TMJ and headache

[bosnianworrier]

I have TMJ. Can it be cured?

Also what symptoms can TMJ cause? I get headache that is mainlyon the back of my head and when I apply something cold to my jaw area the headache usually goes away.

But I have read that TMJ can cause dizziness, anxiety etc while contrary to that, some people claim it cannot.

Can someone with knowledge tell me the symptoms of TMJ and does it cause anxiety or vice versa?

Thank You

[scottma]

Temporomandibular disorder generally refers to masticatory muscle and/or TMJs pain in a narrow sense.In a broad sense, head, neck, shoulder, and orofacial pains may be associated with TMD.
Tmd is mainly a musculoskeletal pain.Musculoskeletal pain tends to be relieved by moist heat.On contrast, neurogenic pain tends to be relieved by cold application.
Dizziness may be associated with cns or ear dysfunction, as well as myofascial trigger point pathology of sternocleidomastoid muscle. Psychological diseases is generally regarded as maintaining factor of pain, instead of initiating factor.
Seeing an orofacial pain specialist, neurologist and/or tmd specialist is advised.

[bosnianworrier]

I have been to neurologists. No diagnosis.

Could you tell me what causes neurogenic pain in general. According to what I understand, my jaw and head pain could be from a tooth nerve is it is neurogenic.

But what causes neurogenic pains in people?

[scottma]

Neurogenic pain can be caused by a variety of conditions, namely, infection, trauma, metabolic, ischemia, entrapment or compression,autoimmune disease, substance abuse,etc. If your neurologist can not formulate a diagnosis, seeing an orofacial pain specialist isadvised.

[dana007]

Hey there,
I suffer from TMD. It is very complex and the symtoms are very different from person to person. Some people have very mild symptoms while others are quite severe.

I've been to TMD/myofacial pain specialists, Chiropractors, Massage therapy, many physiotherapists, and acupuncture to relieve my pain. I have a complex issue in which surgery may be the final result.

If you are getting headaches and you feel your jaw is the cause, i would first speak to your dentist about bite appliances. Dentists often can make simple mouth guards that are less expensive for more simple problems, as often clenching and grinding of the teeth causes headaches/TMJ pain (stats say 97% of sufferers). You may need a more complex mouth guard which can be made by a TMD specialist.

The pain usually comes from the position of the jaw, and the muscles being in a tight position changing how the jaw and mouth anatomy sits, causing discomfort and occludes blood vessels. Like the song says, the ___ bone is connected to the ____ bone... we're all connected and when one thing is tight, usually the next thing down the line is tight.

Go for a massage, it will do you good and take out any upper back/neck/shoulder tention you may have. Make sure the stress in your life is low and treat yourself as this helps with muscle tension as well. I find ice very helpful, and eating soft foods. PREVENTION IS KEY!

Dana