lock jaw ???

[lisa2007]

hi can anyone tell me if i have lock jaw ? i woke up this morning and i noticed i couldnt yawn it really hurt its only on one side of my jaw which i cant open my mouth very wide and it really hurts to chew food. it dosent hurt when im talking just wondered has any body else had anything like this before ??

[filibuster]

I doubt you have lockjaw - or tetanus - as is its proper name.
If you had, more than your jaw would be affected.

You could have the start of arthritis in the joint or possibly
your tooth is pressing on an infected sinus.

I have had both of these conditions, but fortunately not tetanus.

I hope it feels better soon.

[angel-cake]

Have you had an accident recently which could have given you blood poisoning? if you have, I would get to the doctor asap.

[Kleiber]

Are your tetanus jabs up to date? If so, then probably not lockjaw, but if it's no better, I'd go & see the doc if I were you.

[doglady]

I get this every 6 weeks or so. It really hurts but it's nothing to do with teeth, I don't think. I think it's an inflamed nerve in my face (i suffer from MS, but don't assume you do too - I'm not saying it to worry you!!). It's horrible, and I have to eat really small amounts as I can't open my mouth enough to get proper bites in.

Hope you feel better soon.

[lisa2007]

thanks for your answers im gona see how it goes no i havent had any accidents so im quite confused as to what caused it keep the answers coming pls many thanks lisa xx

[SRH]

I have a similar problem that comes and goes - turns out my jaw dislocates when I open it wide. Sounds horrible, but it's pretty common. It started in my teens - hurts to open it wide and sometimes it gets 'stuck', which is really painful. My dentist refered me to the hospital - which confirmed with x-rays that my jaw pops out of place.

I now have a type of specially made gum shield that I wear at night to stop me grinding my teeth and to keep my jaw relaxed (the pain is caused by the muscles spasming). I also take anti-inflammatories when it is bad and cut food (such as apples) into pieces rather than trying to get my jaw wide open.

Best bet is to go to your GP and see what they think.

Probably nothing serious, and since I've followed the doctors' advice I've been free from pain and 'locking' for years.

Hope you feel better soon.

[jodey14]

i get the same every morning i asked my doctor about it she said go to the dentist and he said you maybe grinding your teeth when you sleep if will pass on a few weeks when you wake up and your jaw has locked again just masarge your jaw and move it about a bit and it will be okay to open and close your mouth ... hope this helps and hope your problem goes away soon . jodey x

[elisheva]

ahhh i'm so scared i have this jaw "popping" thing right now and i don't know how to get rid of it? i'm seeing the GP later. I've had it before but usually i just open my mouth wide and it goes! this time it is stuck! Does anyone have any ideas of how to get rid of it?

[scared]

i'm sooo scared i have this "jaw popping" thing right now, i've had it before but all i did was open my mouth really wide and it would go. i'm going to see my GP later. but does anyone have any tips of how to make it go away?

[superhero]

I have the excact same problem it happens every morning and only the left side off my jaw hurts and sometimes i get earache in my left ear as well. It usually goes after an hour and comes back when i chew things or open my mouth wide. It doesnt hurt me either when I talk.

[superhero]

You may have Temporomandibular joint disorders
Try reading the symptons on http://www.medicinenet.com/temporomandibular_j oint__disorder/page2.htm
and see if you have it ?
Hope this gives you some help

[anddav1]

Hi
I have had a locked jaw for the last 3 days. I can only open my mouth about an inch - and when I eat anything it hurts. I looked up lock jaw on the internet and apparently it's a proper condition called 'Trismus'. There is a disc at the hinge of the jaw joint that can bet out of line - like something getting stuck in the hinge of a door preventing it from opening and closing properly. You have to go to see a dentist or your GP for muscle relaxants or a tooth shield type thing or for 'pivotal splints' fixed by the dentist. In the meantime, you are supposed to use ice for 10 mins, stretch jaw, then hot compress for 10 mins, and stretch jaw again.
Hope this helps everyone with a locked jaw. I'm off now to suck some grapes and find some ice!