Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group I injured myself......????????

I didn't think I could ever top injuring myself breathing like I did a couple of months ago, but I think I just did.

Two weeks ago, I went to the dentist for some routine dental work. As going to the dentist involves holding one's mouth open for an extended period of time, I damaged my TMJ. It's not too bad as long as I don't open my mouth wide and don't eat anything crunchy or chewy. The PT ultrasounded it for me last week and made a coupl e of suggestions for how to help it heal, but it doesn't seem to be getting any better.

A couple of weeks ago, I also went to a Christmas dance and I had a great time. I I danced. I sang. I talked loudly to be heard over the music. I sang some more.

The next morning I woke up with a scratchy throat. Normal.

What isn't normal is that the scratchy throat is getting worse, not better. I'm getting more hoarse and my throat is getting more sore.

I did some googling. The general suggestion is that hoarseness which lasts more than 4 weeks is a reason for a doctor visit, so I'll wait a couple more weeks before I do anything.

But I think it's cricoarytenoid arthritis. The cricoarytenoid joint is in the larynx, basically where the vocal cords attach to the voice box. About 30% of people with RA get arthritis there and the arthritis is also known to occur in people with AS.

Anybody else have this? The symptoms are sore throat, tightness or the sensation of a lump in the throat, hoarseness and pain in the ear.

Every single joint which I overuse in even the slightest way gets inflamed and irritated. Every one. Even my cricoarytenoid joint. Who'd have thunk it?

But there is nothing systemically wrong with me.

I am so frustrated I want to scream.

But I'd better not do that because I'd further injure my vocal cords.

Karen

Oh, dear, this is crazy... cricoarytenoid arthritis? Just for having a good time?? I agree, you should not wait too long on this.

Sound like the problem is that you don't exercise those vocal cords enough. Maybe you start singing in the shower on a daily basis (ha ha).

Seriously, I'm sorry to hear of this most recent problem. It must be particularly frustrating since Christmas is right around the corner. I'd at least schedule an appointment with the doctor for right after the 1st of the year just in case. This would be around the end of this four week window. You can always cancel if things "clear up".

i agree about going to see a doctor sooner rather than later about your throat.
the only time i lost my voice from my muscularskelatal problems was after the PT did light massage on the front of my neck. the muscles went into spasm and i lost my voice for several days. now that i'm on the muscle relaxant each night, these things happen less. your symptoms sound different, but could part of the problem be muscle spasms? just a thought.

as for the "nothing systemically wrong" comment. i know you're just quoting some doctor(s). i was getting a lot of that too both from doctors and from other people, to the point that i'd yoyo back and forth between, "i have arthritis", "i don't have arthritis". amazing the self doubts i had. but this NSAID experiment i'm on has removed all doubt from my mind, and is now proof for all future doctors. if you can just find some small shred of "evidence" besides the symptoms (and trust you me, the symptoms should be plenty, i know that) but something else that "they" can buy in to........
this is one of my wishes for you.

as for the TMJ, this is what helps me at the dentist. i take a muscle relaxant and a tylenol before i go. and the dentist knows i need as many breaks as possible and lets me move my jaw a lot. if i don't do these things, i pay for it. i'd say having that muscle relaxant in full effect just as i get to the dentist's office is the single most important thing i do for the dentist.

karen, you need a break. i hope you get one soon.

sue

Good lord, Karen, those are two very unusual war wounds! (AS war, that is.) Very sorry to hear that your jaw is hurting. Years and years ok, when my AS was in it's toddler stage (definitely out of its infancy), I had a ton of problems with my jaw. I thought it was just plain old TMJ at the time, but I've since realized it was just the pain my jaw was experiencing as a result of the gradual fusing that was occurring. For at least the past 8-10 years, I've had no real jaw pain at all, except that I experience after things like this week's fun dental adventure. I absolutely remember that the jaw pain was among the most obnoxious, annoying regular pain I suffered back in the day, so I definitely sympathize with what you're feeling how; I hope it gets better, and soon.

As for the throat problem, all I can say is, "Oh great, we have a freaking joint in our larnyx too?" Learn something new every day (not always a good thing!).

Brad

I have TMJ. Since I was 7. Passed out broke my jaw. I have adjusted to it. Weird adjusting to pain. I developed Trigeminal Neuragia. It is in direct relation to the TMJ. Both should be checked out as soon as possible. You don't want to lose your jaw or your throat. Long term problems can be serious.

Hi Mary,
Yes, I've been debating whether to call the doctor sooner. My throat and voice are fine in the morning, but wear out as the day goes on. Yesterday I did very little talking, but was still sore by evening.

Karen

Yeah, I didn't know having a good time was so dangerous.

Maybe I should join a monastery and take a vow of silence.

Karen

Fa la la la la la la la la!