Inflammatory Arthritis in the jaw/ TMJ
Hello, I've been diagnosed PsA for 22 years now and thought I had learnt to live with it but it has thrown a spanner in the works.
Back in 2015 it became apparent that my jaw joint was inflammed, swollen on the left side. I moved house, out into the countryside, having a cortisone body shot to get me through the added physical activity. The jaw swelling subsided, the jaw clicking grew, periodic swelling as I went through several biologic drug changes as they became in effective.
To cut a long story short, I have now had two cortisone injections in the jaw joint. The second recently. I'm suffering from bad earache, pain in the neck and shoulder plus pain, plus headaches / pain particularly on the left as the disk in the joint gets squeezed. It's affecting the way I live life quite significantly.
The second jab was very difficult! The joint seems to be a real mess. Next step is an arthrocentisis if the cortisone does not help.
Anyone out there who has had has problems with this disease. If nothing else I need a good whinge with someone who knows what it's like!
Hi @Quoll. I wish you were not in such tremendous pain. Unfortunately, you are far from alone. Many people with PsA also have arthritis in the temporomandibular joints. Here is an article from one of our advocates who describes many of the same symptoms: https://psoriatic-arthritis.com/living/jaw-arthritis. She recommends seeing a dentist for treatment. It makes sense because a dentist can correct the misalignments that are causing the damage and the pain. Steroid shots relieve pain for a while, but they do not address the underlying problem. I hope his helps and that you are able to get some relief. Thinking of you! - Lori (Team Member)
Thank you for the reference, I'll look it up. Dentist did not help, night splints actually made matters worse, left him somewhat at sea! Covid 19 has dragged everything out a bit, I must admit. Anyone had an arthrocentesis?
Hi
. There was some odd coding it your post that broke the post up that way. I edited out the coding to make it all one paragraph. Do you see your whole post now? - Lori (Team Member)
I see you managed to retrieve my post. Thank yoi
Important bits got lost!
Hi
, so sorry part of your message still was lost. We did recently move to a new forum platform, it's possible that it was a technical glitch that lost some of your comment, as we're still fixing out some of the bugs. I'll be sure to let our tech team know. Would you be willing to recomment the important part that was lost? I do know it's quite frustrating, apologies for the technical error. Best, Minel (Team Member) 
Hi @Quoll I am a Team Member here also. While I haven't had the swelling in my jaw I have definitely had the jaw clicking that you refer to. It seems to be worse when I try to eat. I haven't had PsA as long and to make matters worse in the case of my jaw I took a hard fall a few years ago and cracked the jaw bone. I am getting ready to see a dentist about the clicking as I always thought it was a result from the fall. Reading your post makes me think now there is more to it. When will you be having the arthrocentisis? I might not understand it all just yet but I can be someone to talk to if you would like. Wishing you the best. Vickie W., Team Member
Hi Quoll,
I had TMJ arthroscopy & arthrocentesis six days ago and went from excruciating ear ache, headache, neck & shoulder pain to no pain at all. The only discomfort was in my throat from the intubation tube but that subsided after a couple days. I did not need to take the pain meds I was prescribed. I took only my normal daily dose of ibuprofen. Per the surgeon I had stage III TMJ derangement and severe (grade IV) chondromalacia. I had never had TMJ issues before the sudden onset of pain 2 months ago. The arthroscopy allowed the surgeon to see exactly what was going on (much more than the MRI revealed) and allowed him to do more than flush out the joint.
I am currently on a no chew diet and not allowed to open my mouth more than the width of 2 fingers for 2 weeks so I cannot advise how I will feel when I am able to open my mouth normally & chew food again. My post-op appointment next week will reveal the next steps with the recovery. All I know thus far is that the surgeon advised I immediately start biologics (as my rheumatologist has been encouraging me to do for many months) to treat the underlying problem. I credit my top-notch surgeon for my very positive experience.
I understand the horrible pain you are in and I do hope your experience and outcome is as good as mine.
Best wishes...How wonderful, @atlas97! It must have been a great feeling to come out of surgery with no pain. I hope this proves to be a permanent solution. Keep us posted if you feel comfortable doing so. Best of all wishes! - Lori (Team Member)
Thank you! I do hope this is as permanent a solution for you as it can be. Sounds good so far though.
