I've been noticing this for a while first thing in the morning when I try to eat my cereal. I assumed it was just another symptom of my DM. I've never heard of it being a side-effect of prednisone but if you find out that it is, could you please post that? I won't see my rheumy again for a while since I just saw her.

Mine have not locked yet, but my dentist said they could because of my TMJ. my jaws can get very stiff and sore.

Gabrielle

I have also TMJ but fortunately my jaw doesnt lock. It sure does get stiff and sore. This started about 4 years ago which was way before my Pred days.

Before my PM diagnosis, the inflammation had progressed into my jaw and I couldn't get food into my mouth unless I manually separated my teeth. Once diagnosed, the prednisone helped my jaw. I tried to do research on your question, but couldn't find a connection with taking prednisone. The most informative website I found was the following.
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-causes-lockjaw.htm

Be sure to ask your rhemy lots of questions about your situation, and let us know what she says. Blessing and best wishes to you.

I also have TMJ and have found the prednisone actually helps it. I only had one instance when I could only open my mouth about 1/2" and that was before my DM diagnosis and prednisone.

Thanks everyone for your comments. Strange things happen and it's hard to figure out what the causes are.

I'll keep you posted on what I find out from my rheumy.

I tell you i had the worst experience with my jaw. When i furst got sick my jaw would only open half way. I lost weight cause i couldn't open my mouth. Then Prednisone happened and it loosened my jaw so much it hung open when i slept. So i couldn't sleep. I bought a strap to close my mouth so i could sleep at night. Now i am on a lower dose of steroid so all is good. I still have a tightness in the sides of my mouth but i can eat and sleep good now. Funny thing is ruemy said it isn't my illness see the dentist....and dentist said nothing to do with my mouth. So i have no answers .Hopefully when i decrease the steroid my jaw wont lock up again fingers crossed

its actually a well known symptom of DM at least i was sent to a dr spwcialises in tjat area as swollowing and jaw locking is a common dm symptom i was rold r
ro excercise my tongue jaw and face ie for jaw tey and open it as you wide as you can. you sgould talk to your spwcialest as this can be serious issue. I have never been wide mouthed big though ;-) supposed to be able to fit middle 3 fingers in your mouth ie open your jaw 3cm i personally can just do 2 i recon that might be genetic for me not dm. good luck.

I can open my mouth about half way and can hear a funny noise at times when I open it. I noticed it slightly starting about a year ago when I was diagnosed with PM. It has gotten worse only this past couple of months while I have been tapering on prednisone. I am currently at 10 mg and will be seeing my rheumy on Thursday. I hope I don't have DM as well?

same symptoms but i think it may also have to do with the fact that with all the stress we may grind and clinch our teeth at night thus causing more trauma to those joints. i find that most of my pain occurs in joints that are overused or previously injured.

@Cadolph - Is it a clicking sound? Sometimes my jaw will click if I open it all of the way.

Gabrielle

It's kind of like a squishing sound and I can only open my mouth about half way.

Now that you say that, mine sounds a bit like that too. I see the periodontist in a few months for gum surgery. Maybe he will have some answers.