Pyat and the pain in the jaw

[pyat]

Late last week, I think on Thursday or Friday night, I woke with a pain on the left side of my jaw. Specifically, at the “hinge” of the jaw, inside. Probing with my tongue I seemed to find something hard protruding from the jaw, like a stick that jutted out just a fraction of an inch. I couldn’t seem to shift it, and the pain became muddled with sleep and dreams and drifted off.

In the morning, there was a little bump on that spot, but it didn’t hurt. By Sunday, however, it definitely hurt. Since then, my jaw has become progressively tenderer, and each day the range of motion is slightly more limited. I can no longer open my mouth the width of two fingers.

I made a dental appointment for today, but had to cancel it because my presence was required at the office. It’s been moved to Thursday. Yesterday afternoon I was seriously beginning to regret that decision to move it, since I’d developed a faint ringing in my ear and a tiny bit of dizziness. This suggested an infection moving up my jaw, I would think. However, this morning things are better, though the pain is still there.

I’m mostly recording this for my own reference. Yes, I should see a doctor. I fully intend to take tomorrow as a sick day or work from home day, if needed, and I’m quite willing to go to my family doctor or even ER if the situation warrants. Right now I seem to be functioning fine, except I can’t open my mouth wide enough to take a bite out of a doughnut.

Comments

[relee.livejournal.com]

Oh no! Poor Mr. Mouse. *hugs tight*

Get well soon.

[anidada.livejournal.com]

o_O *hugs, turns the hug into a shove toward the doc*

Meantime, puree those donuts!

[amarafox.livejournal.com]

Augh. Yes, get thee to a doctor.

[momentrabbit.livejournal.com]

If I may echo with variation, get thee to a dentist. They can do a quick x-ray and read it in the time you'll spend waiting in emergency.

My sympathies. Jaw issues suck.

[pyat.livejournal.com]

My thinking, yes. The earliest my dentist can see me now is Thursday, so I'm holding off on seeing a doctor or going to ER unless absolutely necessary. IE, if the pain gets worse, or if it becomes very clearly infected.

[doc-mystery.livejournal.com]

Ow...sounds like some kind of TMJ disorder. You don't grind your teeth in your sleep, do you?

A dentist could likely help assess things. If you do visit the ER, the best time is around 5 or 6 am (when things are at their quietest).

An anti-inflammatory like Advil may help, ditto Acetaminophen 8 hour. If they don't, it may suggest you have some neuropathic pain.

All the best for a speedy resolution.

::B::

[hossblacksilver.livejournal.com]

Gah. Good luck with the jaw recovery, Pyat.