very sore jaw

luv_freedom
luv_freedom Member Posts: 49
in Head and Neck Cancer #1

Has anyone experienced problems with their jaw? I mean where the joint is by the ear? I'm having terrible pain on my left side up near my ear at the joint when opening and closing. This just started last Friday. Its on the opposite side of my surgery. I finished the radiation treatments clear back last September so find it hard to believe that it is after effects from that. It seems that every time I ask about some issue they always want to blame it on the radiation treatments. If it doesn't go away in a few more days, I'm going to go see my H&N clinic about it. I'm wondering if a cortizone shot would help but not sure If I should do that.

Gary

Comments

  • phrannie51
    phrannie51 Member Posts: 4,716
    #2
    My first question...

    to myself whenever my jaw muscles hurt (or when my mouth suddenly feels tore up, and everything stings)...is:  What have I been eating?  Sometimes it could be one bite of something....and when my jaw aches it's usually meat...like taking one bite of hubby's steak makes my jaw work so hard, that one bite is all I have.  The next day I'll eat something easy, but my jaw muscles hurt...up by the joint. 

    So maybe re-examine every thing (including tester bites) that you've eaten in the last few days.  Anything that made your jaw work harder.  Give it a week....and maybe take some Ibuprophen and see it that helps.

    p

  • luv_freedom
    luv_freedom Member Posts: 49
    #3
    phrannie51 said:

    My first question...

    to myself whenever my jaw muscles hurt (or when my mouth suddenly feels tore up, and everything stings)...is:  What have I been eating?  Sometimes it could be one bite of something....and when my jaw aches it's usually meat...like taking one bite of hubby's steak makes my jaw work so hard, that one bite is all I have.  The next day I'll eat something easy, but my jaw muscles hurt...up by the joint. 

    So maybe re-examine every thing (including tester bites) that you've eaten in the last few days.  Anything that made your jaw work harder.  Give it a week....and maybe take some Ibuprophen and see it that helps.

    p

    Ok. I'll give that a try. My

    Ok. I'll give that a try. My jaw is really sore today and ibuprofen isn't helping it much.

    Thanks phran

     

  • Hondo
    Hondo Member Posts: 6,636 Member
    #4
    Hi Gary

    Hi Gary

    It might be normal due to the radiation you had, they call it radiation side effects. I started having pain on the left side of my face in the ear and jaw only months after treatment finished. I had everything I could think checked and the last thing my ENT said was just radiation side effects, does it get better, no as with me it just keeps getting worse. But I take a little pain pill and that helps me though the day, all a part of my new normal. Cortizone might help you just need to find what works best with you

     

    Tim

  • Kent Cass
    Kent Cass Member Posts: 1,898 Member
    #5
    Jaw pain

    Gary

    Not sure it's the same thing, and I don't know how long ago you had your last rad, but I've been under Dr's care for the past couple years due to severe neck spasms. And, one of the things that can kick it in on my left side, which was my bad side, is when I don't think before opening my mouth too wide to take a typically first bite of something, and= Yowie, that do hurt, is the result, and I feel it on my jaw just below the ear. Cause of the problem, like everybody else, is damage from the rads, technically called Polyneuropathy, because mine is on both sides of my neck. 

    Cortizone? Never mentioned to me. What was mentioned, and done twice- Botox shots on each side of my neck. That's what current with treatment. My first shots did help, but 6 months later the second set of shots had no positive effect, so that was the last of the Botox.

    kcass

  • luv_freedom
    luv_freedom Member Posts: 49
    #6

    I think that its like you say, opening my mouth too wide maybe. That makes sense. It feels a little better today. I had to get up and take some ibuprofen at 3am. I won't take pain pills. too addicting. I took that stuff during and after the rad treatments and it took me 2 months for all the effects to go away. I'll just be aware of how I eat now. Thanks for the inputs everyone! Laughing

    Gary

     

     

     

  • MrsBD
    MrsBD Member Posts: 617 Member
    #7
    Pain

    You may notice the pain disappear in a couple of weeks. I've had pains in that area, in my neck, and on the top of my head (!), but after a few weeks they've all gone away as quickly as they started. My doctor said everything takes time to recover from the trauma of radiation. Phrannie is also correct in saying you should think about what you might have done to aggravate the nerves or tissues. Shoveling snow is sure to set something off. Hurry up, Spring!

  • supagama
    supagama Member Posts: 31
    #8
    you too?

