FACIAL PAIN / TMJ DISORDERS
Facial pain or temporomandibular joint (jaw joint) disorders are a common problem in today's society, affecting up to twenty percent of the general population. These disorders are commonly divided into four main categories:
Muscular Disorders
The muscles in your face and jaw are very susceptible to stress and overuse (often due to clenching and grinding the teeth) which can lead to muscle spasm and ongoing facial pain. When these muscles become tight they may limit how wide you can open your mouth, cause pain when you eat and may refer pain to your head, neck, ears and teeth.
Disc or Cartilage Disorders
There is a disc of cartilage which sits inside your jaw joints, which if displaced may cause both pain and/or clicking and/or locking of the jaw. If your jaw becomes locked you may find it difficult to open your mouth wide (closed lock) or close your mouth (open lock). Most people with a locked jaw require some form of treatment even if the lock resolves spontaneously, to relieve associated muscle spasm.
Inflammatory Disorders
Inflammation, degeneration or arthritis of your jaw joints can also cause pain and restriction of movement. A "creaking" or "graunching" sensation (like moving a rusty door hinge), may be an indication that you have this kind of disorder.
Atypical Facial Pain Disorders
Sometimes pain in the face and jaw is referred from other structures in your body such as irritated nerves in your face or neck, neck or scalp muscles, or joint stiffness in the neck.
HEADACHE AND MIGRAINE
Up to 75% of the population suffers from headaches and migraines which can be a debilitating problem. Up to 90% of headaches and migraines have been shown to be caused by the cervical spine or neck. This may be caused by trauma, degeneration, stiffness or excessive movement at the joints in your neck. There are also several muscles within your neck and shoulder region which have been found to refer pain into your head, causing anything from a tension headache to a migraine with nausea and visual disturbance.
Cervical headaches or migraines can be one sided or on both sides of the head and may vary in intensity and duration. Some patients report a feeling of a "tight band around the head" or "occasional shooting or stabbing pains in the head or behind the eye" or a "throbbing head". Other common sign and symptoms are neck pain, neck stiffness, nausea, lightheadedness, inability to concentrate and visual disturbances. Many people do not feel any pain in the neck even though this is where their headache or migraine is coming from.
NECK AND SHOULDER PAIN
Neck and shoulder problems are becoming more and more prevalent in today's mostly sedentary society. A large number of neck and shoulder problems come on for no particular reason and can be attributed to poor postures over a sustained period of time. This often results in forward head posture, where the head and chin are forward of the rest of the body, causing the muscle of the head and neck to hold the head up posturally (which they are not designed to do) rather than moving the head (which is what they are meant to do).
Your neck and shoulder complex is very h3ly influenced by the limbic or emotional system. This is why your neck and shoulder area often becomes tight and sore when you are stressed or upset. Muscular tightness in your neck and shoulder area whether it is caused by poor posture or stress may place undue tension on the joints in your neck leading to reduced range of movement and pain.
WHAT SHOULD YOU DO IF YOU HAVE ONE OF THESE DISORDERS?
If you are suffering from any of these symptoms or disorders, a thorough assessment by one of our physiotherapists will be able to determine what the best treatment options may be for you. So make an appointment to see us today!