Juddering jaw

[Mymothersdaughter]

Hello everyone. Hope you’re all doing ok.
Does anyone have experience of this as a symptom of MND? My mum (who is receiving end of life care) has started doing it. It was only when she was in pain at first and now I’ve noticed it more and more. The best way I can describe it is akin to teeth chattering when you’re cold. She’s also started to make a noise which sounds like blowing raspberries but more pursing her lips together when doing it, rather than sticking her tongue out.

[Ellie]

My mum (who is receiving end of life care)

I hope I'm not being insensitive in asking is your mum actively receiving end of life care? By "actively", I mean has your mum a syringe driver delivering meds and being visited regularly by nurses?

Perhaps she is chilly, in pain, breathless or agitated - can you contact palliative care?

Sending you love and hugs. xx

[Nowheatpete]

Mymothersdaughter I started with chattering teeth over the last couple of weeks. It lasts for about 30 seconds then stops. It’s happened on about 3 occasions then the other day it happened several times in succession when the Community Nurses were in the house. They weren’t sure what was going on. However, the GP came to see me today and she wonders whether it may be related to the low-dose morphine patches I am having to assist my breathing. Mention it to whoever is co-ordinating her care in case they haven’t seen it happening.

[MMG]

My husband has bouts of this. I presume its akin to fasciculations?

[Michael Nicholas]

I have suffered sporadic jaw juddering, more frequently recently as the disease has increasingy affected facial muscles.
I suffer similar in my right leg.
The juddering is brief, and I think brought on following some physical stress. It's not been harmful but somewhat annoying. I place my hand under the chin to hold it steady and the juddering stops.

[Ellie]

The OP's question was concerning a person in a potential "end of life" situation, one in which a juddering jaw can happen for different reasons.

My husband has bouts of this. I presume its akin to fasciculations?

'Normal' jaw jerks happen for a variety of reasons, including clonus, spasming muscles, stress and cold, and tend to be more than twitches - many of us take chunks out of our lips and/or the inside of our cheeks because of it 😬

[Michael Nicholas]

A carer made light of my shaking jaw and leg by saying "Elvis is in the house".

[kesthomas]

I have bulbar onset mnd and these posts have answered my question. Didn’t know what the jaw juddering was I have to place back of hand under chin to stop it and have a very sore mouth where I keep biting inside of cheeks and lips. I now know it’s not just me.

[Ellie]

kesthomas A warm welcome to the forum and thanks for making your first post, I know it's not easy.

I now know it’s not just me.

Yep, you're not alone in taking chunks out of your own mouth 😏 and, now you've found us, you're not alone in living with your MND either.

This is the place to come for advice, support, to laugh, rant or to cry, because we know what you're going through.

Love Elliexx