So, if you woke up with one side of your jaw so sore and stiff you could barely open your mouth, would you:
Assume it’s your delinquent wisdom teeth and go to the dentist
or
Assume you’ve contracted lock-jaw from some rusty metal object and go to the doctor?
…
No seriously: Dentist or doctor?
The Half-Assed Housewife 
Doctor first. I would initialy think it’s my TMJ (temperomandibular joint) — of course I have a brother with chronic TMJ issues having broken his jaw in high school sports.
Advil (ibuprofen) usually helps with this as it relaxes the muscles around the joint and the disc.
::hands you caplet and a glass of water::
Doctor first. I would initialy think it’s my TMJ (temperomandibular joint) — of course I have a brother with chronic TMJ issues having broken his jaw in high school sports.
Advil (ibuprofen) usually helps with this as it relaxes the muscles around the joint and the disc.
::hands you caplet and a glass of water::
No ibuprofen in the house.
Will Tylenol work?
~A
Not nearly as well because Tylenol isn’t a muscle relaxant … but it would probably help manage the pain.
Looks like I’ll have to make another trip to Shopper’s then.
::whines::
~A
Sorry. ::pets you::
You know, if the Tylenol works completely then it might be an indication that it’s more than TMJ … even if it does sound like that’s exactly what it is.
Took the antibiotics.
Took Pamprin (isn’t that supposed to be a muscle relaxant?).
Sucked a clove.
Still in pain.
:moans:
~A
Well a clove is for toothache, and Pamprin is a diuretic mostly (isn’t it?) Did you call the doctor? Maybe a warm compress.
::pets you::
Doctor first. I would initialy think it’s my TMJ (temperomandibular joint) — of course I have a brother with chronic TMJ issues having broken his jaw in high school sports.
Advil (ibuprofen) usually helps with this as it relaxes the muscles around the joint and the disc.
::hands you caplet and a glass of water::
Doctor first. I would initialy think it’s my TMJ (temperomandibular joint) — of course I have a brother with chronic TMJ issues having broken his jaw in high school sports.
Advil (ibuprofen) usually helps with this as it relaxes the muscles around the joint and the disc.
::hands you caplet and a glass of water::
Doctor first. I would initialy think it’s my TMJ (temperomandibular joint) — of course I have a brother with chronic TMJ issues having broken his jaw in high school sports.
Advil (ibuprofen) usually helps with this as it relaxes the muscles around the joint and the disc.
::hands you caplet and a glass of water::
I’d say doctor in the first instance – unless it’s actually toothache. However, I am British and that may make a difference.
I’d say doctor in the first instance – unless it’s actually toothache. However, I am British and that may make a difference.
I can’t really tell if it’s a toothache or not.
I’ve been having problems with my wisdom teeth, hence the assumption.
I was actually hoping for the Teeth option as jaw problems seem much less easy to handle.
~A
I’d say doctor in the first instance – unless it’s actually toothache. However, I am British and that may make a difference.
I’d say doctor in the first instance – unless it’s actually toothache. However, I am British and that may make a difference.
I’d say doctor in the first instance – unless it’s actually toothache. However, I am British and that may make a difference.
I’d assume that you spent your evening doing naughty things.
Oh, wait. That wasn’t on the list.
TMJ, then.
I’d assume that you spent your evening doing naughty things.
Oh, wait. That wasn’t on the list.
TMJ, then.
Husband’s away on Bidnez so anything naughty done TO myself was done BY myself.
And I’m not that flexible.
~A
I’d assume that you spent your evening doing naughty things.
Oh, wait. That wasn’t on the list.
TMJ, then.
I’d assume that you spent your evening doing naughty things.
Oh, wait. That wasn’t on the list.
TMJ, then.
I’d assume that you spent your evening doing naughty things.
Oh, wait. That wasn’t on the list.
TMJ, then.
Husband’s away on Bidnez so anything naughty done TO myself was done BY myself.
And I’m not that flexible.
~A
Husband’s away on Bidnez so anything naughty done TO myself was done BY myself.
And I’m not that flexible.
~A
Husband’s away on Bidnez so anything naughty done TO myself was done BY myself.
And I’m not that flexible.
~A
Husband’s away on Bidnez so anything naughty done TO myself was done BY myself.
And I’m not that flexible.
~A
No ibuprofen in the house.
Will Tylenol work?
~A
No ibuprofen in the house.
