Ouch, why?
 

This is off topic, but you all are smart, so I am asking. Why would my jaw start hurting out of the blue? My joint and under ear hurts to open my jaw wide. I googled it, and I know heart attack can be a cause, but what else? Not that heart attack is not scary enough, lol.

Been hurting for two days.

Tempormandibular Joint disorders--
 

--known colloquially as TMJ, can strike very acutely, and can certainly make people think they have other disorders, as the pain may radiate far from the joint and jaw:

http://www.webmd.com/oral-health/gui...ular-disorders

http://www.emedicinehealth.com/tempo...article_em.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temporo...joint_disorder

Have you been using Q-tips in your ear to clean it?

There is a nerve in the ear canal that when touched can lead
to significant pain.
Try an Ice pack on the area, and sometimes this will calm down.

Sometimes referred pain to that area happens when the Eustachian tube is blocked. Can you inflate it gently by pinching your nose and blowing gently? You should hear a pop if it is opening up.

Under the ear is also a Salivary gland. If it develops a stone in it, there will be pain. Usually there is swelling for that.
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/s...disorders.html

Finally arthritis of the jaw can happen.

So there are many options to consider.

Hi Stacey

About 4yrs ago I had a similar thing happen. I've always had a bit of a click jaw, so I figured I'd done some massive click and bruised it or something. I've often felt a large click which is followed by a loud twang sound in my ear.

For about a week or two it bothered me quite a bit, often times hurting to open my mouth wide. As mysteriously as it came, it vanished perhaps after about a month.

I think,in my case anyway, Mrs D is onto something re: the ear canal nerve.

The other idea that comes to mind is a tooth problem? Many years ago I went to a specialist complaining of jaw pain as you describe. X-rays revealed it was my wisdom teeth rotting. So tooth canal pain can feel like jaw pain too.

Yes! I do use Qtips. I no, I no, they say not to but I always have but recently my left ear has been itching like an allergy and I used Qtip to put some allergy lotion in there too, plus it felt so good for the itch.

Maybe that it is.

I remember this happened years and years ago and scared me and as Debbie said one day it was just gone.

I am also having ringing in that ear bad right now, but I get that and contribute it to my thyroid, it comes and goes but lately it has been bad in that ear.

Thanks for the help guys, I knew you would have some answers. :)

Oh man its worse this morning. I just tried to eat and can barely open my mouth wide enough to eat or chew.

Hope it goes away soon. Guess I will try advil.:(

You can develop an otitis externa-- infection--- in the ear canal.

If your pain increases, or it feels hot to the touch, you need to see
a doctor for antibiotic drops.

Putting in Q-tips, removes protective secretions in the canal, and then staph may take over. Some people also may get a chronic fungus infection in the ear. Both of these options need a doctor's assistance.

No pain or heat or anything in my ear. Just pain in the joint below the ear and on jaw.

Hopefully it will go away in a few days without getting worse.

thanks!!

You prolly know that NSAIDs can cause/exacerbate tinnitus—just a reminder.

Doc

No, I did not no that. I don't take advil unless I am desperate because it use to make my acid reflux act up. I rarely take it now though I use to take it all the time when I was younger.

I think this is one of those times. :(