I cracked the cartilage in my jaw?

Question

Today I...erm...opened my mouth a little to wide, and heard this massively loud crack in my jaw bone. Even my boyfriend heard it. It was the cartilage at the back where my jawbone connects to my skull. Well Ive done this quite a few times before, but this time is different. Its been about ten hours since then, and it still hurts like h**l. I can talk and eat and whatnot just fine, but its still very very sore. Usually when this happens to me it hurts very little if at all. I was wondering if theres anything I can do? And have I like caused permanant damage or anything? Should I wait to see a doctor, or go to Urgent Care tonight?

And please done just answer saying GO TO THE DOCTOR. That provides me no help. Please only answer if you actually know what you're talking about. Thank you.

Answer 1

I think I have the same thing. Both of my jaws crack...yet it doesnt feel like the bone. It feels like cartilage rubbing off of each other, but it does make a loud cracking noise... =/

Answer 2

honey it depends on the level of your pain, try Ibo-profen(pain killer) see if it helps or not. I believe your TM joint has more mobility than others, that's why it happens to you, and this time probably it's tendons are extended too much ,which may need to rest( by not oppening your mouth too much for a while).

If after a while it still hurts , it's better to see a doctor.

Answer 3

this problem is common iam certified doctor its mostly caused when a person yawns too wide and its the tissue in the back of the mouth connected to the skull and when torn it produces a very sore feeling in the cheek area the best thing to do is see a doctor and get a pain killer, thats the most we can do there isnt any real operation we can do. just take a pain killer and sleep on it should feel better in morning.

Answer 4

First, ...erm..., refrain from whatever activity that causes the loud crack.  It sounds like TMJ.  It's not life-threatening, only painful, so emergency treatment shouldn't be necessary.  If you google TMJ, you should be able to get some good information.  Here's one to get you started.

http://www.revolutionhealth.com/conditio...

Answer 5

yeah i have this thing where if i eat crunchy stuff like a bowl of chips my jaw eventually starts rubbing against the part that is connected, but usually goes away.. take a painkiller and take a nap.. if it doesnt help, u should go to get an x ray