Will Tylenol work?
~A
No ibuprofen in the house.
Will Tylenol work?
~A
No ibuprofen in the house.
Will Tylenol work?
~A
I can’t really tell if it’s a toothache or not.
I’ve been having problems with my wisdom teeth, hence the assumption.
I was actually hoping for the Teeth option as jaw problems seem much less easy to handle.
~A
I can’t really tell if it’s a toothache or not.
I’ve been having problems with my wisdom teeth, hence the assumption.
I was actually hoping for the Teeth option as jaw problems seem much less easy to handle.
~A
I can’t really tell if it’s a toothache or not.
I’ve been having problems with my wisdom teeth, hence the assumption.
I was actually hoping for the Teeth option as jaw problems seem much less easy to handle.
~A
I can’t really tell if it’s a toothache or not.
I’ve been having problems with my wisdom teeth, hence the assumption.
I was actually hoping for the Teeth option as jaw problems seem much less easy to handle.
~A
Not nearly as well because Tylenol isn’t a muscle relaxant … but it would probably help manage the pain.
Not nearly as well because Tylenol isn’t a muscle relaxant … but it would probably help manage the pain.
Not nearly as well because Tylenol isn’t a muscle relaxant … but it would probably help manage the pain.
Not nearly as well because Tylenol isn’t a muscle relaxant … but it would probably help manage the pain.
Poor gel! All of the badness of jaw pain without any of the sense of accomplishment! 😉 Seriously though, any anti-inflammatory (tylenol, alleve, etc.) should help a bit.
Unless your jaw stiffness is also accompanied by fever and neck stiffness, it’s probably not tetanus. Still, if you were recently punctured by anything old and dirty and/or your immunization is behind schedule, seeing a doctor is a good idea, anyway. I had TMJ from a bad orthodontic regimen, and the stiffness tended to be localized behind/beneath the temple (where the joint is) rather than in the mandible itself. If it’s TMJ, there’s no quick fix and you should see an orthodontist to diagnose you and start treating you. If the pain is actually in your mandible and the surrounding tissues are tender, then it could be an abscess in wisdom tooth root or cavity (if aforementioned tooth is out), in which case you should see anyone who can prescribe you antibiotics!
I hope you feel better soon- Virginia Woolf wrote a fabulous essay on being ill called, appropriately enough, “On Being Ill,” which talks about how illness colors one’s view of the world and is universal, but that the experience of illness is poorly represented in literature. Rest well, and good luck!
Poor gel! All of the badness of jaw pain without any of the sense of accomplishment! 😉 Seriously though, any anti-inflammatory (tylenol, alleve, etc.) should help a bit.
Unless your jaw stiffness is also accompanied by fever and neck stiffness, it’s probably not tetanus. Still, if you were recently punctured by anything old and dirty and/or your immunization is behind schedule, seeing a doctor is a good idea, anyway. I had TMJ from a bad orthodontic regimen, and the stiffness tended to be localized behind/beneath the temple (where the joint is) rather than in the mandible itself. If it’s TMJ, there’s no quick fix and you should see an orthodontist to diagnose you and start treating you. If the pain is actually in your mandible and the surrounding tissues are tender, then it could be an abscess in wisdom tooth root or cavity (if aforementioned tooth is out), in which case you should see anyone who can prescribe you antibiotics!
I hope you feel better soon- Virginia Woolf wrote a fabulous essay on being ill called, appropriately enough, “On Being Ill,” which talks about how illness colors one’s view of the world and is universal, but that the experience of illness is poorly represented in literature. Rest well, and good luck!
So, you were right about the mandible/abscess thing.
I had no idea one could grow, literally, overnight.
I’m on antibiotics now (yelch) but Dr. Dentist says it might not kick in for a day or two.
::whimpers::
~A
Poor gel! All of the badness of jaw pain without any of the sense of accomplishment! 😉 Seriously though, any anti-inflammatory (tylenol, alleve, etc.) should help a bit.
Unless your jaw stiffness is also accompanied by fever and neck stiffness, it’s probably not tetanus. Still, if you were recently punctured by anything old and dirty and/or your immunization is behind schedule, seeing a doctor is a good idea, anyway. I had TMJ from a bad orthodontic regimen, and the stiffness tended to be localized behind/beneath the temple (where the joint is) rather than in the mandible itself. If it’s TMJ, there’s no quick fix and you should see an orthodontist to diagnose you and start treating you. If the pain is actually in your mandible and the surrounding tissues are tender, then it could be an abscess in wisdom tooth root or cavity (if aforementioned tooth is out), in which case you should see anyone who can prescribe you antibiotics!
