Lockjaw!

[OperaMBA]

I was driving in to work this morning, eating a breakfast bar and my jaw stopped chewing!  It wouldn't move side to side, nor would it open more than 3/4 of an inch for about 5 minutes.   I tried to force it open and it wouldn't budge much.

I know that tetanus causes a lot of neurological symptoms, so I have been looking at that this morning.

Has anyone had this happen to them?

Richard
The artist formerly known as OperaMBA

[Sunnytoday]

Hey there, I too have this problem, and mine DOES come from clenching my teeth at night.... and it can hit you out the blue, if you haven't been noticing the little clicking noises that come and go when you chew, that hard bar could have just make it lock when the little disc in your joint slipped forward and "locked' it OUT of place. This is of course, if it's not neurological.

I had a TMJ specialist that did nice little x-rays that could show my disc was out of place, so I was on relaxants and pain meds for a while until it relaxed and healed out- so we thought. I also use a very small mouth pice that helps me not to clench or grind quite is as much, theoretically. I still have to watch out, if I open my mouth to yawn or take a big bite, my jaw wrenches in all directions and makes loud noise- and I occasionally get that funky 'locked jaw'- you just learn how to GENTLY reach up and wiggle and glide it out of place.... all that smashing around is what can actually tear or damage the disc in the first place (i found out the hard way the FIRST time I smashed around on it when it locked).

Good luck and I hope it never happens again for you, and that you don't have any lasting effects such as a true locked jaw jaw (mine locked almost shut for a few months) or painful jaw in the next few days...

Have a wonderful day!
~Sunnytoday~

[slightlybroken]

I've have this problem. I don't have any clicking, or popping prior, my jaws just lock up and my jaw is perfectly straight.

The first time I experienced this problems was in 1998. I also experienced other neurological problems around the same time that were not completely explained. The lockjaw occurred a few times off and on. It didn't bother me so much because it would lock and within 5-10 minutes unlock. But I did have one time that it locked for a week. I went to my GP and they referred me to a dental surgeon. They said that it didn't appear that I grinded my teeth or there was any bone structure problem. They gave me some valium and sent me on my way.

The problem went away for a long time after that but resurfaced at the beginning of this year. I started to have problems again with the lockjaw out of nowhere. Then, I started to have problems with other health issues and had to have surgery. After being tubed for one of my surgeries I woke up fine but within hours my jaw slowly started to lock up. It stayed locked for 3 months off and on.

I do believe my problem is from muscle spasms because Baclofen does seem to help. I did have to increase the dose. When I did do some research on the internet for trismus ( not being able to open your mouth), there is a link to neurological conditions that can cause this. MS and Lupus is two.

This is not fun to have, especially when you want to bite a sandwich and you have to smash it down to size.

[Wobbly]

HAHAHAHA...

you guys have made me laugh this morning...and that is a pretty big challange for anyone...heheheheh

have a good one guys

wobbly
LL

[doni54]

Well, I needed to laugh this morning and when I saw your post I thought I would give it a try.  

Never fails.....you have one great sense of humor even when your body is doing things it shouldn't...I'm not even mentioning the masticate referral!!!!

Take care and have a smile filled day.

Hugs
doni

[Lulu54]

Do you really masticate and drive at the same time?  take that, evil medhelp censor software!!!

The tetanus conversation was particularly interesting because my 33 y/o son was mocking me for getting a tetanus booster this year, claiming no one gets tetanus anymore.  To which I replied that last I checked rusty nails had not been eradicated from this earth.

I too have had that locked up jaw thing and it is sore for a while but then goes away.  I always take it as a sign that I've been talking too much....

Be better,
Lulu

[OperaMBA]

Why thank you very much!

I couldn't get through life being serious all of the time...

When David, my youngest boy was four, I would get on to him and his brother about not cleaning up their toys in the family rooms: "boys, you did a great job of cleaning up the family room!  Keep it up!"....

David's response would be "dad, that was sarcasm, wasn't it?".

I figure that is a valuable skill to have by age four...

I mess with them ALL THE TIME!   They really have to consider when I am serious and when I am not.   So, at least I've got them putting their brains to good use...

Richard
OperaMBA