Sharp pain around the jaw after alcohol consumption

[MCurley]

For about 2 years now, I have noticed that after a glass of wine I experience a sharp pain around my jaw. I've had this sensation before whenever I eat a citris or sour fruit, however, lately after consuming any alcohol such as beer, wine, and margaritas, etc., I get this sharp, excruciating pain after just one glass. It hurts so badly, especially if I drink water. The moment the H2O hits the jaw part of my inner mouth, a burning sensation immediately follows. Now, here's the strange part, if I drink another glass of alcohol the pain will subside instantly. The pain will still return but will not be as painful as the prior time. I have read about Lymphoma, and I cannot say that I experience this pain any where else in my body, and I don't seem to experience any of the other symptoms. I'd appreciate any input in helping me come up with a solution for this. Someone told me that the solution was to either drink plenty or nothing at all in order to avoid this... ha ha. Anyway, one more thing... I don't think I have this problem with mixed drinks containing sodas and liquor.

[mommyofbhp]

Just a thought, maybe you have a salivary stone (they're tiny but hurt a lot) in your parotid gland. The parotid gland is in your jaw, back by your ear.  Anything tangy or sour would cause pain in this area. I've heard that the way that doctors get the stone to pass is to have the patient suck on lemons until the stone comes out of the Stensen duct (adjacent to the upper molars).

[ToveB]

Thank you all for sharing, I started to get really nervous about what this was, but at least I am not alone. I have just recently started to feel the same pain - from under ear and forwards on the lower jaw - once in a while, I think possibly only with red wine. A couple of months ago I also got diagnosed with the jaw joint disorder thing (inflammation in the joint from pressing teeth a lot). I just tried a new red wine and after one glass it was really painful. I just had some lemon juice for vitamin c and it seem to have helped, might be a coincidence. Will try to have vitamin c onwards and see if it makes it stop doing that. Started to think I would never be able to drink again!

[shambuca]

thank you all so much for posting this... I too suffer with this...mine is more of a sour mix/lemon/lime issue.  If I just drink tequila straight up...no problem. If I drink a Margarita. ..huge problem.  Sometimes it's just food with lemon in it like chicken franchise. It's frustrating and so very painful.
Well armed with all of the info posted here I researched a bit more...i found only one thing to share...there was a post about something called Sialolith...it calcified stones in the salivart gland or duct much like a kidney stone...it can cause blockage and inflammation...they suggest seeing an Endocrinologist. This may not be the answer but I think I'm gonna give it a try. I hope that one of us can find something to help us all resolve this issue...it nice to know I'm not alone and not crazy. :)

[DeeSarah]

I have this problem, and have found both the cause and a temporary solution. The cause is sulfite sensitivity, as others have suggested. As long as it's not so bad that you should be avoiding wine entirely (asthma is more serious symptom), then there are ways to counteract it. Vitamin C and vitamin B12 both reduce symptoms. If I open a new bottle and find that it's causing the sharp jaw pain, eating a few bites of clementine, orange or other vitamin C source kills the pain immediately and completely, and allows me to keep drinking the wine. It also helps to avoid wine with added sulfites (all have natural sulfites).

[BeesWaxer]

Check this out everyone...
http://www.webmd.com/allergies/guide/sulfite-sensitivity

[mike_tyson567]

I am also suffering from this pain.  It's so weird, like a burning sensation right under my ears and behind my jaw, then a very painful sharp burn and then it disappears all in about 5-10 minutes.