HELP!! 7 months post op, but excruciating pain today..

[jonathon003]

Okay my sincere apologies as I just made this thread the other week...

viewtopic.php?f=15&t=40587


but today there were new developments. I'm just lying on the couch today with my head(jaw) propped up by my hand, when something happened. I have no idea what it was but I felt PIERCING pain in my left jaw, where i had to grab it and press on it. It was like one of those muscle spasms you get and it's severely uncomfortable/painful until you pop it back into place. Well I tried pressing on my jaw etc, and the piercing pain eased a little, but everything has changed since it happened. I now cannot even chew as the pain is absurd. Literally I was punching my couch today and yelling the pain was so bad (this was after taking a tylenol extra strength) while trying to get some food down.

I called my surgeons emergency line and he told me to relax, and it's nothing serious, but to take a pain killer, and maybe come in and see him this week if I need to.


I've been so patient with all this post-op pain, as it's been 7 months, BUT, this is different now. Before I could chew and it was only painful when chewing tough/thick food items and it was a different pain. This is excruciating pain. I'm forced to go back to liquid diet until it gets better; it's that bad.

I'm very concerned as to what in the flying ____ is going on. I realize the bone is not in danger anymore, as I'm 7 months post-op. But i'm very worried as something seems wrong. My bite is perfect btw. Does anyone know what COULD be going on?? Is this typical of TMJ sufferers?? I can't take this anymore man...I'm getting chills through my body the pain is so intense.

[jonathon003]

i should also mention that it's just one side.

the pain has ALWAYS come from mainly the left side. the right side is awesome. so this concerns me even more, as it makes me think something is wrong structurally with that one side.

[belistic10]

i have not been through surgery or anything, but i would trust your instincts and make someone see you asap, as being in that kind of pain after 7mths does not seem right. I hope they can give you some answers and get you pain-free

[Dani73]

I'm not a Dr or anything - but where about's in your jaw is it?

Reason I ask, do you think it could be radiating from the root of a tooth? eg from the tooth, down the root into the jaw?

If the pain is that bad, insist that you see your surgeon or even your ortho to check it out?

[jonathon003]

thanks for the replies guys.


yeah i'm gonna call the office in a little bit, to see if i can come in very soon.


i'm pretty confident it's not a tooth; the pain is around my left ear, but underneath it. also underneath my lower left jaw line. but most of it's coming from underneath my ear area. the pain comes from movement in my jaw muscles (eg. shifting my jaw side to side, biting, etc) so I'm like 99% sure it's my jaw.


this morning it seems a TINY bit better, although I haven't tried chewing anything yet (yesterday I also thought it was managable until I tried getting some food down). but at least so far anyway, the pain seems much more dull (still present but not intense). hopefully it gets better from here on out!

[belistic10]

fingers crossed it gets better from now on, i imagine you have been through enough already so i hope it improves very soon

[jonathon003]

thanks belistic, me too


still too sore to chew today, so protein shakes it is!!! so awesome to be back on liquid diet!! **thumbs down** lol



problem is i'm so busy right now with studying/exam and my surgeons office isn't all that close, and I honestly feel like he can't do anything besides prescribing more pain meds, so i'm gonna give it a LITTLE more time and just suck it up for a little, maybe it gets better by tmrw/wed. if not i'll book that appointment.