Any Dentists out there - Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction!!!?????

[puff]

Been to gp today following 2 days of feeling like a screwdriver is being rammed in and out of my neck, just below my ear . Gp says it is Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction and has prescribed mega painkillers for now. Says it should settle down, if not he will refer me to an oral surgeon.
I've never had anything like this before and am wondering if it is related to a tooth extraction I had done 10 days ago.
When the dentist pulled the tooth out, I felt excruciating pain on the opposite side of my jaw, I assume from the force of the extraction.
Could this have caused what's going on now?

here thsi should explain a little more

Thanks for that carly. I've had a look at some other info too and it does seem as though this can be caused by dental work.

Will bump this later just in case any teeth people are around - if it has been caused by the force of the extraction (I had to push really hard against the other side of my face as the tooth was being pulled because it was hurting my jaw so much), then I want to make a complaint.

just bumping in case any dental experts are around this evening! I don't want to be on these painkillers for too long as the amount of codeine is ahem...bunging me up somewhat

The TMJ is the jaw joint which you can feel if you place your fingers just infront of the auditory opening (ie the hole into your ear). Does it click or hurt in that area. It is not unusual for pain here after an extraction in the lower jaw as a lot of pressure can be put on the joint. Did the pain occur instantaneous to the anaesthetic wearing of or later (if later may be an infection, or is the pain on the opposite side of the jaw?). Would advise a soft diet and regular doses of nurofen (and it is an anti-inflammatory which will reduce the inflammation in the joint if taken regularly over a few days). In addition take arnica which is a homeopathic treatment for bruising, (try Boots or Holland and Barrett).

That's exactly the spot chicagomum. The pain is in the opposite side of the jaw to where my tooth was extracted. I felt no pain from the tooth itself being extracted as it was well numbed obviously, but as it was being pulled out, I had horrendous shooting pains on the opposite side of my jaw.

They settled down after a few hours and then the expected pain of the extraction kicked in as the anaesthetic wore off.

my jaw on the other side felt "odd" but not troublesome until 2 days ago when these shooting pains started. It is also clicking now, which I don't remember it doing before.

I can't take anti inflammatories because of a stomach condition, but will try some arnica and carry on with the codeine/paracetomol.

Any idea when on average this subsides?

It also seems to have "spread" and I'm beginning to get the same stabbing pain on the other side of my jaw too.

The problem is, is that it is a joint "trauma", and the best thing for that is rest (?try resting your jaw?). The best you can do is not over use it (too much talking and french bread is out for a while). I swear by arnica (allowed me to give birth twice with ventuose and episiotimies (big babies and complications) with no need for pain medication afterwards.) Wishing you a speedy recovery.

Thanks chicagomum .

Wait til I tell dh that I must rest my jaw !

the pain could be caused by the missing tooth, if it was an important tooth regarding your occlusion. ( the way your jaws move together and thier relationship with each other.) Pain is to be expected from extractions, even on the oppposite side of the mouth as it does sometimes require a large amount of force to remove a tooth.

Can I recommend a brilliant book called 'Taking Control of TMJ' by Robert O. Uppgaard. Available on Amazon and costs around £12. Lots of great advice adn exercises to relieve pain. Was recommended to me by my singing teacher. I had lots of neck and jaw tension and the exercises really helped. I used to do them in the shower. Good luck!

The author is a dentist by the way!

I have this Puff... Got to it's worst when my jaw actually locked and I was sent to see a maxillofacial consultant . Just to echo what Chicagomum says, rest is oh so important - try and stick to a soft diet for a while (nothing that makes you chew excessively if you can avoid it). It is made worse by dental treatment and my dentist allows me "breaks" if I need them.

I can make grown men cry by the noise that my jaw makes if it cracks

Thanks for all the advice everyone - very helpful.