My jaw locks. Am awaiting a TMJ operation HELP!

I think I am suffering from this condition. I’ll try to see my GP this week. A few weeks ago I had a heavy cold and developed a pain in the right side of my face but couldn’t pinpoint where the pain was coming from: jaw/throat/ear/mouth? I’ve got over the cold but my jaw “crunches” when I eat anything. I get a shooting pain in my face and ear which wakes me up at night. I am always in pain first thing in the morning but it eases off with paracetamol and hot drinks. I’ve been so worried about what this could be. I also get bad headaches.I will follow this thread with great interest and wish you well silverlining48💐

I had a very severe TMJ issue earlier this year. Couldn't brush my teeth, my food would go flying as I tried to chew, it was awful. And very painful. I went to the GP who gave me a print out of exercises that I had already found on the Internet. I did these religiously.

Took myself off to the dentist, had a mouth guard made to stop me from grinding my teeth, the dental nurse at the practice handed me a card for an osteopath who had treated other TMJ patients as I was leaving.

I had two sessions with him and he did acupuncture and used "shock treatment" (as used in sports medicine) on the muscle. That was it! Sorted! Thank goodness surgery was never mentioned.

Hi, I'm the same you.
Mine started with ear and jaw pain going down to my throat for about 8 weeks
I was seen by ENT maxillo department in York..
He said its what you have.
I've had to get a bite down alliance for my upper back teeth..
So I don't grid teeth.
Eat soft foods.
Luckily I'm not too bad.
I was told try not to laugh.. Haha yes it's a barrel of laughs isn't it. I sometimes get up and jaw won't idly open to brush teeth or if I eat. Pain starts.
I'm praying I don't have go down the surgery rout..
How did yours start.

Thank you SillyNanny and everyone who has responded. I will give an update after it’s all over.

I have read that Botox is now being used, quite successfully, but my procedure is arthrocentesis.

Silver Lining hope it goes well for you. Will keep my fingers crossed for you!

Try and find a Bowen Therapist - generally a procedure will unlock your jaw.

I have TMJ i know how you feel. Luckily the exercises work for me as well as soft foods. Good luck

Can't you get a doctor, nurse or dentist to teach you how to unlock your jaw by manipulating it with your forefinger?

I know my father could do it, both on himself and on patients, but I do not know how, not being a doctor-

You should also be able to avoid the problem to a very great extent by doing excercises that singers and actors do daily to relax the jaw.

These consist of relaxing your facial muscles with you mouth closed and your lips only lightly touching each other.

Open your nostrils wide and raise your soft palate as if you were about to sneeze, or yawn.

Then you drop your jaw, and open your mouth, taking care to do so slowly and keeping you tongue touching the backs of your lower front teeth.

Then gently close your mouth again, by moving your jaw upwards, still with your tongue in place along your lower front teeth.

Repeat five times.

NEVER use force and keep all your facial muscles as relaxed as possible.

Stop immediately, if you jaw, or its hinges hurt.

Take care when you yawn or laugh not to open your mouth too wide! And never repress a sneeze or try to disguise a yawn by keeping your mouth shut.

I had TMJ as a young adult so had 4 wisdom teeth removed and wore a mouth piece for a long time. It eventually seemed to disappear. However, as I have aged, it has returned. I saw a Consultant who said it wasn't bad enough to do anything but saw a specialist (privately) dentist for another matter and he was surprised that I was putting up with it!
As I haven't had any procedures to correct the problem, I have no advice to add but if you do have an operation, please would you return to tell us how it went?
I hope you get sorted soon, it is so painful.

Sorry, SillyNanny

I am quite old too silly nana, only 4 years younger than you.
It’s only a day case with General anaesthetic but am nervous. 😬

I have lived with this problem for decades My jaw has locked when eating a soft ice cream…twice! After a piece of soft bread, too, but recently after a 5 year gap it suddenly happened again and took months this before the discomfort stopped.
I had an MRI and it shows discs in the jaw are damaged/ dislodged which is why I am having this procedure after Christmas. I was hoping that someone else has had it too.

My gp prescribed Diazepam to take as a relax ent when it locks and also when I see the dentist who I feel sorry for as I can’t open my mouth much more than an inch. His heart must sink when I turn up.

Have had a problem like this since I had to have my Wisdom Teeth ‘hammered out’ as the surgeon described it. This was in the local Cottage Hospital when I was in my early twenties! Now 80! Have bad tinnitus & jaw pain when my jaw seems to separate its self. Have put up with it as was told all those years ago there was nothing to be done! Dentist now tells me different but at my age do not want an operation unless totally necessary! If you are not too old for an operation then to save the pain etc go for it! I would have years ago if I had known I could have one to help!

I have had this condition for the past 30 years. It does give me earache and I cannot eat meat or chew hard fruit such as apples. Anything I have to bite down on causes a shooting pain on the left side of my face. I have got used to it and know what and what not to eat. I do know if I had to open my mouth too wide then my jaw locks so I don't do it.

I always order pasta or cottage pie etc when I go for a meal, anything easy to eat without having to chew much. This is why I have a weight problem, eating ice creams, cream cakes, soft puddings and custard and soup with lovely soft bread.

I had been told I could have had an operation but I chose not to. I have learned to live with it.

had the same problem , had physio exercises, more or less sorted now

I had it as a teenager :
Restless nights and nightmares since early childhood made me grind my teeth at night .
It's a common problem called Bruxism and is treated with a bite guard .
Mine passed off , but cold weather , ice cream and yawning can set it off again .
If it does , I take painkillers and massage my jaw until it calms down .
Your doctor needs to refer you to
a dental hospital to have a bite guard made if they aren't available ready made . As you are having surgery - all must be in hand .

I can’t help with your proposed surgery, but did used to have difficulty with my jaw locking up. I was given exercises by my dentist and eventually it stopped being a nuisance! I hope your surgery goes well.

So sorry. I have no experience of this but have osteoarthritis in most other places! I do hope it goes well for you.

Mine only locks very, very rarely silverlining my dentist is aware, I saw today Zoe Ball has a similar problem.
Neither of which are any help to you! Hopefully someone comes along to advise, good luck in January.

Feeling a bit concerned, surely I am not the only gran with jaw troubles…….