painful muscle(tendon?) tension

[alphalanos]

This sometimes happens to me. If I yawn, the muscle or tendon in my lower jaw sometimes contracts very painfully. I have to press on it with my finger to get it to go away. This also happens with my hamstring occasionally, just during normal movement. I understand the hamstring could be due to lack of flexibility, but my jaw? That seems to be very unusual. It actually just happened to my jaw, and it is slowly fading.

[beef_bourito]

i know what you mean, for me it can happen in my hamstring, foot, quadricep, and it happened to my jaw once. i think it happens when you dont excercise a muscle for a while and then start using it, or you pinch a nerve or something. it happens in my muscles when i contract them all the way and push harder. it actually happened to my calf when i was doing hamstring curls while working out for rowing yesterday.

[nissan_240sx]

Used to get that on my foot. shit sucks.

[beef_bourito]

it could also be that you're defficient in certain minerals. sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium and zinc are important. pic youself up a good multivitamine with minerals if you dont already have one.

[Ralliart 3000gt]

You think thats bad, lately when I Yawn my back and top half of my chest craps for a second or two, I'm gonna get some of em Multi vitamins.

[sameintheend01]

when i was in hs we had a muscle doctor (don't remember what it's called) come in for our physiology class. i asked him what it was and he said it had to do something with the ligaments or the tendons and it wasn't a big deal. i get that shit in my foot sometimes. it sucks

[fredjacksonsan]

Beef_Bourito's right. Lack of potassium will cause cramps, and so will a slight amount of dehydration. So drink more water and eat some bananas and raisins.

For more info, check out this article: http://nhnh.essortment.com/potassiumfoodh_rkyn.htm

[eversio11]

Maybe you have what I have, TMJ. Check it out with your doctor or dentist.

[tenguzero]

Originally Posted by eversio11

Maybe you have what I have, TMJ. Check it out with your doctor or dentist.

TMJ is actually a rather common condition (particularly for males.) I don't ever really remember having it, although I probably did to some degree or another throughout my life. Over the past 4 or 5 months however, it's become more noticeable -- I assume as a result of an overhaul in my diet, increased exercise levels (recently got a gym membership) and most likely due to the fact that I've been supplementing my diet with regular consumption of protein shakes, amino acids (glutamine), B complex, and Creatine Ethyl Ester. Essentially I'm pumping a good deal more into my body in terms of nutrients that support joint and muscle maintenance and growth. It could also simply be changes in my physiological processes as I progress through my mid 20's. Hormones are weird things.

At any rate, TMJ is typically characterized by locking of the jaw, as well bouts of sensitivity in the teeth, ringing in the ears, and slight disorientation/dizziness. Other factors to consider are how you work the jaw (heavy gum chewing) if you have the habit of always holding up your head by leaning on your hand via your jaw area (ie. "The Thinker"), or if you grind/clench your teeth while you sleep. Unfortunately there really isn't much that can be done for it unless it's severe enough that it gets in the way of your everyday life.