coasting 

I went out at lunchtime for a little ride and it suddenly turned cold about half an hour into the ride. The oddest thing happened. My jaw became locked in the shut position and I couldn't drink. it felt really sore like lactic acid build up. Weird. my legs felt fine though.

anyone had this before?

AngryScientist 

how long did this condition take to go away?

i have similar jaw problems ( i had braces when i was a kid years ago, that really shrunk my jaw significantly) - consequently when i am really cold or straining with something (thus gritting my teeth together hard) it will make my jaw really lock-up. i have considered seeing a doctor to this effect, but its never been bad enough to force me to go...

keep us posted on if this happens again.

Busta Quad

Pinched nerve in the neck, perhaps.

coasting 

It stayed locked for the rest of the ride (another half hour) and about 15 mins after i stopped. I only had time for a quick one hour ride. It did happen to coincide with a sudden drop in temperature. I only went out because it was sunny and warm at the start. I was not straining, just spinning lightly. it was a fun ride not hard ride.



never had this before..maybe it is a fit issue with the neck. it is a new bike and i thought i had it about right before this happened. however, i don't have a sore neck

thirdin77

Became locked? My jaw joint- the TMJ, just in front of the ear- has become achy on cooler rides but it hasn't locked. But that usually has been when I haven't kept it warm with a balaclava, which you could try wearing.

I'm wondering if, due to the cold, you might have been clenching your jaw, though, similar to how one tightens one's muscles or bends at the lower back and folds one's arms (to try to retain core heat) when cold. Try to remember if you were clenching or look out for that next time.

spry

Typical reaction to the affliction "Lockjaw".
Have you stepped on a rusty nail or sat on a dirty toilet seat lately?

rousseau

I've realized lately that I clench my jaws, or at least my cheeks, for much of my rides. I have to consciously try to relax my facial muscles when I ride.

Why? Because I tend to feel soreness in my cheek muscles in the shower following rides in freezing temperatures. Not locking, though. Still, I wonder if your problem doesn't have to do with clenching your jaws or cheeks?

powpow

First off, I'm no doctor. That said, you should research TMJ issues:

https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/e...cle/001227.htm

There are two matching temporomandibular joints -- one on each side of your head, located just in front of your ears. The abbreviation "TMJ" literally refers to the joint but is often used to mean any disorders or symptoms of this region.

Many TMJ-related symptoms are caused by the effects of physical and emotional stress on the structures around the joint. These structures include:

* Cartilage disk at the joint
* Muscles of the jaw, face, and neck
* Nearby ligaments, blood vessels, and nerves
* Teeth

For example, daily stress can lead you to clench and grind your teeth, both during the day and at night while you sleep. Clenching means you tightly clamp your top and bottom teeth together, especially the back teeth. The stressful force of clenching causes pressure on the muscles, tissues, and other structures around your jaw.

Many people who clench also grind their teeth. Grinding is when you slide your teeth over each other, generally in a sideways, back-and-forth movement. This action may wear down your teeth and can be noisy enough at night to bother sleeping partners.

Poor posture can also be an important factor in TMJ. For example, holding the head forward while looking at a computer all day strains the muscles of the face and neck.

Other factors that might make TMJ symptoms worse are stress, poor diet, and lack of sleep.

All of these stresses can result in "trigger points" -- contracted muscles and pinched nerves in your jaw, head, and neck. Trigger points can refer pain to other areas, causing a headache, earache, or toothache.

Other possible causes of TMJ-related symptoms include arthritis, fractures, dislocations, and structural problems present since birth.

Symptoms Return to top

* Biting or chewing difficulty or discomfort
* Clicking sound while chewing or opening the mouth
* Dull, aching pain in the face
* Earache
* Grating sensation while chewing
* Headache
* Jaw pain or tenderness of the jaw
* Reduced ability to open or close the mouth

Garfield Cat

Some dentists deal with TMJ problems. They have different approaches to the problems connected with TMJ. Ask your general dentist about this.

Not all general dentists are part of study groups. Thus, some do not know the latest or cutting edge methods.

spry

Its been so cold here lately that when I ride my cheeks are clinched so tight you could not get a dime between them.

yusuke343

weird, this just happened to me, my face was unprotected and i get so cold to the point where I guess the cold was forcing my jaw muscles to constrict... ended up making weird sounds when i would breath...