Thank you for your question. Pain in the jaw joint that is worse during jaw movement is usually due to Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) Dysfunction.
We do not know what exactly causes TMJ dysfunction but they can arise from problems with the muscle, cartilage or bone of the jaw joint.
Some risk factors for the development of TMJ dysfunction include:
1. Trauma - An injury to the jaw e.g. from a punch to the face, sporting injuries or road traffic accidents can damage the jaw joint
2. Repetitive stress to the jaw joint - teeth grinding during sleep, frequent chewing etc
3. Arthritis - This is due to generation or inflammation of the joint
Common symptoms of TMJ dysfunction include:
1. Jaw pain
2. Clicking sound on jaw movement
3. Lock jaw
4. Stiff jaw
5. Pain in the temple area
Treatment of TMJ dysfunction:
Most of the time, TMJ dysfunction resolves with pain relievers with anti-inflammatory properties (NSAIDS - e.g. Arcoxia, Celebrex, Naproxen, Synflex etc) and reducing stress to the jaw joint (e.g taking soft diet, avoiding gum chewing etc).
However, in severe cases, an imaging (X-ray or scan) may be required to assess the jaw joint. Some patients may also need to see a dentist to get a night guard (occlusal splint) to reduce the stress of teeth grinding on the jaw joint during sleep.
Hope this helps, and all the best.
