Just wanted to say I experience this as well (actually, right now >). It's a really sharp pain that comes on slowly, but at its height it really hurts. Also, I've noticed increased saliva production, and it only happens when I drink alcohol (which is almost never). I do have some TMJ issues; sometimes my jaw clicks and gets tired if I'm talking a lot, but it's not severe and almost never hurts (sans alcohol). One problem with most TMJ patients is that they are restricted in the amount they can open their jaws, but in my case my jaw actually dislocates slightly when I open it fully. Anyway, it wouldn't surprise me if the two conditions are related. Also, I have no known allergies.
It would be nice to put a name to the problem...and maybe even find some helpful suggestions to avoid it (aside from not drinking alcohol- I'd rather not resort to illicit drugs to cope with my life ;-))
It would be nice to put a name to the problem...and maybe even find some helpful suggestions to avoid it (aside from not drinking alcohol- I'd rather not resort to illicit drugs to cope with my life ;-))
It is so ironic reading all of these. I drank half a beer before eating dinner and I am having the most annoying pain right behind my jaw. Like someone else mentioned... is why I am researching this. Iv had it for many years as well. Im 21 now. If I don't move my jaw the pain is minimal but if I try to drink anything or even talk it starts to hurt. There has got to be an explaination for this! It really hurts. :-(
Yet another person with the exact same problem without a diagnosis or solution.
I will say this ... for me, there are only certain combos which set it on ... I have not researched it enough ... but pasta/heavy carbs and wine or beer are deadly.
The pain is MUCH worse when trying to open my mouth ... keeping it closed keeps pain at bay. I have found the clenching my jaw hurries the pain away ... and I overcome the symptoms faster (I wonder if that is psychosomatic?).
In any case, if there are so many of us with this affliction, there MUST be a medical answer to this.
I will say this ... for me, there are only certain combos which set it on ... I have not researched it enough ... but pasta/heavy carbs and wine or beer are deadly.
The pain is MUCH worse when trying to open my mouth ... keeping it closed keeps pain at bay. I have found the clenching my jaw hurries the pain away ... and I overcome the symptoms faster (I wonder if that is psychosomatic?).
In any case, if there are so many of us with this affliction, there MUST be a medical answer to this.
Usually happens after a beer, but not everytime. Just had a salad with sour veggies like onions and italian dressing and the pain suddenly occurred and hurts right now. It is a shooting pain at the jaw hinge but shoots up to the top of my head like a cold shiver up your spine. strange
Wow,....someone out there has to help all of us out. Last night a wonderful evening out with friends was ruined by this.....
Mine only occurs if alcohol is involved...but not all the time. There is no way of telling when it's coming. It is unbelieveably painful.
I sure hope some one has an answer some time for us./
Mine only occurs if alcohol is involved...but not all the time. There is no way of telling when it's coming. It is unbelieveably painful.
I sure hope some one has an answer some time for us./
Could be that you have a slight allergy to alcohol. Thus causing some swelling. The swelling in the tube in front of your ear puts pressure on a nerve by the jaw joint causing pain. If you have a little TMJ, you know where your jaw clicks, then the alcohol allergy on top of that, that would cause a lot of swelling a pressure on those sensitive nerves by your jaw.
Just taking a guess. Wow, lots of people out there can relate to you!
Just taking a guess. Wow, lots of people out there can relate to you!
wow - I've had this problem for so long now - probably about 20 years. At the start I wasn't old enough to drink, but I did notice it sometimes with certain food/drink combinations - never was able to figure out a real pattern. Definitely noticed it with alcohol in later years.
I never would have thought I'd find all these people with the same symptoms that are so specific, you know - everyone here is saying just about the same thing.
Ok, here's one I wonder if anyone else has experienced. Sometimes when the pain is really bad it makes one of my eyes close by itself - it feels like the nerve that's going haywire is all connected and makes my eye shut. I haven't seen that mentioned in this thread, so I could be alone on at least that part of it...
