Question:
Does your neck ever hurt? Not the back bumpy part where the spine is, but on the side of your neck below your ears, and underneath your jaw? As if you had swollen glands from the flu? And the glands really are swollen and tender? Only it seems to come and go throughout the day? And the heat and humidity seems to make it worse?

And sometimes it seems to affect the whole back of your head, and sometimes your collar bone and shoulder are sore? And your ears ring like crazy? And you get this funny little sore throat that comes and goes? And sometimes it makes your whole lower jaw very tender, and even your cheeks? And your ears feel full and hurt. And it all comes and goes and moves around in intensity? And when you open your mouth, you hear your left jaw "click" and the right one "pop"?

And one minute you feel okay, then the next minute you feel all clammy like you've got the flu, but you actually have a sub-temp? And sometimes when you press on the side of your neck, it feels like the muscles in there are absolutely rock-hard, but an hour from now they feel okay....but then an hour later there are those swollen glands again....and an hour later anywhere you press on the back of the neck or base of the skull is sore well, you get my drift. I've been having this for about 10 days now....could this be fibro-related?

Answer:

Sounds like a little TMJ mixed in there. The dentist can usually tell. My wife is bothered with it. It can cause all sorts of jaw and neck problems. Pops and clicks included. Not sure about sores?

For me, allergies or sinus congestion seem to be a constant problem with my ears, glands and ringing. suphedrine seems to help if I stay ahead of it but often I notice all the symptoms when they are already bad and I'm behind the cure.

When my pain levels are up, I catch myself clinching my teeth especially in my sleep. At times its bothersome enough I stick my tongue in-between my teeth. When you start squishing your tongue your mind will be well aware to remind your teeth not to bite.

I can relate to the pains you describe in your post. I wish I could tell you what it is, but I can't. I have had this same pain for 3 years now. Doctors are clueless which leaves me clueless. The pain I have in my neck area is terribly excruciating. I can only describe it as bone on bone pain, if that makes since. My ears cause me deep, sharp pains almost daily. Nothing I have tried takes the ear pains away, but I do take Fioricet and darvocet-n for the pain in my neck/head shoulders area. These 2 meds together work good for numbing my neck pain. At times I think it dulls the ear pain to a point where I am ok with it.

On Monday I had my usual 3 month check up with my ruhmy and I told him I thought it was time to get another x-ray or CAT scan on my neck because the pain in my neck bothers me and hurts BIG TIME. He told me its part of the fibromyalgia and said my range of motion in my neck is good. He gave me a new pain med that I have not tried yet. Please if you and/or your doctor figure out what this pain is or how to fix it let me know. This pain is the worst and I can totally relate. When the pain gets out of control and lasts for days that turn into weeks I would do just about anything to get rid of the pain.

It sounds exactly like the flu/cold that my DH, DS and I have been going through for the past week and a half. It isn't FMS related. Sounds like you have TMJ problems with it as I do. I rub MSM lotion over the jaw bone and along where my glands are. It gets rid of the pain. I've been sucking on lozenges for the sore throat and using Vicks nasal spray to breathe at night.

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