Hi Zena

Jaw and neck pain is very common, lots of small joint involvement typical of Rheumatoid. Suggest you perhaps try a warm wheat pack against the area and very gentle exercise to avoid stiffness. Soups and soft food recommended until it settles down a little!

Hope you feel better soon,

Lyn x

Hi Zena

I doubt if this will apply to you, but I had a very painful jaw some while back and wondered if it was connected to anything going on in my ear. The doctor had a look in my ear and saw nothing amiss, anyway the pain still persisted mainly at night. Some couple of months later I saw her again and this time she said the ear was inflamed, I then applied ear drops, for quite a while, got a repeat prescription ( not sure whether I should have used so much - but desperate really ) and eventually the jaw ache ceased

I hope you get it sorted out, no fun this RA !

Julia x

Hi Zena - sorry to hear your jaw is so sore. I've had similar off and on for years, but it does tend to disappear on its own. At one point I got the dentist to check out my jaw, but it all seemed OK. In the end I've put it down to clenching my teeth in my sleep when I'm stressed out and I try to relax and not worry (easier said than done). My husband doesn't have the painful jaw, but he does grind his teeth resulting in very flattened edges - his dentist has given him a plastic retainer to wear (when he remembers) and this will hopefully reduce his problem - I understand this can also be used to treat some cases of TMJ.

Hope it settles down soon - Sylvia xx

Hi Zena,

My TMJ is put down to the jolly old RA. I once said to my GP that I was sorry to bother him with such a little thing, and he said TMJ pain is really horrible, and never to be referred to as a "little thing." I take anti-inflammatories, and eat things which require no chewing at all - yoghurts, rice pudding, soup etc. My dentist had a look a few weeks ago, and could hear the horrible clicking noise, but there`s not really anything to be done. It flares up occasionally, and I dread it.

Hope yours clears up soon,

Kathleen x

Hello Zena, I've been having that problem although it has settled down. At my appointmet with the Rheumy today I mentioned it and he said that he knows a doctor who can replace this joint and that he has the part made in the US. I said that I could understand the need to replace this joint because it is very painful and bad when you can't chew or brush your teeth, not that mine is that bad. It's just interesting to think of the techknowly. Glenys.