DU docs: Care to try some diagnosis? (jaw pain)

[tedoll78]

I've been up all friggin' night with this pain! Old vicodin is taking the edge off, but not completely removing the pain. Also being tried are warm/moist heat packs, as well as consumption of hot liquids.

My symptoms:
- pain/soreness in right jaw (dull, but periodically spikes to horrible levels)
- intermittent pain in right inner ear
- sore feeling when swallowing
- lower right side of face slightly swollen
- right lymph node very slightly swollen
- pain when opening mouth too much (about halfway)

No gums bleeding around wisdom tooth, no neck pain, no headaches, no sinus congestion, etc.

I'm going to the doctor today or tomorrow (making an appt when his office opens at 8am).

Your theories? :cry:

[Maddy McCall]

1. Sounds like you have an abcess in one of your teeth...

It can be there and you not even know which tooth, but it will give you all of the symptoms you just described.

[tedoll78]

4. Okay..

I'll get right onto investigating that. I haven't considered this yet..

(thanks!) :hi:

[Maddy McCall]

5. That's all I can think of.

I'm not a physician, though. :-)

[GOPisEvil]

2. Bushitis

I get odd pains whenever a Bush is elected (however dubiously) to anything.

I hope you feel better soon.

Oh, and you really should join the Austinintes for brunch one of these days! We usually post those announcements in the Texas forum.

[tedoll78]

3. I've had Bushitis for a while.

I usually treat it with video games and/or alcohol when it flares-up. ;)

[NamVetsWeeLass]

6. It could be a Blocked Salivary gland.

These are the same symptoms I had when one of My salivary glands became blocked. Then again, It could be an infected or abscessed tooth as well.

[PCIntern]

7. If you have a flap of tissue

over the wisdom tooth you may have pericoronitis - the manifestations of which are not necessarily obvious intra-orally. As others have said, you may have a garden-variety dental abscess associated with one of the other teeth as well.

Good luck to you -see your dnetist.

[Lexingtonian]

8. yeah- don't hang out at that bar anymore

That fella got ya good after that wise crack at his expense.

Ok, just kidding. I vote abscess, but some antibacterial mouthwash could help tide you over.

[Kookaburra]

9. Had something similar years ago

Was an infected tonsil. It was a mess, and I eventually had to have surgery. Do you still have your tonsils?

[tedoll78]

10. Yup.

Damn. I can't afford to miss any more school.. only one more allowed absence.

Damn. I hope it's not that..

[radwriter0555]

11. they will allow you THIS kind of absence since it's a medical thing. Check

the rules and follow them, including getting a note from the doctor and such.

There isn't any kind of job, school or airline that penalizes you for a medical emergency. It's up to YOU however, to do the diligence and follow procedure to cover your butt.

[tedoll78]

12. I suspect you're right.

I have a radiography rotation that I'd need to make-up time on, but other than that, I don't think it'd be too bad..

After this week, I have no tests until after Thanksgiving..

[NashVegas]

13. Have Your Ear Checked

could be an infection.

[tedoll78]

14. I'm wondering about that.

I just checked my lymph node once again. It's quite a bit more swollen than I'd thought.

[Nay]

15. Go to doctor/dentist immediately. Wherever it is, it does sound like

an infection, and you DO NOT WANT an infection to take over your bloodstream -- think Jim Henson. He DIED of septicemia. It would happen quicker than you can imagine.

[tedoll78]

16. I should add..

I am also taking a year-old antibiotic ("Augmentin").

Better than nothing, but I'm still goin'..

[Midlodemocrat]

17. It sounds to me like eustachian tube dysfunction

...you need to see a doctor.

[ProfessorGAC]

18. Quite Seriously, Have A Doc Check for TMJ Syndrome

It's a severe inflammation of the turbomandibular joint (hence TMJ).

It can hurt like hell, and because of the inflammation can bring on some of the other things you describe. When i first got MS, i had the searing pain in my jaw too! Thought it was an ear infection. Doctor said no, it was TMJ.

Went to the periodontist and he said everything was too well aligned for TMJ and no evidence of joint swelling. Then, i called my neuro and he said mandibular pain is VERY common in MS.

So, i learned all about TMJ even though i've never had it. Just had symptoms nearly the same.
The Professor