Really really sore jaw!

[FlookCrow]

I've had a pain on the right side of my jaw, right in the joint.. it's beginning to interfere with eating, drinking and talking (and most annoyingly, yawning!). I can control the pain with painkillers but don't have time to go to the doctors for a few days.. any ideas as to what it may be?

If it's really as bad as you claim then you will find the time to go to the doctor or dentist. Sometimes you can get muscle spasms in that area but if it's more fundamental then it'll need treatment.

I have final exams over the next few days so I'm happy to suffer and pop painkillers until I have time to see a doctor

I know it'll be need treatment, I'm curious as to what it may be. Any suggestions?

An abcess?

Do any of your teeth hurt when tapped or with hot/cold drinks?

I had a dental abcess recently, which started off as mildish jaw-ache but soon turned into tri-something neuralgia which had to be treated before the tooth could be treated.

Oh.
My.
God.

I have never experienced anything so painful - I was taking co-codamol and ibuprofen (occassionally too many as I was befuddled by the pain and drugs...) alongside penicillin which didn't work, then metronidazole which did.

no, no teeth pain, I assumed it was my long fabled wisdom teeth coming through.. but the pain is in the actual joint. Tinternet says TMJ syndrome which sort of matches..

I have TMJ and have a mouth guard.

Ibuprofen and painkillers of that ilk are recommended, if you are able to take them.

I was also given advice to manage it long term. No chewing crunchy stuff - no raw carrots etc, leave crusts off crusty bread/toast. Don't stretch your mouth too much when you yawn. Don't chew things like toffees. Basically give it a chance to rest.

I've not got on top of mine yet, and have a flare up whenever I'm stressed. I don't grind my teeth in my teeth but I chomp them firmly together.

I've also found physiotherapy helpful but I have to pay for that myself.

I think it might be stress, the pain's got worse (woke up last night, must have jogged it somehow) and I now can't open my mouth properly to eat food. Have taken your advice ThingOne, not eating too many crunchy chewy things, cutting things up very small to fit them into my pathetically tiny mouth!

I see this as a welcome weight control thing Doctors on Friday though!