Jaw is Still Locked

Hi everyone! My jaw is still locked on the right side partially. I'm hoping that it will let go soon because I have another surgery coming up. I tried putting a Lido-derm patch on my face. Yes I looked ridiculous, but I was able to open my mouth up fully. It's only short lived though. It will be 2 weeks on Friday that it has been locked so I'm not to happy right now and it hurts to try to open my mouth fully. I told the doctors about this before the last surgery and when I woke up afterwards it wasn't locked but locked within hours after surgery. They were aware that my jaw was locked when I left the hospital but they didn't do anything for it. So, I'm taking my Baclofen and sticking Lido-derm patches on my face and hoping for the best. My toes are locked too but that doesn't bother me as much as the jaw. Anybody else have jaw issues?

It's definitely muscular with the jaw because you can feel it on the side of my face and the Lido-derm patches worked and they numb the muscle enough where I can open my mouth so I don't know what to do. Maybe I could increase my Baclofen? I'm only on 10mg 1-3 a day. Right now I'm taking 3. It helps but not enough. Any ideas?

[Fluffysmom]

Just wishing you relief.  I'm glad the Lidoderm patches work temporarily at least; I've used those thing on my neck and many other places.

I hope someone comes along soon with a brilliant idea for you.

Take care,

Kathy

[jensequitur]

My guess is that you're experiencing a jaw muscle spasm.  Getting it to unlock... well... if the Baclofen dose you're already on isn't enough, you could try taking another one.  Baclofen will cause you to feel weak, if you take enough (too much) of it.  So be careful!

It sounds like the lidoderm patches are working all right for the moment.  You might try heat on the muscle and see if it loosens up any.

[6-paq]

I'm getting therapy for TMJ and my therapist massages the masseter muscle along with other muscles in that area.

Is it possible for you to get massage therapy for your jaw?

I sincerely hope you get relief soon!!

Take care, Pat :)

[slightlybroken]

Thanks you all for the comments and suggestions.

Kathy- I like the Lidoderm patches too. I usually use them for my arm and leg when I'm getting spasms really bad in them and not getting relief from the Baclofen. I just cut one to size and thought it would work on my jaw and, low and behold, it did. Thank God! It just doesn't last long enough.

jensequitur- I kinda thought that too...that I was suffering from a muscle spasm in the jaw. I think I might take an extra Baclofen to just see if it will have an effect. The jaw is loosening up a little each day but it's still locked pretty tight and I'm having trouble opening my mouth to even take a bite of something. At least it's getting a little better. I'll give the heat another try.

Pat-I've been massaging the jaw everyday but I doubt my insurance would pay for massage therapy. I used to be a cosmetologist in what I call my previous life and cut hair and give lots of facials so I guess you could say I'm giving my self a facial massage and trying to work out that muscle out of the spasm.

Thanks for the ideas..

[santana8]

I don't have any experience with jaw symptoms, but I did have a sevierly stiff neck for three  months that is almost gone, but still slightly pays me an unwelcomed visit every once and a while. As strange as it sounds, the one thing that eased the muscle of my neck was taking my normal low dose of xanax. I don't know why this worked, because the xanax was not prescribed for my neck, but I take it for the anxiety and panic disorder I have had for years. Maybe it relaxed the muscle spasm!

I am sorry to hear of you suffering with this, and I will keep you in my prayers that this will resolve soon for you. I can only imagine how uncomfortable and painful that must be for you! Just wanted to let you know I care.

Your Friend
~Santana~

[slightlybroken]

I've heard xanax does wonders for spasms. I've never taken it. I just hopes this resolves before my next surgery otherwise they are going to have one heck of a time getting that tube down my throat. Thanks for the thoughts and prayers. I hate to sound selfish but I really need them right now. Your such a sweetie!!!

[6-paq]

Ugghhh.... when is your next surgery??    Did your jaw lock up after/during surgery before?

I have had more problems with my jaws and a tooth after being intubated during a surgery last October.  I never realized it could mess you up!!

Is it feeling any better today???

My ((HUGS)) and prayers headed your way!!

Take care, Pat :)

[slightlybroken]

I go today to the vascular surgeon to find out. They had to wait at least 2 weeks so I imagine it will be soon. My jaw locked several hours after surgery. I'm not sure of the time frame but I know I was out of recovery and back in my hospital room when it locked.

I had problems before surgery as well. 10 Years ago I had a lip biopsy and when they give you the medication to paralyze you, my jaw decided to lock up. The anesthesiologist freaked and told me afterwards of the problems he had getting the tube down my throat. He warned me that whenever I have surgery to tell them of this problem. I also had problems back then with it locking up for no reason but the dentist could not find a reason why I was having these problems.

This is the longest that it has locked up. Back in the late 90s, it locked up for a week and I broke that record. Take care of your jaw too. I didn't have to have surgery to have it decide to lock up. It just recently, after all this time, started locking up again so I knew I would have problems after surgery. I wrote in to the forum, when I first joined and was surprised to find that TMJ problems, or Trismus (lockjaw) can be related to MS and other neurological conditions.

It's feeling ok..but still locked OH WELL!! Thanks for the hugs and prayers.
{{{HUGS BACK}}}