pain in the jaw! (Arthritis)

Hi, I'm 28 and I've had arthritis since I was 19. One of the first issues I had was with my jaw. During a visit to my dentist she explained that she thought it wasn't being helped by the fact that I grind my teeth in my sleep. She made me a mouth guard that I used when I slept and it did help. I used it every night until I began taking methotrexate 7 years ago. The medication relieved me of all pain in my jaw as well as various other joints. Two months ago I stopped taking my methotrexate as I am planning to start a family. Within two weeks my jaw was sore, It has continued since. I am currently waiting for a new mouth guard to be made as it helped before! I also found that trying to not eat certain foods like chewing gum helped! also if you are cooking meat try and stew it to soften the meat as prolonged chewing made the pain much worse.... to the point I was having problems opening my mouth more than a few centimetres! I'm not sure if this will help but thought I would share my experience, you're not imaging it! Kirsty

Hi I'm so sorry to read about your issues you are having with your jaw. I am 44 and was diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis around 8 years ago. It started in both knees and shortly after I then began having problems with my jaw. I also was given a guard to wear and found that made things worse. I was put on ammytriptylyn and ended up on 7 of these a night. I have been to several specialists and suffered around 7 years with this and I am now awaiting surgery which I'm told will be done by December. I have been on a mostly soft food/liquid diet now for about a year and a half. I sympathise with you both it's really a horrible condition. I also suffer with several other conditions and am currently recovering from a catheter ablation from heart issues. But it's so important to keep positive and not give up. Keep on at the specialists, sadly sometimes it's the only way. We are the ones living with this condition not them. Currently I am on disease modifying drugs and I also have to self inject but my condition is still very much flaring off and on. Earlier this year I had my knee drained for the 3rd time since the onset of my arthritis. It is very difficult at times but I refuse to give up. Keep positive ladies we will get there. Much love Helen

Wendy: Riad's post is from 4.5 years ago. With no update, who knows what their condition was or how it progressed.

Hello- my GP is sending me to see a rheumatologist. I’ve got stiffening fingers, clicking jaw, ribbed nails, sore throat, mouth ulcers and I ache all over. My fingers are thickening and I am so tired. . I type for a living in a call centre / my pleasure is writing and typing stories. Is this going to be ended forever? I’m the breadwinner and so blooming afraid of what is happening so horribly quickly. Is there a treatment that lets me keep working? I’ve read up on it all but with no real idea of what I’m facing.

Please don't worry. I was diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis in hands, both knees, feet and my jaw 8 years ago. I also have fibromyalgia, Reynolds, IBS, hyatus hernia and have just had a catheter ablation for a heart condition. I am due my jaw surgery by December. I take disease modifying drugs and biologic injections for my arthritis. I am 44 and work part time in a call centre. You can't focus on the negative my love, and don't worry about something when your yet to even have a diagnosis. Once you have a diagnosis then take it with both hands and tell it that it's NEVER gonna beat you. I've lost count the amount of times I've been back in my wheelchair. But I refuse to give up. I have a beautiful 8 year old daughter and a lovely husband. No matter what as long as you keep positive and surround yourself with positive friends and family you'll be fine. I always say this is far from perfect but I could be a lot worse. Good luck for your appointment. I'd love to hear how you get on. Keep strong lovely xx

To H McKenzie - thank you so much for your words of encouragement. I’m certainly going to work on not letting this define me. They say stress brings all this on and my GP asked if I was worried about anything. I answered that in the last 2 years I have lost my restaurant as my husband had a stroke while working at sea and was financing me. He’s had three now in total but fine if a little less able to do things. Now we have our house up for sale but needed to downsize anyway but the bank gets most of cash. However it’s wonderful being free Of the worry of owning that business and I have my man home safe. My grandchildren are both autistic but a delight to me as we bake and play together constantly when they visit. I was taken to hospital with Tako tsubo cardiomyopathy last year - also known as broken heart syndrome - but I had a lovely long rest and the heart went back to normal - So by the time I’d finished telling him all this we were somehow, and this may sound awful, left in fits of laughter. Then he asked me if I wanted anti depression pills which left us in stitches. I thought I’d beaten the system and had no repercussions from it all going wrong but this frightens me where none of what went on before did except when hubby took ill- he’s my reason to breathe. But my mother had very severe psoriasis but no arthritis that I heard of. I’m the other way around so far. BUT with knowledge and faith I am strong and reading you letter and those of all you wonderful people I am empowered and I thank God for finding me your support. It feels like a new family of support so thank you all. Xx

Hey Oyster3 That sure is a lot to contend with. I completely sympathise. Yes I believe and have been told stress is a lot to do with it all. I had been managing chronic fatigue since I was 26 after being hit by a lorry on the motorway. I just didn't recover. I had test after test. They suspected MS. But thank God it turned out to be chronic fatigue. Then years later I had my daughter when I was 36. When she was around 8 months my husband took a massive epileptic fit. He had been fit free for 7 years. It was so bad that he dislocated his shoulder and had two breaks. He also had his driving licence revoked. So there he was stuck in traction for 6 weeks to let his breaks heal and me with an 8 month old baby and health issues of my own to juggle it all. I have to say I managed very well. Proud mummy moment! But once he recovered I just went down hill fast. I was admitted to hospital and then diagnosed with fibromyalgia. A month later my knees swole so badly I ended up shuffling around on a summer frame just to get to the loo. Well another doctor home visit and I was admitted to hospital again and diagnosed with psoratic arthritis and had both knees drained. My first 2 years I was pretty much bed ridden and wheelchair bound. Lived in a top floor flat and life really did suck! This all happened in our 1st 2 years as newlyweds. But I was determined and didn't want to let my baby girl down. I fought back and ended up running my own beauty business from home. Was great. Fitting in client's when I could manage around my health and family life. But in the end I got to busy and took another big flare. As I mentioned before I now do part time in a call centre. But this has been a problem since my jaw got really bad as too much talking makes it very painful. But I have my surgery date now. The 27th November and I'm focusing on 2019 to be my year. Funny thing is I think I've said that for the last 5 years. Life is a bit of a juggling act for me but I do my best and try to keep strong. If not for myself but my beautiful daughter. Lots of love Helen xx

Dear Helen Your message was so welcome and inspiring. Thank you. You and everyone on the association’s forum have made me feel so very much less “alone” and the way you’ be dealt with your circumstances Helen - you’re amazing and I so wish you And your family well. I’ve just found out that the waiting time to see a rheumatologist is 14 weeks (wonder how I’ll be by then given the speed things are coming on now) so I’m going back to my GP to see if she’ll put me on pills to slow things down or something. Best of best wishes to you and all our friends in the forum. Joyce xx

I’ve had the beginnings of psoriatic arthritis for a couple of years. Hands stiffening, nails thickening. Then this jaw thing started happening...not so much pain but locking/clicking. I found another discussion on this site about blueberries being a miracle cure for P and PA. I started munching a handful of blueberries a day. One of the first things to go was my jaw issue. My PA is much better. Plaques are starting to fade. It sounds crazy but for me it’s really helping. I’ve also tried to avoid inflamatory things like alcohol, dairy,etc.

Tim - I’ve eaten blueberries for years and have very little marks and those I rub with the inner side skin of kiwi. Works for me. Also GP advised me to eat blueberries with walnuts to improve my memory - once I remembered to buy the walnuts - WHAT a difference!! When we move house I’m going to grow blueberries in garden - that’s how important they are to me My jaw started clicking a bout six weeks ago and is annoying but I have r wait to see rheumatologist so will up my blueberry intake In the meantime - can’t do any harm. Thanks for the post -Joyce