Can barely open mouth an inch.

[Inpain_wanthelp]

I've been searching all over the internet and I don't know if I have TMJ or just something else. I can barely open my mouth an inch and my jaw feels locked. I can't even yawn in peace anymore or even brush my teeth properly without feeling pain when I try to open my mouth more. This has gone on for three days. I feel a swelling-like bump when I touch the outside of my face. At first I thought it was because of my only grown wisdom tooth because that side of my mouth is where I feel my jaw is locked. That wisdom tooth hasn't bothered me ever since it first started growing, so I didn't think it's because of the tooth.

I don't feel anything else, no other pain or symptoms listed for TMJ. I don't know whether to go to a doctor or a dentist, and I don't want to drug myself up on pain killers (like my mom suggests) if it won't fix up my jaw.

[DanyaH_]

i am having the same problem only i had my wisdom teeth removed months ago any explanation

[LittleBear82]

I had this problem. It came and went for years. I'd wake up one morning unable to open my mouth more than an inch, it'd go on several days then all of a sudden I was back to normal until it happened again. I forget if it was TMJ or not, but I finally went to a dentist about it and he said because all four of my wisdom teeth were growing horizontally into the molars in front of them underneath the gumline, that if I had them removed (or at the very least the upper ones removed), I would stop having the jaw lock up on me. It's been 6 years and I haven't once had it happen since the upper wisdom teeth came out. Good luck.