Okemos, Lansing and East Lansing Michigan
Do you know what your temporomandibular joint does? This small, round, ball-shaped joint connects your jaw to your skull on either side of your head. If your temporomandibular joint begins to malfunction, for whatever reason, it can cause a wide array of problems – but especially cause pain that may be severe enough to be debilitating. If you are living with chronic pain in Okemos and have not identified the cause, then temporomandibular joint disorder (also known as TMJ disorder or TMD) may be the cause. Read on as we explore the relationship between TMJ disorder and chronic pain, today on the blog.
Why is pain a commonly reported symptom of TMJ disorder?
The trigeminal nerve transmits more sensory information to the brain than any neural pathway in the body—including even the spinal cord. This nerve also is located in close proximity to the temporomandibular joint itself. When dysfunction manifests in that joint, it quickly begins to impact the surrounding joints, musculature and nerves, including the trigeminal. It often does not take long in a case of TMJ disorder for the trigeminal nerve to become aggravated, compressed, or impacted. This irritation of the trigeminal nerve sends impulses of pain.
The trigeminal nerve also is involved in tension headaches, including migraines. Specifically, a migraine attack is triggered when sensory impulses are sent to this nerve. For this reason, many patients who suffer from headaches that have been diagnosed as migraines actually are combating headaches caused by undiagnosed TMJ disorder.
Are my headaches caused by TMJ disorder?
Do any of the following statements apply to you?
- You deal with frequent painful headaches.
- You have been diagnosed with migraines but struggled to find relief.
- Your headache or migraine remedies only manage the symptoms of the attacks when they occur, without doing anything to diminish the frequency of the headaches.
If you are experiencing any of the above, you should schedule a consultation with a neuromuscular dentist to be screened for TMJ disorder.
What other kinds of pain can be caused by TMJ disorder?
As mentioned earlier, the symptoms of TMJ disorder vary widely from person to person but pain is a common complaint. For example, patients suffering from TMJ disorder often experience pain in the jaws or jaw joints, or when they open and close their mouth.
Other types of pain from TMJ disorder may include:
- Facial pain
- Dental pain that seems to migrate to different locations in the mouth
- Neck pain
- Back pain
- Shoulder pain
- Ear pain
These represent just some of the possible symptoms of TMJ disorder, and indicate why a proper identification of this ailment is considered one of the greatest diagnostic challenges in medical science. This is why, if you have TMJ disorder or suspect you may have this ailment, you should seek the care of a neuromuscular dentist. Dr. Tenaglia has studied and trained in the principles of neuromuscular dentistry. She puts that expertise to use to identify if TMJ disorder is present and then provide relief. By treating your TMJ disorder and restoring proper function of your temporomandibular joint, this also resolves any issues you are experiencing as a consequence of the disorder, such as pain or frequent headaches.
Treating TMJ disorder in Okemos, Lansing and East Lansing, Michigan
You do not have to live with the chronic pain that TMJ disorder can cause. Schedule a consultation today at Tenaglia Smiles to be screened for TMJ disorder by Dr. Tenaglia. Just call (517) 347-6733 or complete our online appointment request form.