My jaw cracks and locks all the time. I wake up in the middle of the night, and it is stuck on one side. I told the rumetoligist this, how the orthodontist put a contraption in my mouth a couple years ago that pulled my jaw forward, because it was set back to far. I had that in for one year instead of the 4 year braces thing. The orthodontist said it would work better, yea right! The rumetologist said that it might have been set back because of the arthritis, and now my jaw is messed up because of that stupid contraption!!!! My TMJ locks but so far with a loud noise and extreme pain it unlocks. I can tell that this is going to be a real problem as time goes on, lol.
Take care.
Hello, my jaw locks all of the time!! LOL i wake up in the morning, go to talk, and its stuck! lol, the only thing i can do to unlock it is to click it out of place! and it clicks with a loud noise,it sounds like iv snapped my bone or something! lol
I also had a brace when i was younger because my bottom jaw was receeding.
Never had this jaw locking problem before the arthritis, only when it began.
Hope this helps, i just think its one of those things that comes along with the RA. :o)
Takecare, Gem :o)
TMJ definitely comes along with RA. Don't have that one, but I feel for you. It is a miserable condition. Find out all you can about proper treatment. You might see if there is an orthodontist that specialize in TMJ and Rheumatoid Arthrtis. Ask your Rheumy if he can help you locate one. Yup, been down that road too! My bottom jaw is stunted (growth wise) because of the JRA. That's probably what you're facing too. Honestly, I try not to even MOVE my mouth when I first get up. I kinda work towards it, really. I find that stress makes me clench my jaw - bad idea. I try to catch myself and STOP, but that's hard. You might also grind your teeth at night ? I know I do. I'm going to be getting a night guard, you can get them on the dental isle, they're about , but from what I hear, totally worth it.I have found great relief and less jaw locking from a bite splint. Its not the same thing as a "night guard" for grinding. It has a top and bottom piece that partially cover my teeth. It holds my jaw in a more neutral postion. Luckily I went for the braces for 2 and 1/2 years, but I still need the bite splint to keep my jaw at "rest" during the night. This helps keep things where they belong. When I first got it I wore it except while eating. I wore it less and less during the day as I improved and now I just wear it at night (for six years now) I'm telling you it is great. My health insurance, not my dental covered it somehow. I think because it had to do with the jaw and not my teeth. If you can't get a bite splint try the over the counter grinding guards you can buy at Wal-mart etc. It might help even if you don't grind.
K-Lynn