I never would have thought I'd find all these people with the same symptoms that are so specific, you know - everyone here is saying just about the same thing.
Ok, here's one I wonder if anyone else has experienced. Sometimes when the pain is really bad it makes one of my eyes close by itself - it feels like the nerve that's going haywire is all connected and makes my eye shut. I haven't seen that mentioned in this thread, so I could be alone on at least that part of it...
Jeeez.. this is something I have THOUGHT about but never really vocalized. I didn't realize it was so difficult to diagnose until I tried to find out some info today.
For me it's a lot like heartburn of the jaw. I can get it with alcohol, although sometimes if I pop something into my mouth suddenly, a snack of some sort, it can immediately put that area into some kind of spasm...like a tightening in that area. Usually, it goes as quickly as it comes, but once in awhile it will linger, which is very uncomfortable. No amount of flexing my jaw or massaging the area seems to have any impact...I have to just wait it out.
I do think it is related to saliva production now that I have read this thread. I hope the previous poster who is becoming an oral surgeon will follow up with some information.
In the meantime I have Googled the phrase, (in quotes) "salivary gland pain" and I'm working through 319,000 hits, with some interesting results.
good luck!
For me it's a lot like heartburn of the jaw. I can get it with alcohol, although sometimes if I pop something into my mouth suddenly, a snack of some sort, it can immediately put that area into some kind of spasm...like a tightening in that area. Usually, it goes as quickly as it comes, but once in awhile it will linger, which is very uncomfortable. No amount of flexing my jaw or massaging the area seems to have any impact...I have to just wait it out.
I do think it is related to saliva production now that I have read this thread. I hope the previous poster who is becoming an oral surgeon will follow up with some information.
In the meantime I have Googled the phrase, (in quotes) "salivary gland pain" and I'm working through 319,000 hits, with some interesting results.
good luck!
I actually have issues that are even more compounded. Winecoolers and some wines (Sangria) and any mixed drinks with Pepsi cause me to have pain going down my neck, in my jaw and into my shoulderblades to the point where sometimes it is unbearable. I would love to get an answer for this, but no one has ever heard of it.
My ten year old son just had this problem for the first time. We were at a Chinese food place. The shrimp, the sweet and sour sauce, the fried rice? We can't figure it out. He's had all these foods before. So strange.
He described his pain just like all of you. Only he also said that it felt like someone had his jaw in a vice. His eyes were watering and his throat hurt.
I was wondering if we were going to ditch the place and run to emergency. However, It went away quickly. Poor little guy.
He described his pain just like all of you. Only he also said that it felt like someone had his jaw in a vice. His eyes were watering and his throat hurt.
I was wondering if we were going to ditch the place and run to emergency. However, It went away quickly. Poor little guy.
Have had this since I was little but I remember it mostly with sour things like lemons or tart foods. Mentioned it to my mother who is a nurse when it happened and she acted like it was normal. Never gave it a second thought until tonight while drinking a hard cider drink that I got pains and mentioned it casually to my husband saying "you know how when you drink/eat certain things you get pains down the sides of your throat or below the ears"...he was baffled of course b/c he doesn't experience this. So I looked it up and here is all these posts. Nice to know I am not totally alone. Trying to mention it to my mother again soon to see what she can find out. Hopefully we start to get answers b/c it is pretty uncomfortable.
My pain usually subsides to very faint and I can continue to eat or drink whatever it was that triggered it (as I am still drinking the hard cider as I write) but it takes a while for the pain to "cool down".
Found these lumps in neck in about December as well and talked to my doctor about them without mentioning this pain b/c to me they were unrelated. But I saw something on here about calcium deposits and thats what the doctor suggested these lumps may be. Doctor also said the lumps are not "big" enough for them to biopsy or further investigate either.
