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Rank: Newbie
Groups: Registered
Joined: 2/3/2010
Posts: 9
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Hi All this is my first time! I am in need of some help. I am having lots of pain in (I think its my jaw) my face is slighlty swollen all down one side and it goves me pain in the side of my head and ear, has anyone else has this? 
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 11/28/2009 Posts: 238 Location: North London
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yes, sad to say I've had it too, i think. temporo-mandibular joint pain. although sometimes the RA can cause teeth problems as well.
I'm terribly sorry to hear you're suffering jaw, this was the pain that had me down a&e a couple of times. it's completely gone now the Humira is working for me. Before that, I simply had to rely on careful dosing of the pain meds cocodamol 30/300 and tramadol through the evening and night. during the day i only had the 10/500 cocodamol, as i was too woozy to care for the kids otherwise. i also tried ith some success to keep myself calm and to breathe through it all, as i was clenching my face so tight, oh hell it was dreadful. i hope you're not experiencing that so bad. if you do get a pain crisis, the only thing that brought me any relief was kneeling on floor, forehead on floor and letting my jaw hang loose down with gravity. helped. but not my knees! a few nights I had to have a large tot of spirits to tip me into sleep past the pain. it was a very trying time. i was referred to the maxill-facial people, but by the time i saw them the humira was kicking and and now the inflammation has gone it's not a problem. just as well. i panicked in the MRI scanner when they were tryign to take a picture of it and had to come out of there!
tel your gp about it, look at your pain meds with him/her. ask if they think it is tmj, who should refer you? gp, or rheumatologist. and let us know how you get on. i think it's a grim pain, as it's literally, in your face :(
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Rank: Advanced Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 11/28/2009 Posts: 238 Location: North London
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sorry! forgot to say welcome. duh! best, franky. and 30/500 cocodamol. sorry its been a long day:)
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Rank: Newbie
Groups: Registered
Joined: 2/3/2010
Posts: 9
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Hi thanks for your advice I don't feel so alone now, it's really starting to affect my mood and I keep crying and feeling sorry for myself but it gets me down Ta very Much x
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 3,157 Location: Huddersfield
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Hi Maud,
Welcome to the forum!
Sorry I can't help with the jaw pain but Franky has given you some good advice.
How long have you had RA? I am 60 and have had it for 9 years.
Keep posting and you'll get lots of support on here.
Love, Doreen xx
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Rank: Newbie
Groups: Registered
Joined: 2/3/2010
Posts: 9
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Hi Doreen,
My real name is Emma but my husband calls me 'my Maud'. I am 39 years old and was diagnosed 18 months ago with ra. I am currently taking meth and hrxy along with naproxen and paracetamol. I am having awful pain in my jaw, face, head and ears and am now sat here drinking vodka and coke (I haven't drank for 5 years)! x
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Rank: Advanced Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 3,157 Location: Huddersfield
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Hi Emma (or do you prefer Maud?)
It sounds as if you need a stronger painkiller for a start.
Have you seen your GP about the pain?
Jaw pain is common with RA but it's wise to get checked out to make sure it is the RA causing it.
Enjoy the vodka, hope it helps with the pain for tonight.
Love, Doreen xx
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Rank: Advanced Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 11/28/2009 Posts: 238 Location: North London
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Hi again Maud, go to bed while the alcohol is helping dull things! the more sleep, the better you can cope with the aches. and to GP soon as possible tomorrow to go over the pain relief. I'm a reasonably stoic woman, and my last baby was 11lb 11oz long and born with a just few sucks of gas and air, but that jaw pain was my downfall :( it sounds so daft almost that something can hurt so. you're not alone, i was here a lot as i tried to cope. i resisted the painkillers i mentioned for ages for other joint pain, as i didn't want to get hooked on them at all, but i took them a fair bit for quite a long time, and stopped as soon as i didn't need them, was all OK. they really helped.
a thing to think about with your rheumy/maxillo facial person is: is the RA still very active then, do i need better DMARDS, or is this an erosion or some such that needs fixing? i hope you have a better day tomorrow, xfx
(and thank you everyone again for your kindness during my dark times.)
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Rank: Newbie
Groups: Registered
Joined: 2/3/2010
Posts: 9
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Hi Doreen
I answer to most things!
I am actually in the middle of moving Rheumatologists and have my first appointment on Friday so hopefully will get some proper help as I got 'lost' on the system at my last place and haven't seen my Rheumy for over 6 months and then got an appointment with a Specialist nurse) and I use the term very loosley, she was very offensive and said that my very clearly swollen wrists and forearms was due to body mass (unfortunately I am not a size 10) she didn't even touch them just kind of glanced with a sneer. Anyway I hope to get some real advice .
Are you well at the moment?
Emma x
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Rank: Advanced Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 3,157 Location: Huddersfield
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Hi Emma,
I'm fine thanks. I'm on mtx and Humira which is helping a lot.
