RA in the jaw

marion1952

Hi

I started with a bad flare up of RA in my left jaw last night and am not able to open my mouth now because of the stiffness and pain. Has anyone got any tips about dealing with this? Not sure whether to use heat or cold on my cheek. I've only had this once before, when I was first diagnosed 2 years ago, but it wasn't as bad as this current flare.

I am having to drink through a straw and am not able to eat at the moment, but will get some thin soups later on.

Am just taking my usual 2 paracetamol every 6 hours (for my hip), but it's not helping my jaw..

Any advice would be welcome!!

Thanks

Marion

dorcas

Hi Marion!

ooooh that is just so painful.

I've had inflammation in the jaw..only one side....twice. The pain I had was where the 'hinge' is in front of the ear? ...bl**dy painful! It was so sore to open my mouth and my speech was also slurred. (sounded as though I was drunk)

I used heat as the best way of soothing it a bit...an old fashioned hot water bottle against the side of the face (obviously you have to be careful of the temperature)....a heated wheatbag would also do the same.

It sounds though that you need more than just paracetamol for this! stronger pain killers for one........and are you on anti inflams?

Don't suffer with this...phone NHS direct for advice today and they may get a doc to speak to you or have a look at it to prescribe something that will help you now....rather than waiting until gp opens tomorrow.

let us know how you are.....I 'm sure there will be other peeps along with advice.
There was a thread about arther in the jaw not so long ago....not sure who posted it but I'll see if I can find it.

but get help xxxx

Iris x

marion1952

Thanks Iris - I will try the heated wheatbag now. Your experience of it sounds exactly like mine ... it is the joint just near my ear and I sound drunk when speaking!

I have some stronger painkillers in the cupboard to take when things ar really bad - I think I will have to take some.. I find paracetamol taken all the way through a 24 hour period (ie 2 every 6 hours, without a gap), is usually very good at controlling my pain normally, but not today!!

I had a stressful day on Friday, and think that has triggered off this flare-up - I must try and stay calm. Flare ups in my other joints tend to settle in a couple of days, but I will phone my excellent Rheumy Nurse tomorrow and talk things over with her.

I'm having my pre-op for my THR next Wed (21st) and really want to be 'stable' so that there are no hiccups with my THR (which I am having on 6th May - yes, the same day as the General Election!!)

Thanks again

Marion

dorcas

Hiya Marion,

I brought one of the 'jaw' threads back up for you to read...there are others so if you want to you can use the search facility to find them...it's easy to use. (must be if I can use it )

good luck with the THR on the 6th...I'll be more interested in hearing the results of your op than the election. :!:

take care...hope the pain eases.

Iris x

skezier

Hi Marion,

I have what dentists call a soggy jaw (I have no idea what they mean) and that gets inflamed quite a lot so know how much it hurts. I agree with Iris and well maybe there is an out of hours doctors service you can ring or NHS direct?

Heat helps mine and so does keeping the ear out of drafts etc, its warm today though. I really hope it settles for you soon and more good luck for the 6th May. ((( ))) and a hope you will soon feel much better Cris x

dopeykit

Hi Marion

You poor thing - sounds horrid

I have PA and it seems to like my jaw more than almost anywhere else! The jaw specialist recommended heat around the area, warm drinks and rubbing ibruprofen gel onto the joint. I also try and stretch it very gently when it is more comfy so it doesnt get too stiff.

I hope you feel a bit better soon

Kit

dopeykit

Oh I just saw my thread was the resurrected one - so to add steroid injection in the bum and a load more MTX also helped :oops:

Thanks for digging it our Iris - you are brilliant!

marion1952

Hi Chris and Kit

Many thanks for the advice .. I've been using the heat wrap today and some stronger painkillers and my jaw feels a bit better now.. will try the ibuprofen gel tonight.. managed to eat some mashed potato and then fromage frais for tea, but am not at all hungry, which is another sign that 'arthur' is on the rampage again!

Best wishes

Marion

dorcas

Marion,

I so hope you get more relief from the pain in your jaw and will be able to get some rest tonight....will you see the doc tomorrow?

will be thinking about you. sending you gentle (((hugs))). take care.

Iris x

speedalong

Marion I'm sure I posted a reply to this but clearly didn't!!! I think I really am losing my marbles along with my mobility.

I can think of nothing worse than a sore jaw - as I love both eating and talking!!

I hope the wheatbags, gel and painkillers help and that your rhumy comes up trumps.

Good luck with you pre-op on Wed.

Speedalong

marion1952

Thanks every so much Iris and Speedalong ..

I'm pleased to report that my jaw is much better this morning - I've still got some pain, but nothing like it was yesterday, and at least I can open my mouth more than I could and have had some toastl for breakfast!

It was great to have the advice and sympathy yesterday - I really needed it and I appreciated it..

Have a good day ...

Marion x

dopeykit

Hi Marion

Was justing popping by the board and saw this - really good news. Hope it keeps getting better - no toffees now

Kit

frogmorton

Hi Marion

I had thsi problem too all over christmas and new year and like Iris my gob got shut stuck speech slurred and I couldnt stop dribbling :roll:

Was altogther awful Woke my in teh night with the pain. too

I took some anti-inflams - in my case arcoxia and co-codamols. Once it locked it took about a week to open a bit and i was scared to clean my teeth as that's how it finally locked. :?

I ma very glad to hear that you feel so much better now - I hope the improvement continues.

Love

Toni xx

dorcas

Hiya Marion
so pleased to read that you feel a bit better today and the pain is easing off. It's amazing how something as simple as being able to eat toast can be a cause of celebration!

hope you have been able to see/ speak to the doc? I wouldn't like you to have that awful pain again. x

Toni....you're description of arther in the jaw was so accurate! I'd forgotten how 'attractive a look it was.!

as my father used to say ' that's just not funny!'

Sorry Marion...not taking away from knowing how painful it is.....I have a bizarre sense of humour at times.

Iris x

marion1952

Hi Folks

Thanks again for your messages. Definitely a lot better again this evening - just so long as I don't try to yawn!

No Kit - I absolutely won't be treating myself to anything chewy for the forseeable future!

Hi Toni: that must have been really awful to have lasted so long. I had trouble opening my mouth enough to slip painkillers in yesterday, so I know what you mean..

Hi Iris: I'm trying to keep my RA medication to the minimum (Mtx 15 mg) until after my hip op as I don't want to lower my immune system, but once I've got the op over with I will definitely be doing something about these frequent, but short, flare ups.. Streroid injections don't work for me and Diclofenac gave me an ulcer 18 months ago, so anti-tnfs are (thankfully) on the horizon now..

Best wishes

Marion x