Jaw Locking

kelly1215

Has anyone else had issues with their jaw locking up?

It seems to be at its worst 4-5 days after chemo (Taxotere).

I had 36 treatments without this happening, then I developed a blood clot (caused by port) and am now on Coumadin. I have had 4 more treatments since the clot and each time I've had this problem so I am wondering if that might be the cause.

My doc has no answers other than giving me more drugs...Gabapentin (sp), which I believe is a muscle relaxer. I haven't taken any yet since it always seems to pass in a few days but this time I haven't been able to eat solid food for two days because every time I try to chew my jaw locks up. I am so hungry!

In addition, the muscles in my neck seize up when I yawn or move a certain way...it's pretty painful. It seems to extend down into my kidney (back/side) area.

I'm a MESS...2.5 years of chemo really does a number on your body.

Fitztwins

Are you on Zometa? Because I thought that can affect the jaw. The Doc should know this.

Member_of_the_Club

Is it extremely painful?  I've had this when the disk in my jaw gets out of wack, and then i can't eat.  Its happened a few times because of TMJ.  Of course most likely it is a SE and you need to bring it to your doctor's attention.

kelly1215

No Zometa here.

It isn't extremely painful, but it does hurt when it happens. 

I have told my doc, but he doesn't seem to think it's any big deal. He gave me the scrip for Gabapentin and that's it. 

I guess I'm weird (no surprise there). I'm sure it's some kind of SE from something (chemo, clot, Coumadin, cancer), just wondered if anyone else had experienced it too.

It seems to have passed for now, I could eat solid food today w/o any jaw lockage.

Thanks for your responses!

ravdeb

I have this problem. My dentist believes it was aggravated by the chemo. I had a clicking sound before I had chemo (we are talking since 2006) and since chemo sometimes my jaw gets stuck and I kinda have to put it back into place. Dentist is a firm believer the chemo did this as well as cause some problems with my teeth.

Fightcancer247

Yes, I am experiencing it too. I asked nurse at my Oncologist's office if this was related to chemo and she told me no, so I didn't bother to mention it to doctor. Well apparently it is related to chemo after googling about it and finding other chemo patients experiencing this.