by Jamey
(Kansas)
About 5 or 6 months ago I was hit in the left ear/jaw area by a patient at work. I was sent to the er and diagnosed with a ruptured ear drum. My head, ear, and jaw hurt, but I was told that in time the pain would go away. My jaw started popping every time I ate. It wouldn't pop if I just opened it, but if there was something between my teeth then I can hear a popping noise.
After I got hit I had many problems with getting my ears to drain and the eustation (sp?) tubes to work properly. I have always had problems with them, but it seemed to get worse. Then about a month later I developed a lump on the opposite side of my jaw. The doc told me it was not related to my trauma because my ear looked dull so my lymphoid was swollen because of the infection. Which seemed odd to me because that has never happened previously when I had ear infections.
To make a long story short, about a week ago I was eating a hot dog and I heard a very loud pop. Actually it was more like a crack. The pain was horrible and I couldn't open my jaw very far. I went to the dentist and she is referring me to an oral surgeon. Because I have pain when my joint area is touched and when she pushed on my upper jaw in my mouth she believes I have torn the ligament or cartilage. She prescribed lortab for me, but I can't get into the oral surgeon for a month. I am in a lot of pain and the drugs aren't re-leaving the pain very well.
What is the oral surgeon likely to do? Also, when I talked to Workers comp they told me most dentists and oral surgeons don't usually take workman's comp so it may take some time to find one that will. Is the delay in treatment going to make the problem worse?
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