I have allergies, sinus problems and my lympnodes are usually swollen so maybe it also could have to do with people w/ allergies. Just putting my experience out there.....
My pain usually subsides to very faint and I can continue to eat or drink whatever it was that triggered it (as I am still drinking the hard cider as I write) but it takes a while for the pain to "cool down".
Found these lumps in neck in about December as well and talked to my doctor about them without mentioning this pain b/c to me they were unrelated. But I saw something on here about calcium deposits and thats what the doctor suggested these lumps may be. Doctor also said the lumps are not "big" enough for them to biopsy or further investigate either.
I have allergies, sinus problems and my lympnodes are usually swollen so maybe it also could have to do with people w/ allergies. Just putting my experience out there.....
Wow....yes, I have this problem as well. I have asked almost everyone I know about it, seeing if they have the same problem, and everyone of those people over the years just look at me funny and have no idea what I am talking about. It was great to find this thread today, but I really would like to know what it is. I have experienced it most of my drinking life. It happens with red wine with or without food. It also happens with other alcohol (vodka, beer, etc) only when I have a meal with it. It hurts like crazy for about 20-30 minutes if I move my jaw, or ESPECIALLY if I bite down on my tongue slightly....OUCH! If I leave my jaw still, the pain is tolerable.
What else is notable to me is that if I have several drinks in a row, the pain does go away on its own. It may be because at that point I shouldn't be feeling any pain, lol, but I really think it is a significant point to mention regardless.
Anyway, if anyone discovers what is going on, please share! Thanks
What else is notable to me is that if I have several drinks in a row, the pain does go away on its own. It may be because at that point I shouldn't be feeling any pain, lol, but I really think it is a significant point to mention regardless.
Anyway, if anyone discovers what is going on, please share! Thanks
I thought that I was one of a few of people who get this.
I believe it actually has to do with a change in pressure because I have experienced the same sensation while climbing mountains in northern Georgia. It is a shooting.
I don't drink alcohol often at all, and it depends on the type of alcohol. I believe, rather than a reaction to the alcohol it is a chemical in the alcohol. I have had it with one red wine once and one beer the other day, but every other time I have had a drink, nothing. I was thinking about the way that certain things are treated - Guinness, different from Corona, different from red wine, from white. I think it has to do with a chemical in the food product that creates a havoc on the pressure in the ear and throat - I feel it in my lower ear canal, by my throat. 5 minutes is all it takes to get the horrible reaction.
If something is fermented or a reduction, I would stay away from it, that is why Oriental food is a problem, I think, because of the reduced sauce and chemical breakdown due to mono-sodium glutamate, a preservative used for flash-drying foods (also found in cured meats).
A thing to remember is that less than 15% of people who have food allergies are actually allergic to the food itself - it is almost always how the food is prepared. Aged products, fermented products, and things that have preservatives will usually be the materials to cause allergic problems because of the chemical alteration of the food itself (molds, bacterias, and preservative moderations). If it isn't done right, that may be why you have a reaction - I think I had a bad beer this last time.
I believe it actually has to do with a change in pressure because I have experienced the same sensation while climbing mountains in northern Georgia. It is a shooting.
I don't drink alcohol often at all, and it depends on the type of alcohol. I believe, rather than a reaction to the alcohol it is a chemical in the alcohol. I have had it with one red wine once and one beer the other day, but every other time I have had a drink, nothing. I was thinking about the way that certain things are treated - Guinness, different from Corona, different from red wine, from white. I think it has to do with a chemical in the food product that creates a havoc on the pressure in the ear and throat - I feel it in my lower ear canal, by my throat. 5 minutes is all it takes to get the horrible reaction.
If something is fermented or a reduction, I would stay away from it, that is why Oriental food is a problem, I think, because of the reduced sauce and chemical breakdown due to mono-sodium glutamate, a preservative used for flash-drying foods (also found in cured meats).
