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Hi Doc, Yesterday During Lunch, I Took The First Morsel
Question: Hi doc, Yesterday during lunch, i took the first morsel of rice in my mouth and started chewing. Right then i felt a sudden jerk in my right jaw and it felt like my jaw muscle was pulled. This was followed by pain in my right jaw in the area near my right ear. I dont know what this condition is called medically. But i could not eat for a couple of hours after that since i kept feeling pain everytime i was trying to chew.
The pain became less intense later and i was left with a mild sensation while moving my jaws for the rest of the day. I finished my lunch later with a bit on uneasiness on the right jaw.
But this morning when I started having breakfast, the pain intensified a bit again while trying to chew. The intensity of the pain is always closer to the ear and can also be felt a bit deep inside the ear.
It subsided on its own after a couple of hours and i could eat my breakfast then.
But there is still slight uneasiness in my right jaw when i move it. I keep moving it at regular intervals to get it back to normal. Please help with your suggestions and advice?
The pain became less intense later and i was left with a mild sensation while moving my jaws for the rest of the day. I finished my lunch later with a bit on uneasiness on the right jaw.
But this morning when I started having breakfast, the pain intensified a bit again while trying to chew. The intensity of the pain is always closer to the ear and can also be felt a bit deep inside the ear.
It subsided on its own after a couple of hours and i could eat my breakfast then.
But there is still slight uneasiness in my right jaw when i move it. I keep moving it at regular intervals to get it back to normal. Please help with your suggestions and advice?
Brief Answer:
Temporomandibular disorder
Detailed Answer:
Hello, I'm Dr. Branch, thanks for using Ask a Doctor. The symptoms you describe, with pain associated with jaw movement that radiates toward the ear, is fairly typical for a disorder called Temporomandibular disorder, which is a problem with the jaw joint, often from malalignment. It is initially treated with anti-inflammatories such as Ibuprofen or Naproxen, and usually the pain improves within a week or so. Sometimes muscle relaxers such as cyclobenzaprine are also used, since the irritation in the jaw can cause muscle spasms.
Oftentimes this initial episode will pass and you won't have problems with it for a long time. But if it persists or keeps coming back, there are measures you can take to prevent them, such as using occlusal splints for your teeth if there are signs that you grind your teeth while sleeping, physical therapy exercises for your jaw, and avoiding certain activities. You can find more information about this at https://www.healthline.com/health/tmj-exercises.
I hope that helps, please let me know if you have any other questions about that and I would be glad to discuss it further with you.
Temporomandibular disorder
Detailed Answer:
Hello, I'm Dr. Branch, thanks for using Ask a Doctor. The symptoms you describe, with pain associated with jaw movement that radiates toward the ear, is fairly typical for a disorder called Temporomandibular disorder, which is a problem with the jaw joint, often from malalignment. It is initially treated with anti-inflammatories such as Ibuprofen or Naproxen, and usually the pain improves within a week or so. Sometimes muscle relaxers such as cyclobenzaprine are also used, since the irritation in the jaw can cause muscle spasms.
Oftentimes this initial episode will pass and you won't have problems with it for a long time. But if it persists or keeps coming back, there are measures you can take to prevent them, such as using occlusal splints for your teeth if there are signs that you grind your teeth while sleeping, physical therapy exercises for your jaw, and avoiding certain activities. You can find more information about this at https://www.healthline.com/health/tmj-exercises.
I hope that helps, please let me know if you have any other questions about that and I would be glad to discuss it further with you.
Note: For further queries, consult a joint and bone specialist, an Orthopaedic surgeon. Book a Call now.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
Answered by
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