    Hi Gary:  Yes I've been suffering with an aching jaw, too, only mine is on the same side as my cancer.  Ive also been out of tx since september and the pain has gotten worse actually.  I was my ENT doc last week because they are suspect that I have another flare up back there.  After 3 clean PET scans, they are mystified as to what this is.  The answer for me right now seems to be no food.  I had a peg tube inserted and take nothing by mouth until March 30 at which point they will see if not using these muscles and bone will result in healing of the sores.  My range of motion in my jaw is such that chewing is impossible for me and my soft palette is torn up due to the radiation, so must wait for an obterator.  The pain is pretty intense and generally travels from the base of my ear, up the jaw bone and to the top of my head.  Morphine seems to help keep it under control.  I'll let you know how this treatment works and hang in there!

    Wendy

  • caffinated1
    caffinated1 Member Posts: 32
    #9
    Kent Cass said:

    Jaw pain

    Gary

    Not sure it's the same thing, and I don't know how long ago you had your last rad, but I've been under Dr's care for the past couple years due to severe neck spasms. And, one of the things that can kick it in on my left side, which was my bad side, is when I don't think before opening my mouth too wide to take a typically first bite of something, and= Yowie, that do hurt, is the result, and I feel it on my jaw just below the ear. Cause of the problem, like everybody else, is damage from the rads, technically called Polyneuropathy, because mine is on both sides of my neck. 

    Cortizone? Never mentioned to me. What was mentioned, and done twice- Botox shots on each side of my neck. That's what current with treatment. My first shots did help, but 6 months later the second set of shots had no positive effect, so that was the last of the Botox.

    kcass

    Holy crap I'm not alone,

    Holy crap I'm not alone, that's what happens to me damn near every time try to eat...its that first bite and POW! Mouth says no. I slowly chew what little I could manage to get in and it works the pain out. After that, it's gone. Still have trouble swallowing meats and bread, it's like I have a small shelf on the back of my throat that holds the food and only after a bottle of water or two can flush it down. 

  • caffinated1
    caffinated1 Member Posts: 32
    #10
    supagama said:

    you too?

    Hi Gary:  Yes I've been suffering with an aching jaw, too, only mine is on the same side as my cancer.  Ive also been out of tx since september and the pain has gotten worse actually.  I was my ENT doc last week because they are suspect that I have another flare up back there.  After 3 clean PET scans, they are mystified as to what this is.  The answer for me right now seems to be no food.  I had a peg tube inserted and take nothing by mouth until March 30 at which point they will see if not using these muscles and bone will result in healing of the sores.  My range of motion in my jaw is such that chewing is impossible for me and my soft palette is torn up due to the radiation, so must wait for an obterator.  The pain is pretty intense and generally travels from the base of my ear, up the jaw bone and to the top of my head.  Morphine seems to help keep it under control.  I'll let you know how this treatment works and hang in there!

    Wendy

    Hang on and tough it out. I

    Hang on and tough it out. I had the peg tube as well, used a pump for the formula. Worked a whole lot better than gravity with a funnel. Any thrush? That stuff is a blast..... Ugh.

  • supagama
    supagama Member Posts: 31
    #11
    caffinated1 said:

    Hang on and tough it out. I

    Hang on and tough it out. I had the peg tube as well, used a pump for the formula. Worked a whole lot better than gravity with a funnel. Any thrush? That stuff is a blast..... Ugh.

    liking the peg

    Yes I am adjusting to the peg tube, using gravity.  It's quick and effiicient and helps me organize my meds really well too.  I am on my last day for the thrush medication and no it isn't very nice.  I don't know why I had to wait until I nearly starved to death to get a peg tube.  I am a stubborn old fool sometimes but I don't ewcommend it!  Jave a good day all.

    Wendy

  • hwt
    hwt Member Posts: 2,328 Member
    #12
    supagama said:

    liking the peg

    Yes I am adjusting to the peg tube, using gravity.  It's quick and effiicient and helps me organize my meds really well too.  I am on my last day for the thrush medication and no it isn't very nice.  I don't know why I had to wait until I nearly starved to death to get a peg tube.  I am a stubborn old fool sometimes but I don't ewcommend it!  Jave a good day all.

    Wendy

    Tension

    If you have a xanax or ativan try one of those, could be tension

  • Noellesmom
    Noellesmom Member Posts: 1,859 Member
    #13

    It could be not cancer related .  Could be tmj or something similar.

Discussion Boards