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What Causes Pain In Lower Jaw Moving To Ears And Neck?
Question: yesterday I noticed a pain in my lower left jaw, back towards the ear, when I made certain twisting movements with my neck at certain angles.
Today I am noticing it more often and easier to produce, and also have noticed a pain in my left arm, starting from the thumb area and radiating outwards, and it feels like the two pains are connected in feeling, as if there is something happening with the nerves or veins... something connected.
I also have been noticing a strange taste in my mouth that has progressed since yesterday as well, kind of metallic or like you get when you have a cold.
Should I be concerned? What is going on?
Today I am noticing it more often and easier to produce, and also have noticed a pain in my left arm, starting from the thumb area and radiating outwards, and it feels like the two pains are connected in feeling, as if there is something happening with the nerves or veins... something connected.
I also have been noticing a strange taste in my mouth that has progressed since yesterday as well, kind of metallic or like you get when you have a cold.
Should I be concerned? What is going on?
Brief Answer:
As below:
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thank you for your query.
1. These are common referred pains due to cervical spine strain. Get your Cervical Spine X-rays and an Orthopedic opinion. An MRI of the Spine may be required.
2. The pain i the thumb corresponds to the C6 cervical nerve dermatome. You have not mentioned if the pain in the arm is on the inner (little finger side) or outer side (thumb side).
3. If the metallic taste in the mouth is on both the sides and if you feel like you have a cold, it may be a post nasal drip. Get an examination done from an ENT Specialist and a Dentist since there are may causes for metallic taste in the mouth including sinusitis, colds and throat infections, acid reflux, medication induced, dehydration, gum and dental problems and many more common. This may not be directly related to the Spine problem, unless it is on the left side only. The nerve supply of the tongue is mainly from Cranial Nerves.
I hope that I have answered your queries. If you have any further questions, I will be available to answer them.
Regards.
As below:
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thank you for your query.
1. These are common referred pains due to cervical spine strain. Get your Cervical Spine X-rays and an Orthopedic opinion. An MRI of the Spine may be required.
2. The pain i the thumb corresponds to the C6 cervical nerve dermatome. You have not mentioned if the pain in the arm is on the inner (little finger side) or outer side (thumb side).
3. If the metallic taste in the mouth is on both the sides and if you feel like you have a cold, it may be a post nasal drip. Get an examination done from an ENT Specialist and a Dentist since there are may causes for metallic taste in the mouth including sinusitis, colds and throat infections, acid reflux, medication induced, dehydration, gum and dental problems and many more common. This may not be directly related to the Spine problem, unless it is on the left side only. The nerve supply of the tongue is mainly from Cranial Nerves.
I hope that I have answered your queries. If you have any further questions, I will be available to answer them.
Regards.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
The pain on my thumb is on the upper, back part of the hand, opposite the palm.
I haven't had any trauma to my spine at all recently, in fact my back is quite strong due to me being fairly active and exercising frequently.
I have however had a fairly traumatic injury to my left arm where I dislocated and fractured my left elbow quite severely several years ago. I've noticed pain and unusual sensations in this arm ever since that incident.
I noticed an odd pain while carrying a bag yesterday morning with my left arm - I am wondering if I could have disrupted the nerves somehow while carrying the bag. This seems like the most likely cause to me.
I am wondering how to heal this, how to prevent this in the future, and what exactly could be the issue in my arm/left side that is prone to injury.
I haven't had any trauma to my spine at all recently, in fact my back is quite strong due to me being fairly active and exercising frequently.
I have however had a fairly traumatic injury to my left arm where I dislocated and fractured my left elbow quite severely several years ago. I've noticed pain and unusual sensations in this arm ever since that incident.
I noticed an odd pain while carrying a bag yesterday morning with my left arm - I am wondering if I could have disrupted the nerves somehow while carrying the bag. This seems like the most likely cause to me.
I am wondering how to heal this, how to prevent this in the future, and what exactly could be the issue in my arm/left side that is prone to injury.
Brief Answer:
As below:
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thank you for writing back.
1. The area on the back of the thumb corresponds to the C6 dermatome.
2. With the history of trauma to the elbow, it is likely that that area us the site of the nerve compression or damage.
3. Yes, lifting a bag may have caused the strain, however such strain is unlikely to be severe.
4. It may not be possible to undo a severe trauma. It may still hurt when temperature change, when lifting a bag for long periods of time and cause discomfort at times.
5. Get an Orthopedic opinion and use an elbow support. Short wave diathermy may help. Multi-vitamins may help soothe the nerves. Nerve entrapment and the cervical spine should be checked.
I hope that I have answered your queries. If you have any further questions, I will be available to answer them.
Regards.
As below:
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thank you for writing back.
1. The area on the back of the thumb corresponds to the C6 dermatome.
2. With the history of trauma to the elbow, it is likely that that area us the site of the nerve compression or damage.
3. Yes, lifting a bag may have caused the strain, however such strain is unlikely to be severe.
4. It may not be possible to undo a severe trauma. It may still hurt when temperature change, when lifting a bag for long periods of time and cause discomfort at times.
5. Get an Orthopedic opinion and use an elbow support. Short wave diathermy may help. Multi-vitamins may help soothe the nerves. Nerve entrapment and the cervical spine should be checked.
I hope that I have answered your queries. If you have any further questions, I will be available to answer them.
Regards.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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