Headaches
Many people experience headaches, but never think of it as anything more than just a headache. While this may be the case for some, it isn’t always so “cut and dry.” Millions of people suffer from headaches that are caused from temporomandibular joint disorders (TMD)—making them the least understood and most misdiagnosed. Symptoms of a TMJ headache can closely mimic those of sinus headaches, tension headaches, migraines and sometimes the cluster headache.
Typically, tension headaches are the most common form of headaches due to the constant tension held in the muscles in your face, head and neck. Tension can build in your jaw muscles from TMJ problems that lead to such powerful headaches that they are often misdiagnosed as migraines.
The pain may change when eating, yawning or swallowing, and originates from the jaw and radiates to the temple area. Pain can often be described as feeling like a tight rubber band around the forehead and can be triggered by:
- Dental problems
- Trauma
- Hormonal changes
- Fatigue
- Clenching and grinding
- Poor posture
- Extreme physical exertion
- Certain foods such as chocolate, cheese and MSG
- Allergies
- Medication and substance overuse
- Changes in the weather
The first step in finding relief from your pain is to figure out the cause of your headache, as treatments will vary. If your headache really is “just another headache,” then at-home self-care can help. However, if your headache is due to TMJ complications, a trip to our office will be needed.
By visiting Dr. Amanda Juarez, you can find the cause of your pain and headaches. Dr. Juarez will work with you in properly diagnosing your facial, jaw and neck pain. If you do suffer from TMD, then an individual treatment plan will be created to best meet your specific needs so that you can find relief from your pain.