TMJ Pain and facial pain
Head, Neck and TMJ pain Management
The treatment of chronic pain of the head and neck is a difficult diagnostic puzzle. In an acute injury, the pain is at the site of origin, in a chronic condition however, the brain and body have instigated a variety of compensatory mechanisms that may drastically alter the degree and location of symptoms. Diagnostic postural balance tests are used to prioritise treatment and identify the origin of the presenting symptoms, which may involve: muscle pain of the head, neck or back; dizziness or vertigo; migraine; pain in the arms, hands or shoulders; sleep deprivation; swallowing difficulty; and many other symptoms.
Chronic pain of the head and neck regions is often a symptom related to TMJ pain.
The TMJ, or temporomandibular joint, attaches the mandible (lower jaw) to the skull. Jaw movement is controlled by a complex balance of several muscles and ligaments. Many of these muscles also attach to the neck and shoulders and are important in stabilising the head (think of a 15lb bowling ball) on the cervical spine or neck. Acute whiplash-type injuries or chronic conditions such as a bad bite or aberrant breathing and swallowing habits all result in postural compensation of the head and neck, causing these stabilising muscles to be constantly activated.
Coincident with muscular protection systems is a neurological alarm called the autonomic nervous system (the ANS). The ANS protects the body by turning on or off all the involuntary services the body requires to maintain ‘homeostasis’ or balance. This includes blood pressure, blood sugar levels, breathing rate and muscle activity. When this system is constantly in alarm mode its ability to maintain homeostasis is compromised, leading to jaw pain, facial pain and other systemic medical conditions.
Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pain
The temporomandibular joint (also known as TMJ) is a complex joint that acts like a sliding hinge, connecting your jawbone to your skull. You have one joint o each side of your jaw. TMJ pain can cause pain in your jaw joint and in the muscles that control jaw movement.
Common Signs and Symptoms
TMJ dysfunction can cause a number of symptoms
- Discomfort or pain around the jaw joints (TMJs), ears and face
- Facial pain associated with jaw opening and other movements
- Jaw pain whilst biting or chewing your food
- Tension in the face
- Morning headaches in the temples
- Ear pain
- Ear ringing or tinnitus
- Ear fullness
- Locking of the jaw, making it difficult to open or close your mouth
- Headaches
- Jaw clicking, crunching, clunking nosies
- Neck of shoulder pain
- An uncomfortable of uneven bite
headache
A headache is the broad descriptive name given to pain in the head. There are many different types of headaches. Dr Ryan may be able to help diagnose and treat your specific headache disorder
Common Signs and Symptoms
- Dull aching pain or pressure in the head that can change throughout the day
- Jaw pain
- Nausea
- Visual disturbances
- Trouble concentrating
- Tender scalp and or face / facial pain
- Can be linked with TMJ and bruxism or may be more complex and multifactorial
Teeth clenching and grinding (bruxism)
Bruxism is the bait of forcible clenching and grinding of the teeth.
It is very common and occurs in up to 30% of the population. It can occur during the day (awake bruxism) or while sleeping (sleep bruxism).
Forces generated by functional tooth contact have no harmful effect on masticatory system but forces generated by bruxism which are directed laterally and are significantly greater, may affect one or more elements of masticatory system. individual adaptability, duration, frequency and intensity contribute to the resulting effect.
Common Signs and Symptoms
- Jaw stiffness in the morning
- TMJ pain
- Facial pain
- Headaches
- Tooth wear
- Tongue indentation
- Cheek ridging
- Crakced teeth
- Masseter muscle enlargement
- Grinding noises
- Alveolar bone loss
- TMJ dysfunction and pain
- Ear pain and fullness