New research from the University of Sao Paulo’s Ribeirao Preto School of Medicine in Brazil has determined that chronic migraines are linked to temporomandibular Disorder (TMD) and the disorder could increase the frequency of migraines and the severity of the pain caused by migraines. The study concluded that patients who experienced chronic migraine attacks (attacks occurring more than 15 days per month) are three times more likely to report more severe symptoms of TMD than patients with episodic migraines.
In the past, researchers have looked into the connection between TMD and stress. This research is the first to measure the frequency of migraines when analyzing the connection with TMD. The scientists in Brazil studied 84 women all in their 30s, with 21 being chronic migraine patients, 31 experiencing episodic migraines, and 32 with no history of migraine. TMD symptoms were observed in 54 percent of the control participants while the number jumped to 80 percent for episodic migraine participants and 100 percent for chronic migraine participants.
The temporomandibular joint connects the jaw to the skull on both sides of the face, and up to 30 percent of the adult population are believed to experience some degree of pain related to TMD. Disorder of the temporomandibular joint include difficulty chewing, joint tension, clicking of the jaw, and severe pain along the jawbone and skull. Caring for TMD is simple and it could go away on its own, but in some cases, TMD will have to be treated by a professional.
If you think you’re feeling pain caused by TMD, you may be a candidate for Neuromuscular Disorder. Give us a call and schedule an appointment today. We will take the proper steps to determine if you are a candidate and discuss the options to relieve your joint pain.