Neuromuscular Headache Blog - I Hate Headaches

TMD/TMJ is an anacronym for temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder (TMD). One of the most common symptoms of TMD/TMJ is a headache. And while medical doctors can often times help relieve the symptoms of a TMD triggered headache, a neuromuscular dentist is specially trained in the diagnosis and treatment of TMD headaches and their root causes.

The TMJ (temporomandibular joint) is the joint where your jaw meets your skull and functions as a hinge upon which your jaw moves up and down and side to side.

TMD/TMJ disorders can affect any part of the neuromuscular system of the jaw and may result in several severely painful conditions, such as headache, Tinnitus (ringing of the ears), jaw, neck and shoulder pain, clicking in the jaw, dizziness, ear pain, sinus pain and pressure, and pain behind the eyes.

In diagnosing TMD/TMJ disorders, a neuromuscular dentist will examine the patient's face and jaw for pain and tenderness, listen to the joint for noises, check the patient's bite, and measure how far the jaw can open. The physician may also order x-rays, CT scans (used to view the bony detail of the joint), or MRIs (used to view the soft tissues of the joint, including the disc).

Finally, the treatment of TMD/TMJ disorders typically happens in two phases. Phase I Therapy focuses on eliminating muscle spasms, swelling, dislocation and pain, through the use of splints, exercise, medication, local anesthetic injections, physical therapy, acupuncture, chiropractics either individually or in combination. Phase II Therapy includes more permanent treatment options, such as orthodontia and/or surgery.

If you are looking for relief from TMD/TMJ pain and live in Alabama, Nebraska, California, Illinois, Texas, Utah or Northern Virginia, please contact us at I Hate Headaches to meet with one of our headache specialists, today.