Is there a doctor in the house?

[TrustAndObey]

Weirdest thing...

I woke up this morning feeling extremely tired still (I got up anyway 'cause that's what moms do). I could tell that I had gritted my teeth during the night, which I haven't done in a long time.

After being up for about 5 minutes I realized that I couldn't open my jaw. I kept working it around and then finally I just forced it open. VERY audible "pop" when I did that and it was a 10 on the pain scale for about 3 seconds.

NOW...the fun part.

I have a knot of muscles under my jaw that are radiating a dull pain and my face is visibly swollen on one side. I guess it was the equivalent of snapping some tightly stretched rubber bands.

I can talk--lucky for the world--and smile and drink just like normal, but it's constant pain (although definitely not unbearable) and it's just very uncomfortable.

What would cause this? Stress?

Before you guys tell me to go to the doctor, just let me say that I don't have health insurance and I can't go unless it gets really bad.

What's a good home remedy for something like this? Alternating hot/cold compresses?

OH...I don't know if this has anything to do with it or not, but last night at a party in one of my classes, I bit the fire out of the inside of my right cheek (the same side the knot is on now). It's still really swollen in there, but not very painful at all.

I hope I didn't give myself rabbies.

HELP!

 

[mva1985]

If you talk as much as you type I can only imagine what kind of stress your mouth is under!!!!!

I seriously crack myself up!!!!!!

 

[TrustAndObey]

You're allowed one of those a year.

Your next installment is not due until April 29th, 2009 at 11:11 a.m. A minute before that and it's an immediate THWWWWWAAAAAAAAAAAAACCCCCCCCCCCCCCKKK!

11:11...uncanny how many times I look at the clock at that exact time each day!

 

[mva1985]

In all seriousness though since you don't have insurance check with your county health department to see if there is a free clinic that you could go to.

 

[TrustAndObey]

In all seriousness though since you don't have insurance check with your county health department to see if there is a free clinic that you could go to.

I'm starting to have muscles spasms up my right shoulder, but it's still just "uncomfortable" and not to the true pain stage.

I think I just slept wrong and on top of gritting my teeth, apparently I become an aerobic contortionist while I sleep.

If I end up dying from this you are going to get a VERY stern letter from me.

I think this is one of the best excuses I've ever had for taking a long hot bath!

 

[mva1985]

I think this is one of the best excuses I've ever had for taking a long hot bath!

True!

 

[TrustAndObey]

True!

On that note...don't expect to hear from me for about an hour! I have some girly smell good stuff, so it could be longer.

Don't wait up.

 

[happywiththelord]

Go see a chiropractor. I bet he could fix you right up!!

 

[OntheDL]

Weirdest thing...

I woke up this morning feeling extremely tired still (I got up anyway 'cause that's what moms do). I could tell that I had gritted my teeth during the night, which I haven't done in a long time.

After being up for about 5 minutes I realized that I couldn't open my jaw. I kept working it around and then finally I just forced it open. VERY audible "pop" when I did that and it was a 10 on the pain scale for about 3 seconds.

NOW...the fun part.

I have a knot of muscles under my jaw that are radiating a dull pain and my face is visibly swollen on one side. I guess it was the equivalent of snapping some tightly stretched rubber bands.

I can talk--lucky for the world--and smile and drink just like normal, but it's constant pain (although definitely not unbearable) and it's just very uncomfortable.

What would cause this? Stress?

Before you guys tell me to go to the doctor, just let me say that I don't have health insurance and I can't go unless it gets really bad.

What's a good home remedy for something like this? Alternating hot/cold compresses?

OH...I don't know if this has anything to do with it or not, but last night at a party in one of my classes, I bit the fire out of the inside of my right cheek (the same side the knot is on now). It's still really swollen in there, but not very painful at all.

I hope I didn't give myself rabbies.

HELP!

Did you sleep by an open window last night?

Other than that I can't think of anything...about your gnashing of teeth, did you have a bad dream?

 

[TrustAndObey]

Go see a chiropractor. I bet he could fix you right up!!

They're all QUACKS I tell ya!

Bwhahahaha

(Happy's hubby is my chiro...LOL)!

 

[TrustAndObey]

Did you sleep by an open window last night?

Other than that I can't think of anything...about your gnashing of teeth, did you have a bad dream?

I honestly don't dream very often. In fact, it's been SO rare for me to dream in the last two years, that when I do, I usually remember every second of the dream.

The gritting and lack of dreams are both due to stress I'm told.

 

[MidnightCry]

I think you need to go to the dentist.

It sounds like you aggravated your TMJ by gritting your teeth. The dentist can give you a mouth gaurd to wear at night so this doesn't happen again. This is usually related to stress.

 

[TrustAndObey]

I have a mouth guard, but I haven't really gritted my teeth in a while (I don't think so anyway), so I quit wearing it. I am going to try a nap with it in and see how it goes. I feel a little dizzy like all of this has kind of thrown my equilibrium off a little. I also have a pretty bad headache-but it feels like sinuses.

Uggggh.

They aren't kidding when they say your health is everything. When you don't have it, life just seems pretty miserable!

 

[TrustAndObey]

I woke up feeling rested and with very little pain in my jaw.

I guess I didn't give myself rabbies afterall!

 

[happywiththelord]

i tell ya, a chiropractor can fix you right up! even if it is tmj, they can help that!

i know of a good one!!

 

[DRL]

Wish you lived near me. I am an occupational therapist and have worked with things like that every so often. I would like to tell you things you can do, but I do not feel right doing that on the internet.
It does sound like TMJ, which I have had also, and it can hurt.
DRL

 

[DeanM]

I'm no doctor, but I've heard similar symptoms that have been traced to an infection that hides very well in the jaw. Left untreated, this condition can be extremely dangerous. A good dose of antibiotics can usually clear it up, and an emergency room visit might be in order if the pain has not gone away in about a day or so.

 

[TrustAndObey]

My family has some good genes, because we heal almost overnight with some things.

I was supposed to be out of commission for half a year after my second brain surgery, and I was back to work within three months (and probably could've gone back sooner honestly, but why? HA!)

I bit the fire out of my cheek the other night and it was really bad. That's completely gone now...healed.

The knot of muscles on the side of my jaw is almost microscopic now, already.

If it comes back, I'll go see Happy's hubby. I have chiropractors and massage therapists all around me and I am such a dingy for not utilizing them more than I do (they're FREE).

I really do think it was just a matter of sleeping in a bad position and gritting my teeth. Hopefully a one-time deal!

Finals are today and next week, and then I'm out for the semester and I'm taking the summer off.

The stress if from waiting to find out if I will be accepting into Nursing school this summer. I worry when I don't have to, and I don't always take my own advice about laying it at the foot of the cross!

 

[DRL]

Trust and Obey, I am glad your jaw is better and that you will live at least another day.
DRL

 

[TrustAndObey]

Thank you DRL.

I had a dream last night.

Finally, I have a dream, and it was a terrible one.

I sure hope we're not held accountable for our dreams!