me.
All this being said my question to all of you is this: Is it at all possible that my jaw pain could be a PMR pain instead of from grinding my teeth?
0 likes, 22 replies
artfingers amkoffee
Posted
If it is from grinding or clenching, the dentist will recommend a specially fitted mouth guard that is specifically molded to your teeth and made so it will not fall out. Mine has to be pulled out it is so well fitted. It does really help and prevents any further chipping and damage to your teeth. I tried the over the counter cheap ones first but those do not work and are very uncomfortable. I'm confident your dentist will recommend you to a specialist in this. Ask about him/her about it.
amkoffee artfingers
Posted
Actually my dentist did offer to make me one of those that you're talking about but he said he couldn't be sure that it would solve my problem. And it cost $500 to make of course not covered by my insurance. So He recommended I see a TMJ specialist who would make me a different type of mouthpiece. He referred me to one. The specialist is making me something that looks a lot different. I saw one of his assistants wearing one and I don't know what it looks like exactly but I can tell you that she sounded like she had a mouthful when she talked and I could see it in the front of her mouth. They told me that you have to wear it all day long and all night long for the first two week and then after that just at night. And since she had it in during the day I am assuming she is at the beginning of her treatment. and that sucker cost $1,700 just for the appliance. The whole cost of see him the whole charge of getting this Appliance including the consultation the adjustment appointments excetera everything included is $2,300 also not covered by insurance. But my husband and I discussed it and we decided to go with it rather than take a chance on the $500 mouthpiece that may or may not work. I'm glad that yours is working for you. I hope I don't regret spending this kind of money because we don't have this kind of money. We have 12 months to pay it off interest-free.
pam1793 amkoffee
Posted
amkoffee pam1793
Posted
This one does go on my upper teeth and I do have some very expensive Bridge work that I want to protect. So I'm hoping I'm doing the right thing
gail39927 amkoffee
Posted
Get it checked out..your vision is at risk. I have PMA ...diagnosed last Sept. Been on Pred. 4 months. I think I had PMR for 1 1/2 years befors diognosed, thought it was fibro acting up. Too young for GCA- 59 yrs. young
Starting feeling better, and tried to reduce pred. Started having tired, blurry eyes. Got an exam and new lenses. Eyes still blurry. I went to my new doctor (my Nurse Prec. retired) discussed GCA...he thought it was my fibro. Started having pain in side of face, in jaw, in front of ear, in check, temple, tender scalp. Ended up in emergency room, diognosed with GCA, given dose 60 Pred, low dose aspirin, see family prac. Wed. I am concerned about my vision and other complications. I also just had a biopsy of thyroid, looks like surgery soon. 
The GCA worries me more. SO please consider getting checked out. I went to the dentist also thinking jaw pain was dental but it wasn't. Good luck.
amkoffee gail39927
Posted
I see my rheumatologist in a week so I will be sure to bring that up to her when I see her. But I don't have different feelings on my scalp. And my jaw hurts all the time rather than just when I eat. Also my ears are full which is an indication of TMJ.
linda17563 amkoffee
Posted
I had the same thing last year, had headache as well on and off....had mouthguard fitted...problem solved....I did forget to put it in one night and all the pain appeared again. You do get used to it....worth it to have a little less pain to what we already have....