Suggest Remedy For Severe Pain In Jaw In A Person With High BP

Posted on Mon, 23 Nov 2015

Question: My husband is waiting to see a specialist at the end of the month to get a diagnosis but at this time they are thinking it may ALS. He started losing strength in right arm this past may and can't lift it on its own. But this past week he has had tremendous jaw pain ...this is the first he has experienced any pain at all..... Is this a progression of the ALS. No other health problems other than high BP. Can you give any suggestions to help until we get to the special clinic we are goin to at the end of the month. We went to the denist and had X-rays the pain is not related to any dental issue. Have not had an MRI yet. What else besides ASL could cause these symtoms .. Understandably we are quite scared.

Answered by Dr. Dr. Erion Spaho (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Moderate to severe jaw pain is not a typical symptom of ALS.

Detailed Answer:
Hello and thanks for using HCM.

I have read your question and understand your concerns.

Jaw pain is not a typical symptom of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, so other causes of it should be evaluated/excluded first.

Typical conditions associated with jaw pain are Temporomandibulary joint dysfunction, salivary glands conditions, dental problems, Trigeminal neuralgia.

First step in having a better understanding of the jaw pain possible cause is a medical examination, so you can discuss with your husband's primary care Doctor and to get your husband examinated.

About amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, it is true that first symptoms could be muscles weakness, but other symptoms also coexist such cramping, stiffness and muscle wasting.

Since only one arm affected, and no other symptoms of ALS such muscles stiffness, twitching, wasting, then the condition is clinically suspected and other conditions should be excluded.

Other conditions that may cause similar symptoms are cervical spinal cord lesions (tumors), transverse myelopathy, syringomyelia, plexopathy.

Tests such nerve conduction study and electromyography, MRI of brain and cervical spine, neurologic examination are needed to differentiate between possible diagnoses.

Hope you found the answer helpful.

Let me know if I can assist you further.

Greetings.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Erion Spaho (37 minutes later)

Thank you for getting back to me. I did google search some of the other possibilities but they all include pain symtoms which he hasn't had any except for most recently severe jaw pain. He does have nerve root compression. Can you think of other diseases that may present with no pain muscle wasting. I quess we're trying not to think the worst. Is there any good questions we should ask when we get to specialist in Virgina at the end of the month

Answered by Dr. Dr. Erion Spaho (16 hours later)

Brief Answer:
There are neurological indolent conditions too. Tests needed.

Detailed Answer:
Welcome back.

There are other conditions that pass through an indolent course such brain or cervical tumors, small strokes, etc.

I'm not saying that your husband has certainly those conditions, but, in my opinion those conditions should be included as differential diagnoses.

Tests such MRI of brain and cervical spine together with nerve conduction study and EMG are of paramount value in this case.

The questions should be focused on tests results.

Hope I helped you.

Take care.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj