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How does TMJ cause headaches, facial pain, etc…?
Misalignment
of the jaw and disorder in the joints causes the symptoms of TMD in
two ways:
- First, around the temporomandibular (TMJ) joint itself
are nerves and blood vessels that lead to other areas of the head and
neck.
When the TMJs and
jaw are misaligned,
it creates excessive pressure on these nerves and blood vessels and pain is
perceived as coming from where they eventually lead to (i.e.
head, neck, shoulder, etc…)
This is what confuses most of those that suffer because the problem isn’t
in the actual area of the pain. This is the same mechanism by which
a problem
in the joints of your spine can lead to numbness or pain in other
regions of the
body such as your hands or feet.
- Secondly, TMD can cause these symptoms by disrupting
the balance of the muscles associated with the jaw and skull.
The jaw has a precise optimal position for
creating balance and harmony in the muscles that attach to it. If this
balance is disrupted, as is the case in TMD, these muscles become
irritated and overly
active eventually leading to muscle fatigue and spasms. Muscles that
are excessively fatigued and spasming can be very painful and lead
to the
cascade of physiological
problems and symptoms discussed earlier.
Click Here to review other causes of TMJ/TMD.
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