I hope you feel better soon- Virginia Woolf wrote a fabulous essay on being ill called, appropriately enough, “On Being Ill,” which talks about how illness colors one’s view of the world and is universal, but that the experience of illness is poorly represented in literature. Rest well, and good luck!
Poor gel! All of the badness of jaw pain without any of the sense of accomplishment! 😉 Seriously though, any anti-inflammatory (tylenol, alleve, etc.) should help a bit.
Unless your jaw stiffness is also accompanied by fever and neck stiffness, it’s probably not tetanus. Still, if you were recently punctured by anything old and dirty and/or your immunization is behind schedule, seeing a doctor is a good idea, anyway. I had TMJ from a bad orthodontic regimen, and the stiffness tended to be localized behind/beneath the temple (where the joint is) rather than in the mandible itself. If it’s TMJ, there’s no quick fix and you should see an orthodontist to diagnose you and start treating you. If the pain is actually in your mandible and the surrounding tissues are tender, then it could be an abscess in wisdom tooth root or cavity (if aforementioned tooth is out), in which case you should see anyone who can prescribe you antibiotics!
I hope you feel better soon- Virginia Woolf wrote a fabulous essay on being ill called, appropriately enough, “On Being Ill,” which talks about how illness colors one’s view of the world and is universal, but that the experience of illness is poorly represented in literature. Rest well, and good luck!
Poor gel! All of the badness of jaw pain without any of the sense of accomplishment! 😉 Seriously though, any anti-inflammatory (tylenol, alleve, etc.) should help a bit.
Unless your jaw stiffness is also accompanied by fever and neck stiffness, it’s probably not tetanus. Still, if you were recently punctured by anything old and dirty and/or your immunization is behind schedule, seeing a doctor is a good idea, anyway. I had TMJ from a bad orthodontic regimen, and the stiffness tended to be localized behind/beneath the temple (where the joint is) rather than in the mandible itself. If it’s TMJ, there’s no quick fix and you should see an orthodontist to diagnose you and start treating you. If the pain is actually in your mandible and the surrounding tissues are tender, then it could be an abscess in wisdom tooth root or cavity (if aforementioned tooth is out), in which case you should see anyone who can prescribe you antibiotics!
I hope you feel better soon- Virginia Woolf wrote a fabulous essay on being ill called, appropriately enough, “On Being Ill,” which talks about how illness colors one’s view of the world and is universal, but that the experience of illness is poorly represented in literature. Rest well, and good luck!
Lockjaw. Seriously. Those rusty nails will get you every time.
Lockjaw. Seriously. Those rusty nails will get you every time.
I knew I shouldn’t have shaved with that rusty hacksaw.
~A
Lockjaw. Seriously. Those rusty nails will get you every time.
Lockjaw. Seriously. Those rusty nails will get you every time.
Lockjaw. Seriously. Those rusty nails will get you every time.
Looks like I’ll have to make another trip to Shopper’s then.
::whines::
~A
Looks like I’ll have to make another trip to Shopper’s then.
::whines::
~A
Looks like I’ll have to make another trip to Shopper’s then.
::whines::
~A
Looks like I’ll have to make another trip to Shopper’s then.
::whines::
~A
I knew I shouldn’t have shaved with that rusty hacksaw.
~A
I knew I shouldn’t have shaved with that rusty hacksaw.
~A
I knew I shouldn’t have shaved with that rusty hacksaw.
~A
I knew I shouldn’t have shaved with that rusty hacksaw.
~A
So, you were right about the mandible/abscess thing.
I had no idea one could grow, literally, overnight.
I’m on antibiotics now (yelch) but Dr. Dentist says it might not kick in for a day or two.
::whimpers::
~A
So, you were right about the mandible/abscess thing.
I had no idea one could grow, literally, overnight.
I’m on antibiotics now (yelch) but Dr. Dentist says it might not kick in for a day or two.
::whimpers::
~A
So, you were right about the mandible/abscess thing.
I had no idea one could grow, literally, overnight.
I’m on antibiotics now (yelch) but Dr. Dentist says it might not kick in for a day or two.
::whimpers::
~A
So, you were right about the mandible/abscess thing.
