Rheumatoid Arthritis Support Group

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, inflammatory, multisystem, autoimmune disorder. It is a disabling and painful condition which can lead to substantial loss of mobility due to pain and joint destruction. The disease is also systemic in that it often also affects many extra-articular tissues throughout the body including the skin, blood vessels, heart, lungs, and...

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jaw?!

lionprincess00
lionprincess00
I've seen some of you mention jaw problems with RA. I noticed just now my jaw feels achy and stiff, like I chewed gum for several hours. Is this, potentially, RA in the jaw? Until now it's been in my knuckles, my mid finger joints, big toes at the base, wrists and ankles. Add to it heels terribly the last two days, and now jaw.
Is this what you all experience when it gets in your jaw joints?

I swear I hope my new meds get this under control soon.
Emerald22
Emerald22
Yep that's what it feels like. It can also swell. Or click when you chew or talk.
coaltrain
coaltrain
Yes - I get it in either jaw joint quite often.

It's amazing how you find out how many joints our bodies actually have when the RA decided to attack them.
dd24
dd24
Mine is more inflammation. When the inflammation hits my face, the nerves in my jaw hurt....my teeth hurt...feels like the roots of my teeth swell and hurts to chew. Sometimes my face gets so sensitive it hurts to blink or even put on make-up......
Lisa-Witt
Lisa-Witt
Mine gets achy quite often. Sometimes the pain is very sharp and radiates up into the sides of my head. My jaw cracks and pops and gets stuck if I do too much chewing. But I also have TMJ that preceded my RA.
2scicrazed
2scicrazed
Yep, it's soft foods and no gum when the jaw flares!
deleted_user
deleted_user
Yes, when I chew gum too long then the jaw joints (usually the right side) will hurt. If I place a finger on those joints (right in front of the ears) and open/close my mouth then you can fell those joints pop/click/crack. So, yes, it is most likely inflammation or old damage to those joints.
Best wishes!
RetiredNow1
RetiredNow1
Mine starts of feeling more like an ear ache, then progresses to the point that I can't open my mouth at all. Liquid diet until it lets up. Last time, I noticed that my bite was off. The teeth didn't line up, or mesh as usual, between the upper and lower teeth. It took a while before everything was back to normal...until the next time.
oceans11
oceans11
Yup sometimes mine will feel like my upper & lower jaws are not aligned properly. When I bite down it makes me feel like I have a weird overbite?