Short, Sharp, Aching Jaw Pains

Question

I have been experiencing this for as long as I can remember .. Sometimes (pretty frequently) usually after I haven't eaten anything for a while or the first meal of the day type situation .. the first bite of food I take triggers a short sharp, aching pain in my lower jaw below my ears. It's gone in a matter of seconds but it is very painful and no one I know has ever experienced this. I'm kind of worried because I also fit most all of the symptoms for Fibromyalgia .. except the biggest one which widespread pain and touch sensitivity. I just get the Jaw thing as far as pain. Could it be some kind of referred pain? .. any input is appreciated

Answer 1

It's highly unlikely that this is a sign of fibromyalgia. There is actually a disorder affecting the joint of the jaw called TMD (standing for temporomandibular disorder). It signaled by an aching jaw, sharp pains, as well as a clicking or popping that may occur during opening and closing of the mouth. That sounds exactly like your problem.

You can read more about it here:

http://www.webmd.com/oral-health/guide/t...

Ask your doctor about TMD next time. They usually do some x-rays or CT scans to diagnose it.

Answer 2

TMJ or even a sinus problem or a tooth problem--these can also cause other fibrolike symtoms....

Answer 3

Oh boy sounds like TMJ (TMD) I have this and it is the most painful thing. I too get the pain when I bit food. There are things you can do.

1. Put your tongue on the roof of your mouth and open and close. That is how far you jaw should really go without overextending. Do that everyday to train your jaw. It also makes the muscles stronger.

2. Ice it! Try like 20 mins then 10 mins off. Then try that again. It helps with inflammation. I use Motrin for the pain but dont use it to often it can cause stomach bleeding.

3. Go to a specialist. They may send you to get a MRI. That will show what is going on. Mine is a degenerative disc.

4. See about getting a bite splint at your dentist office. That will stop you from grinding and clinching at night. That also leads me to this you must learn to relax. Stress can cause these symptoms.

I tried all of those things personally. It doesn't sound like Fibro unless you have other symptoms. So research TMJ and see what you find. Contact me if any other questions.