The Remedy Clinic specializes in providing treatment for temporomandibular disorders (TMD/TMJ) headaches while simultaneously targeting other contributing factors. Headaches originating from the TMJ can have various referral patterns, meaning the pain may be felt in areas other than the actual joint itself. Some common referral patterns from the TMJ include:
1. Temporal Region: TMJ-caused pain can be felt on one or both the sides of the head, around the temples, or behind the eyes and may be mistaken for tension type headaches, migraines or Trigeminal Autonomic Cephalgia (TAC) headaches.
2. Neck and Shoulders: TMJ-related headaches may radiate to the neck and shoulders, leading to tension-type pain in these muscular areas. Conversely, pain in the neck and shoulders may refer back to TMJ. For example, a Headache attributed to Whiplash may happen when the neck and shoulders are injured but maybe felt in the TMJ.
3. Back of the Head: Problems with the TMJ can refer to the back of the head and upper neck, sometimes resembling cervicogenic headaches.
4. Sinus symptoms: Midface migraines may manifest as sinus symptoms, with pain felt in the sinus region.
5. Ear Region: TMJ issues may refer discomfort or pain to the ears, often mimicking earaches.
6. Cheek and Jaw: TMJ-caused pain can be felt in the cheeks and along the jawline, sometimes resembling toothaches
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Within the trigeminocervical complex lies the Trigeminal Nucleus Caudalis, serving as a pain relay system for the head and neck. Similar to a two-way street, pain signals can interfere with each other, resulting in pain being referred to different areas. Patients with TMD may experience headaches, neckaches, facial pain, or tooth pain, which can be triggered or prolonged by this complex interaction.1,2 Understanding the causes of referred pain is crucial for effectively managing headaches caused by TMD.
Recognizing that TMJ-related headaches can manifest differently in each person and may present with a combination of referral patterns, it becomes important to undergo a thorough evaluation with a board-certified Orofacial Pain specialist like Andrea Elenbaas at the Remedy Clinic. This evaluation is essential to precisely diagnose the underlying source(s) of the headaches in order to effectively treat their causes and eliminate their symptoms.