What could this pain be in my jaw?

[Dreco]

Last week I noticed when I bent over that I felt a throbbing pain in my left upper jaw. As soon as I stood up it when away so I didn’t think much of it.
The next day I felt a continuous pain in my left upper jaw whether I was bent over or not. It was a mild pain until I tried to eat something then it was really bad - not my teeth, it feels like the muscle connecting the top jaw to lower. I took ibuprofen and paracetamol and it completely went away, so much so that I totally forgot about it and assumed it was sorted!
Next morning - woke up - agonising pain in left upper jaw, could barely open my mouth. Took ibuprofen and paracetamol again and it went away completely. Came back on around 8 hours later - took the meds again, it went away.

Next day - barely anything. A slight twinge but no real pain.

Next day - pain is back but not as intense as it was on day two. I took the meds again and it went away.

Now, we’re almost a week in and it’s still the same!! Paracetamol and ibuprofen takes it off completely but once they wear off it comes back. It’s not an intense pain like it was on day two - just a mild throbbing and pain when I open my mouth. I can literally pinpoint the pain - it’s directly under the cheekbone just before the joint. I’ve prodded and poked all my teeth and gums - they’re all fine. No other symptoms.

im abroad at the minute and dont even have a dentist in the UK anyway so I was hoping it would go off eventually - anyone had anything like this before?

Have a look at TMD.

Only times I've had jaw pain like this has been sinusitis. But I've definitely had other symptoms: blocked nose/sore sinus areas/head feeling really heavy. If it's that best course of treatment: ibuprofen, steam inhalation and nasal sprays and should clear within a week to 10 days.
All the best OP, hope whatever it is clears up soon

Thing is I have terrible hayfever so I’m feeling snotty and congested anyway. I’m taking antihistamines for that but I only managed to get hold of them yesterday so will be interesting to see if they make a difference (and thank you ☺️)

This is what it’s sounding like to me too apart from I don’t have any pain in my head or neck (saying that, I did get an awful electric shock type pain down that side of my neck yesterday when I turned to look at something! It was only seconds though)

I’ve had it a few times @Dreco- like with you, it goes with painkillers and often disappears for weeks and months, then reappears randomly. My dentist reckons it’s from stress or stimming (I’m autistic) but doesn’t seem to worried!

I would say its linked to sinus issues especially as it was worse when you leaned over. It is in the right place also for TMD/TMJ but I am not sure it comes on that suddenly so my guess is sinus.

Maybe you are clenching your jaw or grinding your teeth at night?

Impacted wisdom tooth/sinus or nerve pressure. I have had this. If it’s not sinusitis I’d go to the doctor who might refer to dentist. I had a complex wisdom tooth removal following my intermittent jaw pain.

Could it be a sinus infection? Just when you say it hurts when you lean over. Would you try a sinus rinse?

I had something similar, absolutely excruciating pain. Mine was linked to a filling. There was no huge infection or abscess. Dentist removed filling and replaced it and pain went within hours.

Another vote for TMD! I put up with it for months until I could barely open my jaw to eat. After changing dentists when the first kept fobbing me off with antibiotics and even eventually doing a root canal, within 5 minutes a new dentist diagnosed the TMD most likely from grinding teeth at night. They gave me some exercises to fix the problem and a retainer to wear at night and I’ve not had any issues since!