Lockjaw refers to the condition of having difficulty opening your mouth due to spasms in the muscles that you use for chewing (mastication).
If you develop this condition, your jaw may be "frozen" in a certain position, and you might not be able to open your mouth wide. Kristin Hayes, RN, is a registered nurse specializing in ear, nose, and throat disorders for both adults and children.
Fietzek UM, Kossmehl P, Barthels A, Ebersbach G, Zynda B, Wissel J. National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research. While the distance you open your mouth isn't enough to diagnose lockjaw, if you are experiencing lockjaw, you may only be able to open your mouth less than 35 mm (1.4 inches). Some medications can affect nerve function and may predispose or cause lockjaw. Read our
Infections in and around your mouth or jaw muscles, such as a Oral and injected muscle relaxants are typically helpful. It can occur suddenly, reaching its peak effect over the course of a few hours. The muscle spasm occurring with lockjaw is essentially the same thing, just in a different location and with a range of different possible causes and risk factors. Targeted injections, including botulinum toxin or anti-inflammatory steroids, can relax the muscle, relieving the spasm. Lockjaw (trismus) is when the jaw muscles spasm and affect jaw movement. lockjaw - an acute and serious infection of the central nervous system caused by bacterial infection of open wounds; spasms of the jaw and laryngeal muscles may occur during the late stages tetanus infection - the pathological state resulting from the invasion of the body by pathogenic microorganisms Tetanus occurs due to a life-threatening neurotoxin that is released by These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'lockjaw.' Your doctor may also detect stiffness and tightness of your jaw muscles, and your teeth may be clenched. If you have had Preventative strategies may include avoiding medications that trigger it, getting Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life.Dharmesh Kumar Raja AV, Jones T, Venkadasalapathi N, Srinivasan KG.
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This can sometime occur during thyroid surgery. Lockjaw affects the whole jaw and is usually equal on both sides.
If radiation therapy or surgery is the cause of your lockjaw, then physical therapy may be the most effective treatment approach. A muscle spasm is a condition in which a muscle remains in its active position and cannot relax. When you can't control your mouth, your speech may be difficult for others to understand and you can have trouble swallowing. If you have experienced lockjaw, you may be at risk for developing it again, so it is important to discuss prevention with your doctor. Within just a few hours, lockjaw is associated with: If you experience lockjaw for a longer than a few days, it can affect your overall health. (Never stop a medication without your doctor's OK.)
In rare instances, your nerve or muscle can become permanently damaged due to an infection, potentially predisposing to recurrent episodes of lockjaw. Normally, most people can open their mouth between 35 to 55 millimeters (mm) or 1.4 to 2.2 inches wide.
In some instances, a biopsy is needed so that your medical team can more closely examine a tumor. For example, infections may necessitate oral or intravenous (IV) antibiotics. Cancer and some cancer treatments (i.e., surgery or radiation) can cause injuries to the structures that control jaw movement. Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!Learn a new word every day. Medication side effects, cancer treatment, and Due to their anatomical arrangement, lockjaw is typically characterized by a jaw position that is partially open. Longstanding lockjaw after radiation therapy can be very challenging to reverse. Lockjaw definition is - an early symptom of tetanus characterized by spasm of the jaw muscles and inability to open the jaws; also : tetanus. In addition to medical management, you may need physical therapy and/or
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