facial swelling? - TMJ Disorder -TemporoMandibular Joint Message Board

CTmom · 04-04-2006, 05:10 AM

I'm currently in the process of figuring out what is wrong with me. For about a year on and off I have suffered with facial pain, first in my lower jaw under my molar teeth and more recently in my upper jaw - all only on one side. I have many of the symptoms for TMJ - beside the above mentioned pain I have ear pain and pain on one side of my throat. Have been unable to find a dental cause for the pain and have been treated with two rounds of antibiotics for a suspected sinus infection with no improvement. Anyway, when my pain flares up I also get a warm sensation on the one side of my face, especially in the cheek area, and it swells. Not much - I don't really notice it, but several other people have. I didn't see this as a symptom of TMJ. Does anyone else have this?

I'm seeing a neurologist tomorrow and an oral surgeon/MD later this month and hope to get to the bottom of this pain soon. Thanks!

meliscarroll76 · 04-07-2006, 04:26 PM

I was recently diagnosed w/ TMJ and I have facial swelling at times so I would assume that is what yours is from also

Thelma-Louise · 04-08-2006, 11:10 PM

I developed what I thought was swelling on the lower left side of my face 6 months prior to going into full blown tmj. When the teeth on that side started to hurt I thought maybe I had an infected tooth and needed a root canal. The dentist thought it was an infected salivary gland and I went on some anitbiotics. 1 month later I noticed the teeth on the side with the swelling were no longer touching and the tmj pain started shortly thereafter.

I believe the swelling was the first sign something was wrong.

Leafsgirl · 04-09-2006, 10:29 AM

I was diagnosed with TMJ almost 2 years ago. Recently I started having swelling in the left side of my face which the doctor says is TMJ related. You said you get a "warm sensation" on one side of your face and I can relate to that also. My cheek gets a bit flushed on the one side, usually at the same time I have swelling.

CTmom · 04-09-2006, 10:53 AM

Thank you all so much for your replies.

It's funny that infected salivary gland was mentioned by one of you. My MD thought I had one about a year ago when all these symptoms started. I have gone so far as to have the salivary gland surgically removed, but my symptoms persist so obviously that wasn't the problem!

Anyway, I saw a neurologist who said although my symptoms weren't classic for neuralgias I did have some symptoms and he has put me on Lyrica. My symptoms have definitely improved and I have a lot less pain, but I'm still looking forward to my visit with the oral surgeon later this month because I want to do more than mask the pain - I want to get to the bottom of it. If it is the TMJ joint, I don't want to just ignore it and let things get even worse.

Thanks again for your input!