Question: Hi, I was hit in the jaw on both sides about two and a half weeks ago. There was minimal skin discoloration, and I didn't feel much pain until about 2 hours later when I couldn't close my mouth all the way, or chew on my left side. After ten days of not being able to chew without pain I went to the ER where they did a CT scan I believe and stated there weren't any broken bones. A few days ago I started getting this sensation in my left ear where its tingly, and it feels almost like bubbling. The jaw pain isn't as bad, but it still persists, What could this be?

Also it looks like I left out, there was considerable amount of pain on the left side. And when I close my jaw tight, or clench my teeth I hear a clicking sound, and a slight pressure in my ear like something is pressing on what I believe to be my ear canal. If I hold my jaw clenched in this position the tingling sensation persists in my left ear, and subsides about a minute after opening my mouth, or releasing the clench on my jaw.

Ok, would an ENT be able to perform the MRI or would I be referred elsewhere? Also what kind of treatments would be available? Would it heal fully on its own?

Would it be easier to go to the ER to get the MRI? And would they be capable of seeing the problem at the hospital? I only ask because I don't have health insurance, and the extra time I would have to pay a hospital XXXXXXX would help. As opposed to money being due upfront for a Radiologist, and the specialist. Also aside from surgery what other treatment options are there? They offered me a steroid shot, but I refused because they said I would be stimulated for five days that the shot lasted, and my sleep schedule is already out of whack for work. Would NSAIDS help with the cartilage, or just the pain?