I had no idea one could grow, literally, overnight.
I’m on antibiotics now (yelch) but Dr. Dentist says it might not kick in for a day or two.
::whimpers::
~A
Sorry. ::pets you::
You know, if the Tylenol works completely then it might be an indication that it’s more than TMJ … even if it does sound like that’s exactly what it is.
Sorry. ::pets you::
You know, if the Tylenol works completely then it might be an indication that it’s more than TMJ … even if it does sound like that’s exactly what it is.
Sorry. ::pets you::
You know, if the Tylenol works completely then it might be an indication that it’s more than TMJ … even if it does sound like that’s exactly what it is.
Sorry. ::pets you::
You know, if the Tylenol works completely then it might be an indication that it’s more than TMJ … even if it does sound like that’s exactly what it is.
*cough* no blow jobs as option C, right? *cough*
Uh, unless you’d come into contact with said rusty metal object, probably the dentist.
*cough* no blow jobs as option C, right? *cough*
Uh, unless you’d come into contact with said rusty metal object, probably the dentist.
Why does everyone immediately think “Blow Job”?
::tries to look innocent**
~A
Past experience, lovey.
*bats eyelids coyly*
And here I thought I’d got a reputation.
Growl.
~A
That too…
*cough* no blow jobs as option C, right? *cough*
Uh, unless you’d come into contact with said rusty metal object, probably the dentist.
*cough* no blow jobs as option C, right? *cough*
Uh, unless you’d come into contact with said rusty metal object, probably the dentist.
*cough* no blow jobs as option C, right? *cough*
Uh, unless you’d come into contact with said rusty metal object, probably the dentist.
Why does everyone immediately think “Blow Job”?
::tries to look innocent**
~A
Why does everyone immediately think “Blow Job”?
::tries to look innocent**
~A
Why does everyone immediately think “Blow Job”?
::tries to look innocent**
~A
Why does everyone immediately think “Blow Job”?
::tries to look innocent**
~A
Past experience, lovey.
*bats eyelids coyly*
Past experience, lovey.
*bats eyelids coyly*
Past experience, lovey.
*bats eyelids coyly*
Past experience, lovey.
*bats eyelids coyly*
And here I thought I’d got a reputation.
Growl.
~A
And here I thought I’d got a reputation.
Growl.
~A
And here I thought I’d got a reputation.
Growl.
~A
And here I thought I’d got a reputation.
Growl.
~A
That too…
That too…
That too…
That too…
Took the antibiotics.
Took Pamprin (isn’t that supposed to be a muscle relaxant?).
Sucked a clove.
Still in pain.
:moans:
~A
Took the antibiotics.
Took Pamprin (isn’t that supposed to be a muscle relaxant?).
Sucked a clove.
Still in pain.
:moans:
~A
Took the antibiotics.
Took Pamprin (isn’t that supposed to be a muscle relaxant?).
Sucked a clove.
Still in pain.
:moans:
~A
Took the antibiotics.
Took Pamprin (isn’t that supposed to be a muscle relaxant?).
Sucked a clove.
Still in pain.
:moans:
~A
Well a clove is for toothache, and Pamprin is a diuretic mostly (isn’t it?) Did you call the doctor? Maybe a warm compress.
::pets you::
Well a clove is for toothache, and Pamprin is a diuretic mostly (isn’t it?) Did you call the doctor? Maybe a warm compress.
::pets you::
Well a clove is for toothache, and Pamprin is a diuretic mostly (isn’t it?) Did you call the doctor? Maybe a warm compress.
::pets you::
Well a clove is for toothache, and Pamprin is a diuretic mostly (isn’t it?) Did you call the doctor? Maybe a warm compress.
::pets you::
how did I miss this?
seriously.
how?
how did I miss this?
seriously.
how?
No idea how you missed it.
Lovely medicated stupor, perhaps?
Lucky witch.
~A
how did I miss this?
seriously.
how?
how did I miss this?
seriously.
how?
how did I miss this?
seriously.
how?
No idea how you missed it.
Lovely medicated stupor, perhaps?
Lucky witch.
~A
No idea how you missed it.
Lovely medicated stupor, perhaps?
Lucky witch.
~A
No idea how you missed it.
Lovely medicated stupor, perhaps?
Lucky witch.
~A
No idea how you missed it.
Lovely medicated stupor, perhaps?
Lucky witch.
~A