Jaw Pain

Discussion in 'Injuries and Prevention' started by SamInLasVegas, Jul 28, 2015.

  1. SamInLasVegas

    SamInLasVegas New Member

    I train in Muay Thai. I was doing some sparring a couple of weeks ago and I was going up against a guy much more skilled than me, so long story short, I got the crap kicked out of me. When I was done and opened my mouth to take my mouth guard out I got this nasty pain in my jaw on the left side of my face, right at the joint. It's been two weeks and it keeps coming back. The past couple of days it gets sore just chewing food.

    I've never had this happen before. Is it normal for it to still be hurting like this after two weeks?
     
  2. belltoller

    belltoller OffTopic MonstreOrdinaire Supporter

    Do you have any kind of overbite (teeth not lining up normally) since it happened? Hear a popping or cracking noise when you open and close your mouth?

    Its possibly dislocated - but you really need to see a doctor - ignoring it may set you up for permanent, chronic TMJ issues later.
     
  3. Karatebadger

    Karatebadger Valued Member

    Yes, go and see a doctor. There is a little notch in the upper jaw to keep it in place and you can easily smash the knobble (condyle?) off the lower jaw that fits into it, leaving you at risk of frequent dislocation in the future. I damaged my jaw falling down a flight of steps years ago and now I have to chew gum several times a week to keep my jaw muscles strong. If I don't it can pop out in conversation which makes people think I have had a stroke and is v.painful.
     
  4. Late for dinner

    Late for dinner Valued Member

    Jaw pain a pretty common problem. I have had this one myself.

    The jaw is unusual as there is a mobile disc that is attached to 2 muscles. This allows the jaw to have 2 motions, rotation and translation. The first half of opening is a hinge movement while the second part is a slide forward of the disc with the lower jaw coming with it.

    Like most joint injuries you go through phases-basically acute (inflammatory) and then either looseness (sloppy /weak) or stiffness (muscle cramp/tissue shortness and sensitivity).

    I didn't have a lot of luck being seen and got passed between professionals. This can be a simple or complicated problem but I think it's usually not too bad. Of course see your dentist/gp but you will be sent to see a TMJ specialist - either an orthopaedic physical therapist or consultant dentist.

    A guy named Marianno Roccabado did write a good self help manual for TMJ problems.

    LFD
     
  5. SamInLasVegas

    SamInLasVegas New Member

    No, no kind of popping or cracking. I don't think the alignment of my teeth has changed. It tends to be more sore when I wake up in the morning and after I have my mouth piece in. The pain from chewing just started a few days ago.
     
  6. belltoller

    belltoller OffTopic MonstreOrdinaire Supporter

    what Late for Dinner said.
     
  7. Late for dinner

    Late for dinner Valued Member

  8. SamInLasVegas

    SamInLasVegas New Member

    Thanks for the replies. I'll give it some more time and see if it gets better
     

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