When I yawned this morning, I heard my jaw 'cracked'. Now, it hurts and I can't open my mouth wide like before when I eat. It hurts on the left! Should I go to a docs? Or what?
2007-04-12 11:21:33 · 6 answers · asked by ♥♥Pro♥♥ 6 in Health ➔ General Health Care ➔ Injuries
Should I go to doc or a dentist?
2007-04-12 11:33:56 · update #1
Something like this happened to me once in high school. I went to the doctor and they said I had a torn ligament in my jaw. They wanted me to sip all my food through a straw for months while my jaw healed! I declined and just didn't open my mouth very far for a while, and it eventually healed.
I would recommend NOT going to a dentist, a physical therapist, or a chiropractor, but instead just going to a doctor.
2007-04-12 11:31:25 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
This has happened to me before because I have TMJ disorder. Anyways, there are discs on each side of your jaw (and your face) and one disc (on the side that hurts) has become stuck or has decided it doesn't want to move back and forth. That is why you can't open wide and it hurts. The best thing to do is apply moist heat and visit a doctor or preferably an orthodontist or dentist. Hope you feel better soon!
2007-04-12 11:28:51 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
It sounds like you have a TMJ condition known as a "Closed Lock". This results from the intra-articular disc in the jaw joint getting caught/stuck and preventing the full opening of the jaw. This is usually caused by a spasm and/or triggerpoint in the External Pterygoid muscle.
Your family Chiropractor or physical therapist with training in disorders of the TMJ can usually solve this problem.
Best wishes and good luck.
2007-04-12 11:28:08 · answer #3 · answered by Doctor J 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The jaw has joints like a number of different part of the physique, it could have had the comparable result as cracking your knuckles. i.e. gentle non everlasting numbness yet no lasting harm except you're already laid low with joint issues like artheritis.
2016-10-02 21:38:09 · answer #4 · answered by vyky 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I used to have this happen to me years and years ago (I'm pathetically old :) However if you want to relieve the pain and be able to open your mouth, here's what you do. Sit with your chin in the heel of one of your hands. Try to do both of these things at the same time.
1) push up on your chin with the heel of your hand and
2) try to open your mouth at the same time.
You are essentially doing one of those isometric exercises where you are pushing your muscle against another object.
I'm pretty sure it will help instantly. Now, anytime I have my jaw hurt I do this exercise immediately.
2007-04-12 11:34:07 · answer #5 · answered by carnivale4ever 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Go see a dentist as soon as possible.
2007-04-12 11:28:04 · answer #6 · answered by Kristy 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