Ow ow ow ow ow...

[tarotgal]

This is just a complaining post. LOL

Ever since I woke up this morning I've had this hurt on the right side of my face. A really bad pain that moves around because it's so intense at times. Top of head, back of neck, ear, jaw, cheek. I had it a couple times last week- I honestly think it's from clenching my jaw while I sleep. The muscles spasming or something. At times it's nothing and at other times it's so much pain I can't move. Not blinding pain, but it's getting to the point where it's hard to stand. I tried normal painkillers. They don't really help any. I tried heat- which makes it feel okay but my jaw keeps tensing whenever I try that. And when I take the heat away it's, like, 100 times worse. Owwwwww. I'm hoping it'll be better when I wake up tomorrow but OW. I'm NOT happy with this. It was just a little on & off pain during the day but now it's very intense though it still comes and goes in intervals. I don't like. Not at all. Makes it hard to get anything done. Hopefully it's what I think it is (lately I've been noticing the really strong jaw tensing every time I wake up and sometimes during the day) and hopefully it's not like a brain tumor or something. Because brain tumor and lack of medical insurance don't go well together at all.

PLUS... the rewind button on my VCR doesn't work any more. Grrrr! I'm mad about that!

Comments

[vatergrrl.livejournal.com]

It's not terribly likely to be a brain tumor, but it *sounds* to me like TMJ or some other problem with your jaw or the muscles in your face. Do you have dental insurance, at least, or a dental school nearby? I tend to think a dentist would be top-notch at diagnosing and treating jaw problems (even though it's a prob w/ the muscles and not your teeth). Hope it gets better soon, hon -- muscle pains are just no fun at all.

[tarotgal]

Nope, no dental insurance (I hate dentists, so I'm going to stick with my guy because he's nice & good- niceness is my biggest qualification for dentists) which is why I've spent $5000+ on dentist bills in the last year. *sigh*

I've had jaw problems since braces. In 7th grade I woke up one morning before school and couldn't open my mouth. To this day the left side (the side that's not hurting right now) clicks/pops very loudly when I open my mouth. It'll open a little but if I want to open it all the way, it clicks loudly and it opens at an angle towards my right, then can move back into place properly. I can't just open my mouth straight- it's always at an angle. It clicks again very softly when I close it again. Very stupid. So, yeah, more problems jaw-wise don't surprise me in the LEAST! LOL I really do clench my teeth all the time lately and when I wake up sometimes I have to make a conscious effort to unclench and open my mouth. So the muscles probably just got strained significantly.

I'm sort of the "give it a few days before rushing off to ask the doctor" type because, yeah, no money. And there are SO many tiny things wrong with me on a regular basis that I'm used to not going for every minor little thing. Otherwise I'd LIVE at the doctor's office. I discovered late last night that cold makes the pain go away 100% for a long while. So I might try that for a little while, then alternate hot & cold to get the muscles to relax. If that doesn't do it I'll consider doing something more. I had a HARD time sleeping last night because I kept waking up in pain. Grrr. I hope it gets better soon, too! Can't imagine what I'll do for work on Monday! LOL

[girlwithtulips.livejournal.com]

Um. That was me. *blush* Wrong LJ, sorry!