Anziety - occasional shooting jaw/ear pain

[johnroberts147]

Hi, I would be most grateful if someone could offer some advice? I've been suffering a viral infection for the last month or so, which has been made worse with my anxiety and stress. I have been on diazepam tablets, but only the low dose of 2mg 3 x a day). I feel I need to take them, as without the diazepam, I become panicked, tight chest, breathing, worried, dry mouth all the usual etc! For the last few days though, I've been getting what I can only describe as an occasional shooting pain at the top of my jaw or bottom ear area. It's not even major painful, just a little. It can be either ear, can last few a couple of seconds or 10,20,30 seconds. No set pattern to it. It then just goes away. I think because I'm very conscious of it, I'm making it out to be worse. Does anyone else suffer this? Is it another symptom?

[johnroberts147]

Hi, I have a bit more of an update. I had a barium swallow x-ray and the radiologist also took extra photos of my tummy as he knew how anxious I was. He said he could see nothing bad. My throat and esophagus were fine and couldn't see anything in my stomach, although ulcers wouldn't really show. He said I do have acid reflux though and that probably caused the ulcers and the acid taste I get in my mouth in the mornings. I think you're right in that my anxiety/stress isn't helping. I get so worked up and think constantly about this. I am seeing a dr again in a couple of weeks to go over the reflux and why my stomach growling takes place (although I've just been prescribed omeprazole 20mg). I've also been taking 1mg mastic gum and that seems like it may have been helping?? Oh I'm also getting results in a couple of days for h pylori test. The anxiety I think is my main enemy. Get varied symptoms, the latest being dry mouth/throat when I wake up. But that goes in sipping water and also think I have a bit of a cold. Alternative meds may be the answer?

[johnroberts147]

Hi,
Thank you very much for your post the other day. It really helped and I appreciate the time you spent replying. I went to the ENT yesterday and he said he couldn't see any real infection or ulcers, so put the camera up my nose down my throat etc. He said everything looked ok and he couldn't see any problems, so thinks it was just a viral infection that took/is taking time to go away. He then panicked me by saying he was going to refer me for a barium swallow x-ray in a couple of weeks to make sure. I went home, researched it and my anxiety went mad! I went back and spoke to him and said should I go have it done tomorrow paying lots of money privately. He said don't be stupid and that he was only referring me for peace of mind. He said if I wasn't so anxious he wouldn't have bothered. He said it is possible that the ulcers may have been caused by acid reflux when sleeping at night, so wanted to rule this out, but it probably is just stress/anxiety/viral. He then said he was almost 100% the x-ray will come back with nothing. I did spend yesterday still in anxiety mode and was stressing out. The anxiety just doesn't go away overnight though does it. I'm feeling better tonight and going back to the Dr tomorrow to discuss the anxiety. Don't want to get hooked on diazepam and maybe seeing a therapist will help.
Anyway, I've waffled on for ages, but thank you again for your advice/support. Hope you're doing ok!

[RubyWitch]

I'm sorry to hear your father died of throat cancer and that fact is most likely fueling your anxiety about YOUR throat.
You say you've now seen 5 doctors about this issue. While apparently none of them was an ENT as you say you've got an appt. with one here soon, they are doctors and you must trust and believe that if ANY of them thought what was going on with your throat had anything to do with cancer, you would have been immediately sent to a specialist. I really can't emphasize that enough. A biopsy would have been ordered STAT, and the ENT may want one done as well to finally figure out what he's dealing with and that will tell him what he/she needs to do to get rid of it. Whatever infection you have is obviously very stubborn, there's no doubt about that, but when you say you haven't lost weight, your appetite is returning, you're not as hoarse and you're not coughing up blood...........these are all good signs.
A throat infection could easily travel to your ears and sinuses and the stress and anxiety you're feeling is no doubt causing you to clench your teeth which will cause some nasty TMJ type pain as one poster pointed out.
In my humble and non-medical opinion, I DO think what you are dealing with is just a very stubborn infection. If it's staph, and I'm NOT saying it is, that is a rather difficult infection to get rid of and can take quite a long time.
You may end up having to have your tonsils removed! OH boy...........ice cream, jello and cold soup for days!
I work in a hospital and I've seen many people your age having their tonsils out for very similar reasons..............infections that just won't give up and die! I had to have mine out when I was 18 and just to warn you, the older we are, the worse it is. A 5 year old will be out the same day..........I was in hospital for a week! But I had constant strep infections and they took them out while they were infected, which I later learned was not the best time to do it.
But I digress..........
I don't think for one minute you have throat cancer and I do think your anxiety IS making this harder on you than it already is.........I don't think your anxiety is making the ulcers worse. Come Monday you should have your answer and a plan of "attack" to deal with this. You just gotta hang in there for a few more days!
Please let us know what the ENT has to say, OK?
Peace
Greenlydia
    

[johnroberts147]

Thank you for your post back.
The Dr, or 5 now have all said they are sure I have a throat viral infection. It started with a bit of a cold, then I had a large ulcer on one of my tonsils. I have been and still am major stressed to be fair, but the ulcers developed into about 3, then wouldn't go away. Anti biotics didn't clear it up, but being viral, they wouldn't. I became extermely anxious as my father died of throat cancer, but my symptons don't seem to be this bad. That's what I'm terrified about. I started to get my appetite back, I haven't lost weight, my voice isn't that hoarse, not coughing up blood etc, so am hoping it is just some infection. I'm seeing an ENT monday morning. another ulcer has now appeared on my tonsils, but I'm hoping it's just the extreme anxiety and stress I'm experiencing, rather than something real bad. The jaw pain isn't that bad today either. Do you think it could be just sme infection that is lingering about as I'm so low and fed up?

[Jade59]

Oh, and I too, occasionally use Valium to relax my jaw when the tension and pain become too much.  I see you've been taking Valium, but have stopped so it does stand to reason you will be more tense and feel all the symptoms you describe :(

Sit back in a chair and concentrate on relaxing your neck and facial muscles..it's not always easy and takes time and concentration and if you can make the pain go away then you likely have TMJ problems.  

[Jade59]

I DO suffer from the jaw/ear pain.  If you pay close attention, you will probably see that you are clenching your teeth which will cause this type of pain.  It is TMJ.  You don't even have to clench your teeth, but just have tension in your jaw which will cause this type of pain.   If you go over to the Temporomandibular Joint and Muscle Forum, you will see many people with this same complaint as well as you could post your question there.  

This has become an enormous problem for me and I now have a night guard which works wonders in forcing my jaw and facial muscles to relax.  You may want to speak with your dentist.  You can get one of these OTC devices, but one made expecially for your mouth is best.

Best of luck to you :)

[RubyWitch]

And what are they doing for this viral infection you've been dealing with for the last MONTH?
Where is the location of this infection? Your lungs? Your throat? Your GI system? Perhaps it is now in your sinuses................I suggest that you see an ENT to find out what is causing these pains in your ears and jaw. A viral infection is not to be ignored!
When we are sick, our anxiety level can increase and if you find the diazepam is helping and you're not taking more than the recommended dose, then continue with that...................but if you ARE upping your dose to cope with this infection, you need to see your doctor sooner than later.
Peace
Greenlydia