Headaches and TMJ

[dave42a]

I have had chronic headaches for about 8 yrs following a car accident and have received all the conventional type treatments for migraine (triptans, narcotics, seizure meds, etc) and I have also seen an unconventional chiropractor who practices a form called nucca.  I still havent found significant relief and i did question my dentist about TMJ when I first started having the headaches and she didnt feel there was a correlation. However, i recently found a website run by a dentist who limits his practice to treating headache pain and states that he has advanced diagnostics, including xrays and a doppler in which he can accurately determine if TMJ is contributory to the pain or perhaps the main cause. However, i dont want to be taken and I know that the internet is full of people claiming that they have found the 'cure' for a particular ailment.  Are you aware if there is some legitimate data behind diagnosing TMJ dysfunction via xrays and doppler. My prior dentist really just palpated the area while I clenched my teeth. I dont know how that can be accurate of anything though?  

[Hamidreza Nassery , DMD, FICOI, FAGD, FICCMO]

It sounds like you have been through the normal medical venue after the accident and know that there is not amedial issue behind this.
As per your other statements; headaches are a frequent symptom of TMJ disorder and proper diagnostic work is important to establish the presence of the problem. While x-rays and Doppler are useful tools, the actual modality of treatment is more important. Don't take me wrong, we all take the x-rays, some of us instead of doppler use joint vibration analysis, or record the sounds made in the joint.. this helps us decide how extensive the damage is in the joint. It is not the treatment however.
Top3 dentiss.com is a good place to start. find someone in your community that performs Nueromuscular treatment, they can walk you through the steps and get you headache free soon.
Hope this helps.

[scottma]

Indeed, headache is one of common presentations of temporomandibular disorder. Thorough review of history is essential for establishing  a clinical working diagnosis. Sometimes, intracranial imaging study is required. Seeing an orofacial pain specialist or tmj specialist is advised.