Posted by Gene J on July 09, 1998 at 23:42:02:
In Reply to: Re: jaw cracking posted by Sue K on July 08, 1998 at 10:39:16:
I STRONGLY agree w/ Sue about this. I would like to add that I don't think this is related to clusters, but caused by clusters.
4 or 5 years ago, I had a lot of stress in my life, I reacted (in hindsight) by clenching my jaw. It started by the feeling that I needed to pop my jaw. Eventually it got harder to pop. After a few months, I felt like my jaw needed to pop, but it woudn't. I couldn't open my mouth wide enough to eat a hamburger. This was because the cartilage in the joint was worn down. To make a LONG story short this condition is called TMJ (temporo mandicular something) a specialist told me he could help, just pay him $5,000, & he would help me for a year (not including dental costs). He would have me wear a splint, take mri's ect. . I told him that I couldn't pay for his B.M.W.
After learning what it was, and what caused it, I mentally MADE myself start relaxing my jaw when I felt tensed, & I refused the irresistable urge to pop my jaw when I felt like it needed it. Gradually I was able to open my mouth wider, and I became well.
Today I still have to force myself to relax the jaw when stressed, and when I don't, I need a few days of healing.
I wrote all this to say this, DON'T pop the jaw, and when you are battling a monster, try to relax the jaw - transfer it to anything else except the jaw.
If you are wondering, this was a few years before my first cluster cycle, and I was REALLY stressed