Clicky Jaw Advice

[2016Hopeful]

My jaw on the right has probably clicked for as long as I remember but only when I yawn or open my mouth really wide so hasn't been an issue at all.

However, over the last couple of months (with a 2 week break in the middle) my jaw has been popping a lot on both sides and not just when I open it wide. I can't seem to get it in a comfortable position. It is freaking me out.

I have been to the doctor who has referred me to a max facial (sp?) consultant but the appointment won't be for ages. Also went to the dentist who said she couldn't do anything and the consultant would look at it and advise.

Both doctor and dentist thought it might be a touch of arthritis and to take ibuprofen. Have been using heat packs on it and trying to eat soft food and relax my mouth. It's not hurting too much but aching a bit.

After googling I am really worried it will never go away. I am getting a bit panicky now. Also, if the doctor thought it was arthritis why didn't she give me something stronger to nip it in the bud?? Surely you need to treat anything arthritic straight away to avoid damage to the bone? Really finding it hard to sleep as I can't get comfortable.

go go go to that appointment!!

teeth grinding and jaw problems can lead to chronic tension headaches. The drugs mentioned may help (hope so) but they don't work for everyone.

if you have mouthguard, keep using it. Soak in Steradent in warm water for a couple of hours each evening, this stops it getting nasty. Oh, the glamour...

There's quite a few different drugs they could try, have had a few but stuck with amitriptyline in the end. They put me on Dosulepin first (it had a different name then I think) and I've had Lofepramine. They're all tricyclics though. Might be in combination with anti inflammatories and maybe something stronger.

It's definitely not all about medication though, you could have physio, hypnotism, acupuncture, cbt, Botox... and the trusty jaw splint. There's loads of help available.

Well, I've had the appointment. Today is probably the best I've felt jaw wise in a month, typical!!! Anyway, it still clicked but it kind of feels like my bottom jaw has moved back to where it's meant to be!

Consultant had a look, made me open and shut a few times. He just said to eat soft food, no biting with front teeth and try to chew evenly. He said to use a hot pack twice a day on jaw for 5 mins, once in the morning and once in the evening. He thinks if I do all that it should sort itself out. If not better in 3 months I need to go back and he will do scans etc. I have been doing all that at home really anyway.

He doesn't think it's arthritis like the doctor and dentist did, said I was too young and healthy (mmm am 40 so not that young!) He thinks the cartilage has moved and I need to give it time to heal and move back, though he thinks it is strange to come on suddenly and says most people would get it coming on suddenly through whiplash or injury which I haven't had.

He didn't mention medication or muscles at all, maybe because it's not that painful. I asked about impacted wisdom teeth and he didn't think that was the issue. The only thing he asked was if I ground them which I don't or bite my nails which I don't (though probably look like I do at the moment as they are in a state!).

So still no further forward really but starting to feel a bit better so am hoping it is on it's way to getting better on its own. Really hope it doesn't get worse as I don't want to wait 3 months!!!! The consultant was a bit no nonsense and was basically sure what he said was right.

Well, jaw has not clicked for a week but am now living in fear of it returning. I am eating soft food and not biting into anything. Giving jaw a holiday basically! Jaw a bit sore but not too bad, just kind of in the background.

Still not convinced by what the consultant said to be honest. Is it always cartilage if it clicks? If so why is it clicking sometimes and not others? ie now my bottom jaw seems back in position it is not clicking whereas before it seemed to have moved forward and was clicking. Confused!!!

No, my cartilage is fine and mine clicks loads! I guess they just want to give it a chance to sort itself out. Really surprised he didn't at least do an xray but glad it's starting to feel better!

Hi Hopeful, just read bits of your thread and thought would add my experience quickly incase it helps you. I had a clicky jaw for as long as I could remember too which gradually got worse...sore/headaches etc. Maxillofacial people saw me regularly, tried heat/cold, exercises, soft food, mouthguard at night etc, all to no avail. I ended up having the joint flushed (as I think a previous poster had mentioned) under GA twice in total, it helped for about a week then back to how it was before! I had an MRI scan which revealed the little disc that sits in the jaw joint had slipped. I had an operation to put it back in (I also had 4 impacted wisdom teeth out at the same time so hard to tell what hurt more afterwards!) but it is all normal now and had no problems 15 years later! If you are still having problems, don't suffer, keep badgering them to take things a step further (they don't like doing MRI's unless have to as expensive). Hope it resolves itself for you soon

Thanks for your feedback LivingIn and HaveNoTime. The clicking/locking seems to have gone but since this weekend the jaw has been really sore and sometimes really itchy inside. I feels like it could start up again anytime really even though I am being careful with food and not opening mouth too wide as advised.

Really hope it just clears up but still have that worry that my impacted wisdom teeth could be causing it. My dentist seemed very blase when I suggested it and because I don't grind there didn't seem to be a dental solution.

I started to think it might be an infection due to the itchy feeling. I saw the GP today and she kept going on about going to the dentist but I told her what the dentist said. She has given me some stomach liners as have been taking ibuprofen a while now and has given me lose dose amitriptyline to help relax and sleep through the pain. She doesn't think its an infection.

Almost worse now the clicking has stopped as I am afraid it will start again. My mouth still seems to be able to open fully though am trying not to open it too wide.

So just hoping it goes but will book appointment again with consultant for 3 months time. If it is gone completely by then I will cancel.