Frequent Headaches? It Could Be From Your TMJ
Do you often struggle with headaches and can’t figure out why? Headaches can be a major “pain in the TMJ” for many! This blog highlights how TMJs can cause headaches and what to do to find relief. Suffering from frequent headaches? It could be from your TMJ!
What You Need to Know About TMJ
So what is TMJ? You may be surprised to hear that we all have a TMJ—two in fact! They are the jaw joints. TMJ stands for temporomandibular joint. This joint connects your head bone (temporo-) and your jaw bone (-mandibular). There is one TMJ on each side of the head. The joints rotate and slide to allow the jaw to move in different ways for tasks such as chewing, talking, and yawning.
TMJs are not always problematic. For many, the TMJs function without any issues. This can even be the case for those with clicking or popping sounds in their jaw joints—Noises and joint changes can occur in the TMJs without causing any pain or loss of function.
However, others do struggle with issues related to their TMJs. Temporomandibular disorder (TMD) is often the term used to specify pain and dysfunction related to how the TMJs work. Structural issues related to TMD tend to be sectioned into three groups:
- Jaw muscle disorders
- Joint dysfunction due to problems with the cushioning disc inside the joint
- Joint inflammation or damage, either with the presence of a type of arthritis or with no presence of arthritis.
TMD headaches (commonly called TMJ headaches) are headaches that are directly caused by one or more of these TMJ components. Headaches are one of the most common complaints for people with TMD.
Connection Between TMJ and Headaches
How can the TMJs cause headaches? The TMJs connect directly to the head, so they play a direct role in how the head and jaw feel and work together. As mentioned above, structural issues related to TMD are often associated with the jaw muscles and/or the joints themselves. The TMD pain someone experiences can be different depending on the type of TMJ issue:
- Pain related to the joint—Pain related to an issue in a TMJ (such as a disc issue, arthritis, etc.) is often pinpointed to the jaw joint itself, which is located just in front of the ear. Jaw joint pain rarely travels farther than the ear region.
- Pain related to the jaw muscles—Pain related to jaw muscle dysfunction can feel much different than joint pain. There are four primary groups of jaw muscles on each side of the head as well as many smaller, accessory jaw muscles. These muscles control every jaw movement. They are often irritated in people with TMD, especially since teeth grinding and clenching are common TMD issues that overwork the jaw muscles. When a muscle develops an active, irritated area of tension, this area can send pain signals to different areas of the body—This is called muscle referral pain. The larger jaw muscles, when irritated, commonly send pain signals across the side of the head, along the cheek, and above the eyebrow. These pain signals from the jaw muscles feel like dull, achy headaches!
How to Tell if It’s a TMJ Headache or Not
Based on the muscle pain referral patterns mentioned above, the location and description of headaches often act as a clue to if the TMJs are involved. Additionally, TMJ headaches are aggravated by tasks that involve the TMJs. This includes the following.
- Chewing and biting
- Talking and singing
- Yawning
- Keeping your jaw in a tensed position for a period of time (this includes clenching, grinding, and tapping your teeth)
However, it is often more complicated when it comes to recognizing TMJ headaches.
There are many other causes of headaches, and some people struggle with more than one type of headache. Two common types of headaches are migraines and tension-type headaches (often called stress headaches). A recent review from the Journal of Oral & Facial Pain and Headache describes the following:
- Pain associated with migraine and tension-type headaches can follow similar patterns to TMJ headaches.
- TMD (specifically related to joint disc issues and muscle dysfunction) is more prevalent in people with migraine or tension-type headaches than those with no headaches.
- Headaches are one of the most common comorbidities in people with TMD, and migraine medication has been found to reduce TMD-specific pain for people with migraines
- Other factors—such as stress, anxiety, sleep quality, and persistent pain—can poorly impact TMJ headaches, migraines, and tension-type headaches.
So which came first, the chicken or the egg? Does TMD cause migraine and tension-type headaches, or do these headaches eventually cause TMD? It is difficult to tell at this time, but we are confident there are connections between other types of headaches and TMD headaches. Therefore, it is important to assess the TMJs with anyone already diagnosed with migraines and/or tension-type headaches.
To add, the trigeminal nerve—the nerve responsible for sensation and movement of the face—has branches that impact the jaw. Issues with the TMJs and their muscles have the potential to irritate the trigeminal nerve, which can create headaches as well. These headaches tend to feel sudden, sharp, and stabbing. Additionally, if someone already has an issue with their trigeminal nerve, TMD can make this nerve pain even worse.
Getting Treatment for TMJ Headaches
Although headache treatment can seem complicated, often people begin to notice relief from TMJ headaches with simple lifestyle changes and jaw treatments. Seeing a physical therapist is one of the primary ways to treat TMJ headaches and related issues. Physical therapists will assess the jaw as well as other areas of concern, such as the neck, inside of the mouth, and posture. This will determine what areas need attention. Then, they will develop a personalized plan of care to improve jaw function; this may include posture exercises; relaxation techniques; and manual therapy to help joints and muscles move better.
Schedule an Appointment
Looking for “jaw-dropping” relief from your TMJ headaches? Call today to schedule your initial evaluation with one of our physical therapists who specializes in caring for TMJs!
Reference
Temporomandibular disorders in migraine and tension-type headache patients: a systematic review with meta-analysis. Journal of Oral & Facial Pain and Headache. Published online 2024. doi:https://doi.org/10.22514/jofph.2024.011
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