A thing to remember is that less than 15% of people who have food allergies are actually allergic to the food itself - it is almost always how the food is prepared. Aged products, fermented products, and things that have preservatives will usually be the materials to cause allergic problems because of the chemical alteration of the food itself (molds, bacterias, and preservative moderations). If it isn't done right, that may be why you have a reaction - I think I had a bad beer this last time.
Obviously, I am also suffering from sharp burning pains in my jaw after half a glass of chianti and a meatball sandwich.
I have no idea what it might be, but what helps for me that I notice is holding my jaws. I actually put my hands on both sides of my head and sqeaze. It's not comfy, but better than hot needles in my jaw. The only bad thing with this is that it really just delays the pain. The other way that I know to help the pain is to swallow my saliva which I normally wouldn't do when the pain is on, as it makes the pain worse, but the pain goes away almost instantly after that. I know that probably doesn't help because most of the time the pain is already unbearable enough without making it worse. I'm really intrigued by this. Any info is greatly appreciated.
I have no idea what it might be, but what helps for me that I notice is holding my jaws. I actually put my hands on both sides of my head and sqeaze. It's not comfy, but better than hot needles in my jaw. The only bad thing with this is that it really just delays the pain. The other way that I know to help the pain is to swallow my saliva which I normally wouldn't do when the pain is on, as it makes the pain worse, but the pain goes away almost instantly after that. I know that probably doesn't help because most of the time the pain is already unbearable enough without making it worse. I'm really intrigued by this. Any info is greatly appreciated.
Same problem as described above except with buffalo chicken sandwich and a beer. I have had this problem since I began drinking and I realized that I get it most severely with rum and coke (mabe the sugar/carbs?). I had a friend in highschool who reacted severely to alcohol and her father was a pharmacist, and she told me that taking allergy medication helped before consumption, though one should always be sure of side effects when mixing medication with alcohol of course.
A cursory search on the web shows that certain individuals experience swelling of the tissue around the salivatory gland when drinking alcohol which causes the otherwise normal function of excreting saliva into the mouth extremely painful. This is a symptom of alcohol intolerance, a conditions where alcohol consumption results in a more severe than usual reaction. Other websites go on to say that it is a form of alcohol intolerance that is often linked with asian/italian heritage.
One obvious suggestion, though no very helpfu,l is to limit alcoholic intake. Additionally taking a decongestant could stem the pain a bit if you know that you will be drinking soon (I am not a doctor so consult one, and be sure that there are no side effects).
It should also be noted that shooting pains in the face may be a sign of Trigeminal neuralgia, which is a neurologically based condition that could be the result of multiple sclerosis. Although these pains would not be limited to times of eating and drinking.
Websites: http://www.healthbanks.com/patientportal/Public/LinkPublic.do?ArticleID=HW5facpn
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/alcohol-allergy/AN00818
Hope this helps, tell me if there are further advancements.
amc45@pitt.edu
A cursory search on the web shows that certain individuals experience swelling of the tissue around the salivatory gland when drinking alcohol which causes the otherwise normal function of excreting saliva into the mouth extremely painful. This is a symptom of alcohol intolerance, a conditions where alcohol consumption results in a more severe than usual reaction. Other websites go on to say that it is a form of alcohol intolerance that is often linked with asian/italian heritage.
One obvious suggestion, though no very helpfu,l is to limit alcoholic intake. Additionally taking a decongestant could stem the pain a bit if you know that you will be drinking soon (I am not a doctor so consult one, and be sure that there are no side effects).
It should also be noted that shooting pains in the face may be a sign of Trigeminal neuralgia, which is a neurologically based condition that could be the result of multiple sclerosis. Although these pains would not be limited to times of eating and drinking.
Websites: http://www.healthbanks.com/patientportal/Public/LinkPublic.do?ArticleID=HW5facpn
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/alcohol-allergy/AN00818
Hope this helps, tell me if there are further advancements.
amc45@pitt.edu