Headaches and TMJ pain

TMJ pain

TMJ (temporomandibular joint) pain is a common issue that can cause discomfort in the jaw, face, and surrounding areas. The temporomandibular joint connects your jaw to your skull and allows you to talk, chew, and open your mouth. TMJ pain can result from various causes, including injury, arthritis, teeth grinding (bruxism), stress, or misalignment of the jaw.

Common Symptoms:

  • Jaw pain or tenderness

  • Clicking or popping sounds when opening/closing the mouth

  • Difficulty chewing

  • Locking of the jaw (inability to fully open or close the mouth)

  • Headaches or earaches

Migraine

Migraines are a neurological headache characterised by intense, often debilitating headaches. They are usually accompanied by a variety of symptoms that can significantly impact daily life.

Common symptoms:

  • Throbbing or pulsing headaches, often on one side of the head.

  • Photophobia (sensitivity to light).

  • An aura or visual disturbances.

  • Nausea or vomiting.

Cervicogenic headache

A cervicogenic headache is a type of headache that originates from the cervical spine (the neck region) and is often caused by underlying problems with the neck's structures, such as vertebrae, joints, or muscles. The pain is typically referred from the neck to the head, often mimicking other types of headaches like migraines or tension headaches.

Common symptoms:

  • Pain usually starts in the neck and radiates to the back of the head, temples, or behind the eyes, typically on one side of the head.

  • Neck stiffness & reduced range of motion in the neck.

  • Triggered by neck movement; Pain may worsen with specific neck positions or movements.

Concussion

Headaches are common after a concussion injury but may not be the only symptom. It’s common for concussion to go undiagnosed, or untreated, resulting in ongoing symptoms such as migraine or tension type headaches. We can help to properly diagnose concussion and manage recovery.

Concussion symptoms can include:

  • Physical symptoms.

  • Cognitive symptoms.

  • Emotional symptoms.

  • Sleep disturbance.

When to seek emergency care:

  • Severe or worsening headaches.

  • Loss of consciousness or seizures.

  • Repeated vomiting (more than once).

  • Difficulty speaking or walking, confusion or disorientation.