Episode 20: The One with the Pain
So I haven't posted much of anything since school started because I've been so busy, but I thought this would warrant a post. Mostly because it's painfully amusing. More painful, less amusing. For me at least. Probably not for you.
On Friday night, I went with Lisa, Bryan and Jen to see Shrek. On the way back, I was talking to Jen and yawned very, very large. Something cracked, but I wasn't concerned since your jaw does that sometime. The following day, Lisa, Bryan and I went apartment hunting (Crossing Place and the Landings for the win). When we got back, I noticed my jaw was starting to hurt. A lot. By five, the muscle in my jaw was spasming like crazy. It felt like someone was jabbing a continuous stream of needles into the joint. So I took some ibuprofen, and bit of naproxen, and fell asleep. The next morning, I was like "w00t, I'm better!" Until around noon, when I couldn't close my mouth all the way. I could get about halfway there, and then it wouldn't work. I also couldn't open it. I called my mom and inquired after it, and she said I might have subluxated (partially dislocated) my jaw. Sweet. Apparently, this happens all the time, so I wasn't concerned that much, especially because I had a physical scheduled at the clinic the next day.
Fast forward to Monday. I'm at the clinic for my physical in excruciating pain. I said something to the nurse, who replied "Well, we only see people for what they're scheduled for. You'll probably have to make another appointment." I can understand that, but at the same time, I was ready to beat her into the wall and shout "My jaw is fucking broken, ho! Make it better!" But I refrained and waited for the doc. He did the physical, and then I asked him about my jaw. He didn't poke, prod or anything. Just said "It's probably a little bit of TMJ. Come back if it's still bothering you in a few days."
What. The. Hell. It had been bothering me for a few days already. I didn't want to wait. So I scheduled another appointment for later in the day and talked to another, far more intelligent doctor. She poked around my face, cringed, and said "Your jaw is partially dislocated due to an acute case of TMJ. Whether or not the pain goes away, you need to see an oral surgeon. Here's a prescription for Valium." So, now I'm hopped up on Valium (which makes me want to run around instead of sleep), and I still hurt a little. And my jaw locked up in art class this morning. All in all, life's pretty good.
On Friday night, I went with Lisa, Bryan and Jen to see Shrek. On the way back, I was talking to Jen and yawned very, very large. Something cracked, but I wasn't concerned since your jaw does that sometime. The following day, Lisa, Bryan and I went apartment hunting (Crossing Place and the Landings for the win). When we got back, I noticed my jaw was starting to hurt. A lot. By five, the muscle in my jaw was spasming like crazy. It felt like someone was jabbing a continuous stream of needles into the joint. So I took some ibuprofen, and bit of naproxen, and fell asleep. The next morning, I was like "w00t, I'm better!" Until around noon, when I couldn't close my mouth all the way. I could get about halfway there, and then it wouldn't work. I also couldn't open it. I called my mom and inquired after it, and she said I might have subluxated (partially dislocated) my jaw. Sweet. Apparently, this happens all the time, so I wasn't concerned that much, especially because I had a physical scheduled at the clinic the next day.
Fast forward to Monday. I'm at the clinic for my physical in excruciating pain. I said something to the nurse, who replied "Well, we only see people for what they're scheduled for. You'll probably have to make another appointment." I can understand that, but at the same time, I was ready to beat her into the wall and shout "My jaw is fucking broken, ho! Make it better!" But I refrained and waited for the doc. He did the physical, and then I asked him about my jaw. He didn't poke, prod or anything. Just said "It's probably a little bit of TMJ. Come back if it's still bothering you in a few days."
What. The. Hell. It had been bothering me for a few days already. I didn't want to wait. So I scheduled another appointment for later in the day and talked to another, far more intelligent doctor. She poked around my face, cringed, and said "Your jaw is partially dislocated due to an acute case of TMJ. Whether or not the pain goes away, you need to see an oral surgeon. Here's a prescription for Valium." So, now I'm hopped up on Valium (which makes me want to run around instead of sleep), and I still hurt a little. And my jaw locked up in art class this morning. All in all, life's pretty good.