Jaw claudication is generally discussed, not as an illness in and of itself, but as a symptom of an underlying problem such as giant cell arteritis (GCA) or temporal arteritis. Jaw claudication is the pain and discomfort experienced in the jaw usually after chewing."Claudication" is a term often used for aches and pains experienced in legs. In this instance however, it refers to feelings of fatigue, discomfort and pain in the jaw, usually after eating and sometimes also after speaking. Jaw claudication need not be a symptom of a more severe problem. However, experts recommend that those who experience jaw pain as described consult with their doctor as soon as possible. If jaw claudication is indeed a symptom of a condition such as giant cell arteritis, early diagnosis and treatment is important.
In jaw claudication, when people chew or move the jaw in wide movements, pain can spike along the jaw and face. One potential cause is nerve impingement, where a trapped facial nerve sends pain signals when the jaw is moved as a result of pressure on the nerve. Most commonly, the cause is giant cell arteritis, an inflammation of the blood vessels. When the vessels involved are supplying blood to the jaw, people can experience jaw pain because their muscles are not getting enough blood.
In a workup for this condition, patients will be asked about when they experience the pain, to collect more precise data about the circumstances when it is present. A physical examination will be conducted and the doctor may ask the patient to move the jaw and mimic chewing. Medical imaging studies can be used to look for structural problems with the jaw, and other medical tests may be considered as well, depending on the doctor's suspicions about the origins of the pain.
Experiencing jaw pain can be distressing, making it hard to eat and potentially contributing to weight loss as a result of suppressed appetite. The pain can also be associated with headaches and pain around the eyes, depending on the origins of the jaw claudication. Getting treatment may resolve the pain or provide patients with pain management tools. For this reason, patients should definitely not avoid or delay treatment.
Even if a patient is not bothered by jaw claudication, it can be an important diagnostic clue and should be discussed when visiting a doctor. The jaw pain may not be the reason the patient decided to see a doctor, but it could provide important information about what is going on inside the patient's body. Patients may also want to be aware that sometimes jaw claudication occurs as a rare variant on symptoms of other disorders; for example, headaches may be classic symptom of some neurological problems, but occasionally, jaw pain is experienced instead.
