TMJ and RA | Arthritis Information

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The last couple of days I've been experiencing pain in my left jaw when trying to chew food or just laying on it at night.  I've also experienced an icy, cold feeling in my left ear...very weird.  I'm pretty sure it's just RA flaring up causing inflammation in the left TMJ.  What a pain...been living off of oatmeal, yogurt, and scrambled eggs the last couple of days.  I googled "TMJ and RA" and found lots of references...sample below.  Hopefully the flare will subside soon.  I guess no joint is safe from this disease.

 
Alan
 

Rheumatoid arthritis: The TMJ is affected in > 50% of adults and children with RA, but it is usually among the last joints affected. Pain, swelling, and limited movement are the most common findings. In children, destruction of the condyle results in mandibular growth disturbance and facial deformity. Ankylosis may follow. X-rays of the TMJ are usually negative in early stages but later show bone destruction, which may result in an anterior open-bite deformity. The diagnosis is suggested by TMJ inflammation associated with polyarthritis and is confirmed by other findings typical of the disease.

Hi Alan, this happens to me if I chew too much, quite painful in my jaw/TMJ's, I have always just thought , oh well, whats another joint on top of all the others, more than 55 (says my RD), I didn't even know we had 55??  LOL  I have it in all facet joints in the spine also, that one got me by surprise!  Hey Alan, are your other joints flaring at the same time?  Cheers Janie.  Aw, Alan...that's rotten, you've been doing so good here. Yep, sounds like a flare. I relate to all you describe. It's not a nice place to flare. Very sharp raw pain. That cold icy feeling, I have had many times in both ears. Yucky! Poor dearie, you living on soft foods...

Until you can experience the many wonders of RA yourself, one would never imagine how it can affect our bodies and our lives.

I hope this passes soon. You take really good care of yourself. I've copped it in the jaw a couple of times and I know it is not comfortable.
Just opening the mouth was difficult and could not manage solids.

As for the ear, well havent been down that road.
Hope things clear up for you.
^ Hi Alan, I get pains in my TMJ joints as well and boy, does it make you miserable!

Mine comes and goes, I hope yours goes away soon!


_popupControl(); its  painful and upsetting, causes it really difficult to read aloud to the kids.. cant sing or talk in a real conversation.
 
 it sucks
 

Yes, I get that as well...makes even brushing your teeth painful.

Hope it doesn't last too long for you Alan.

Seems a little better this morning though I haven't tried to eat anything yet.  Yes, the flare has affected other joints too, mostly neck and shoulders.  Hopefully the Humira will knock it out but not until Sunday.  I also have a cold though it's nothing special.  Thanks for the kind words.
 
Alan
"In children, destruction of the condyle results in mandibular growth disturbance and facial deformity. Ankylosis may follow. X-rays of the TMJ are usually negative in early stages but later show bone destruction, which may result in an anterior open-bite deformity. ""
 
Thanks Alan, that explains the problems I have had. Not one doctor ever connected my rediculously terrible bite and MISSING bones in my jaw to RA.
 
Hope you feel better!
cah14182008-05-14 07:10:16It's definitely a bit better this morning.  I managed to eat an apple though it involved more nibbling and gnawing than chewing...and took about 20 mins!  I was just thinking how easy it has become for me to blame every new ache and pain on RA...sad thing is, I'm usually right...sigh.  Oh well, staying home for a while this morning waiting for the air conditioner repair man...think I'll play a little mandolin if my shoulder will cooperate.  Hope you all have a great day!
 
Alan
Good luck!  I was just dx with RA this year but I have had TMJ issues since I was 19 (it got super messed up when I had my wisdom teeth out and they had my mouth propped open so long).  Mine is at a point where they keep encouraging me to wear splints and such to prevent further issues down the line and I'm just bad about doing it.  My jaw doesn't usually hurt, it's just really messed up on one side, it doesn't open and close correctly.  Occasionally it will get stuck.
 
I feel your pain, and I hope this passes!
hi allen sorry to see you are having this pain..

i have ra in my jaw many years.. i was sent to a hospital who
took xrays and measurements . they said they could send me
to the surgeons who would put a cammera into the jaw then
flush out and fragments of bone. they said best to leave alone
untill it gets tooo painfull as to affect my eating on a daily basis..
as yet i have not returned..

Jaw Boney 
my jaw has been killin be for quiet a while.  my PCP recently did an MRI and the results were not good, which i already knew.  i have pains (mostly on the left side) in my jaw, ear, up thru my head and numbness from my ear over to my cheek.  i tell my wife that theres a lil man that lives in my ear and from time to time he like to jump around.  it feels weird and hard to explain.  my PCP told me he could set me up with a facial surgeon but there wouldnt be much that could be done until i got to where i could open my mouth.  now all the pains are starting to move the right side.

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