If you’ve been experiencing pain in your jaw, face, or temples, it could be a sign of a temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder. TMJ disorders affect the muscles and joints that connect your lower jaw to your skull, and they can cause a variety of surprising symptoms beyond just jaw pain.
Lesser Known TMJ Symptoms
Headaches and Migraines
One unexpected symptom that can arise from TMJ disorders is headaches or migraines. The muscles and nerves in your face and jaw are all interconnected, so inflammation or compression in your TMJ can radiate to other areas and result in frequent or chronic headaches. This referred pain often centers around the temple region.
If you notice an uptick in headaches concurrent with jaw pain, TMJ dysfunction may be to blame. The pounding, throbbing pain of a migraine can be incapacitating and extremely unpleasant to endure. But you may not realize that getting your TMJ treated could finally provide relief from those agonizing migraines.
Neck Pain
The nerves and muscles spanning from your TMJ to your cervical spine can also cause neck pain when your TMJ is out of alignment. Poor posture from TMJ issues can even lead to pinched nerves or compressed discs in your neck.
Treating your TMJ with physical therapy, a mouth guard, or even dental orthodontics may finally relieve you from those inexplicable and annoying neck pains. Restoring balance to your TMJ can have whole-body benefits.
Ear Pressure or Ringing
The TMJ connects very closely to structures in your ear, so TMJ disorders can sometimes manifest as ear pain, pressure, ringing (tinnitus), or even hearing loss. If adjusting your jaw makes these ear symptoms better or worse, that’s a tell-tale sign your TMJ is involved.
Treating the root cause with TMJ therapy can often resolve the ear issues as well.
TMJ Can Affect Your Entire Life
Other signs your discomfort may stem from TMJ dysfunction include teeth grinding or clenching, arthritis in the jaw, stuck jaw, clicking noises when opening your mouth, and trouble chewing or restricted jaw movement. Chronic fatigue from poor sleep and emotional distress from pain can also develop over time.
Seek TMJ Treatment in New Orleans
If you think your own symptoms may stem from TMJ dysfunction, don’t hesitate to contact the office of Jeffrey James, MD, DDS, today at 504-619-8700 for an evaluation.
As a skilled, double board-certified surgeon and Peltier Endowed Chairman and Head of the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Department at Louisiana State University (LSU) Health Science Center, Dr. James is a true facial expert who helps patients find long-lasting relief from injuries and congenital conditions.
Custom-fit night guards, physical therapy, orthodontics, and more can restore proper TMJ function, relieve pain, restore function, and help you feel your best every day.