Headaches & Jaw Pain
Headaches can be extremely debilitating. There are many different types of headaches including: tension headaches, migraines, cluster headaches, and stress induced headaches. Some headaches may result from tight muscles and it can be common to experience jaw pain alongside headaches.
Jaw pain may be caused by having a temporomandibular joint dysfunction also known as TMJ.
Signs and symptoms of TMJ or jaw pain include:
- pain in the jaw when opening and closing your mouth
- pain with chewing
- pain into your face
- popping or clicking in the jaw
- pain or jaw discomfort after having braces or dental work done
- grinding/ clenching teeth
- having an injury to the head, face or mouth (concussion included)
At Abbotsford Sports & Orthopaedic Physiotherapy our physiotherapists have been trained to help find the cause and relieve both headaches and TMJ.
Treatment options for headaches & TMJ:
- manual therapy & manipulation
- patient education – activities to help alleviate pain and those to avoid when experiencing jaw pain or headaches, how lifestyle habits can impact your headaches, headache triggers will also be discussed
- soft tissue release therapy -our therapists can release muscles inside of your mouth to help with TMJ pain (intra oral muscle release)
- craniosacral therapy
- exercise rehabilitation & home exercise programs – tongue and mouth exercises to alleviate TMJ pain
- Intramuscular Stimulation (neck, cervical, and facial/ TMJ muscles)
- cervical & lumbar traction
- shockwave therapy
- LASER therapy, ultrasound
- electrotherapy
- cryotherapy/ heat therapy
- instrument assisted soft tissue release
- kinesiology