That's good that you've got an appointment on Friday, sorry you had such bad treatment at your last hospital and I hope the new one is much better and can sort you out with some effective treatment.
Hope you manage to get some sleep tonight .
Love, Doreen xx
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 561
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Hi Emma welcome to the forum , i too have this but it affects my cheek bone , temple and the out side of my eye socket and it only affects one side of my face , the pain comes and goes and is like a dull ache with pressure , when it starts i take pain killers and put ice on my face ,
Sophie x
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Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/7/2009
Posts: 235
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Hi Maud, I have had jaw pain and swelling, it isnt much fun and I really hope the vodka works!!! The others have given you good tips, I hope it settles for you soon.
Take care
Deb x
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 872
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Hi Emma, Welcome to the forum ~ hope you find it as amazing and helpful as I have - im a relative newbie as only joined late last year. So sorry you are feeling poorly and in pain, hope things do improve for you and very soon. Perhaps think about contacting your GP today as you really should not carry on struggling to find relief from pain, sounds as if you may need something stronger and maybe to get other things ruled out too - then hopefully you can feel more in control at your rheumy appointment on Friday? I really hope you get some pain relief that helps - you shouldnt have to wait for this xx ....im 39 too......so big 4 OH! this year  but ive recently decided its much much better described as a fourth 10th birthday. Will be thinking of you today and on Friday and looking forward to future postings and sharing good (and the not so good times) together. Take care & keep posting, With love from Liz xxxxx
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/14/2009 Posts: 61 Location: Lancashire
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Hi Emma, Welcome, bit new myself but lots of help here. I get this pain as well. My GP put me on low doses of an anti depressant called carbamazepine It dulls the pain receptors !, I still get the pain but not as bad and it does not last as long.
John.
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 1,582 Location: Oxfordshire
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Dear Emma Maud!
Welcome to the group and I am so sorry you have jaw pain...I have had this a few times and it is SO uncomfortable, especially as one cannot eat!
I have always been called Petal by my dear Hubby, hence the e/mail address! LOL
Love,
Amanda
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 288 Location: LUTON
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Hello Emma/Maud, Firstly a very big welcome to you!
I visited the dentist recently as i was suffering jaw/ tooth/ ear pain and headaches all the right side of my face hurt, i thought it was a wisdom tooth, Dentist could not find any probs, she referred me to local hospital, and funny thing is that as i was reading your post, my app came through the letter box, for 2nd March.
My dentist said that she thought it could T.M.J dysfunction as already mentioned or cervical spondylosis.dentist said that both of these are common with R.A, she asked if i grind my teeth at night? i am not aware of this.
I hope your pain subsides as mine has........... I will still attend the appointment to see if maxillofacial can come up with any answers, as the pain comes and goes .
Anne-Marie xxx
oh as suggested ice pack is good.
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 690
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Hi Emma, A big warm welcome to the forum and a gentle cyber hug. Sorry to hear that you're in so much pain and it sounds like your RA is very active at the moment and wearing you down. I have had RA for a year now and the biggest problem for me has been learning to adjust and cope with this weird illness, the impact that it has had on me and my family, which I am going to be honest about has made me depressed. However, I think that it is well known that RA and depression are closely linked and not surprisingly so as learning to adapt to a life changing condition is not easy and will take it's time. Hang on in there, life will get better once your RA is under control and with time your mood should improve. Living in constant pain is enough to drive anyone to despair, and you should not have to suffer like this as there are medications out there to control it. However, if you have been feeling depressed and tearful for more than a month may I suggest that you see your GP as you might be suffering from a clinic form of depression related to RA, which is treatable with medication and perhaps some counselling? When the pain is really bad I too reach for the bottle and Tramadol (a pain killer), wine is my tipple- I maybe off my head, but at least it eases the pain, in such situations needs are a must and "a girl has to do, what a girl has to do!"  If you want to send me a personal message regarding mental health issues please feel free, I am a mental health practitioner, but do not advocate the above for everyone!  Take Care, Love, Barbara XXXXX
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Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009
Posts: 854
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Hello Emma and welcome to the forum. I am so glad that you have decided to join us and hope that you will find all the advice and support that you need.
I also have had problems with my jaw. It tends to come back with a flare and was one of the original symptoms that I had. Hope that, with the right level of medication, it will abate soon.
Eleanor x
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 1/5/2010 Posts: 89 Location: Mereworth, Kent
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Hi Emma,
just wanted to say Hi! Thank goodness I have never had jaw pain ( yet!!!), although my sister does and I can see how it can get you down even more than usual - you just can't escape head pain can you? I echo what everyone says about RA and feeling low / depression. I was treated for depression for about 9 months about the time of my diagnosis and was glad I got help. I am keeping my head above water now, but sharing how you are feeling is half the battle.
Take care and keep posting
love from
Alison
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