Question: I was struggling with pain in my neck, throat and jaw and wonder if this could be related ti problems with the tmj. I feel pain most of the day whenever I swallow or applying pressure with my tongue. The pain is mainly in my throat just above the XXXXXXX apple and next to the glands under my chin right next to the jaw bones. I don't know if it's related or different issues, but I have had clicking Jaws for many years and it's worst if I chew harder foods in only one side of my mouth. I can feel the jaw reposition when it's clicking, I've gotten a guard to have in my mouth at night too. I feel also some pain lately when wearing a headset which presses right on the tmj and the area around, it feels annoying and can leave me a little sore after. I also notice that I feel like I need a little more force to open my mouth when it's been closed for some time, it's not stuck but feels like it's slightly sore and quickly feels normal again. I also noticed that when I try to bite my lip or nail and align my top and bottom front teeth to chew (moves my bottom jaw forward) I get tired and sore in my jaw quickly, that was never a problem since one month ago when my neck and throat issues started too. I feel like my pain under the jaw is getting worse when I do this. This is a long and confusing post, but I hope you can understand my symptoms else please ask me to explain better :)

Hi doc, thanks for your answer.

I'll try to answer your questions:

1) Pain is more a nuisance, it's less painful than a sore throat but the pain mainly happens when I swallow frequently and it is coming while my adam's apple is 'moving' back down after swallowing, in other words in the end of the movement. This sensation is on going most of the day and is worse when I turn my head of using my jaw, it's reaching all the way behind my neck at the base of the skull too, but it's mainly in the front left of the neck I am irritated.There is also a lot of tightness in the area centrally in the muscles under my chin and this is felt when I tighten my neck, swallowing, pressing with my tongue and looking down.

2) It is not too hard to swallow, it's more a bit irritator, but I have had some feeling of something stuck there once in a while and some days my throat feels tighter and I feel like a vitamin pill can be in the throat after while the next day I feel nothing while swallowing the same vitamin pill for example.

3) I haven't taken anything for this, I think that ibuprofen has helped when it started 2-3 weeks ago. I took one or twice and think it had an effect, but I haven't tried since.

4) I feel like I can open my jaw more than I should, it feels unpleasant when I jawn or when I try to open it fully up, I can fit just exactly 4 fingers between top and bottom, but I feel like my jaw is too wide open and extends it's joints.

5) I don't really think I have a toothache.

Extra: Another thing I noticed over the last couple of days is that when I breath deep and extend my chest and neck with air, then around halfway I feel this tingling or almost tickling sensation. It's hard to describe but it feels weird up to my XXXXXXX apple. This symptom has come and gone over the last 2-3 days, but I wanted to mention it too.

Thank you again.