There is a long list of factors that contributes to TMJ Pain. TMJ or the Temporomandibular joint is one of the stress points in the body. Every time you endlessly and mindlessly chew a piece of gum, ever notice you have a minor headache after throwing it away? You could be experiencing symptoms of TMJ syndrome from the over-use of your jaw joint.

Although there seems to be a couple of factors that are closely linked to TMJ pain and it is not repetitive jaw movement. For starters, TMJ Pain can be acquired if you have or have recently been diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome. This syndrome is a connective tissue disorder and is often hereditary in nature.

Magnesium Deficiency is also considered to cause TMJ pain since the lack of this mineral cause the muscles to tighten and thus results to defective connective tissues. Taking magnesium supplements may help alleviate the pain, but be careful you do not overdose on these, consult a doctor first.  Although there are other conditions like your usual migraines, monthly period and even vertigo can cause stressed-out joints. Other researches have also proved that TMJ pain can also be brought about Gout or a condition wherein high levels of uric acid permeates in the body. Thus the joints are attacked; making them inflamed and definitely painful.

Since TMJ Pain is centered alongside the facial area, there are other regions surrounding the area that can feel the tension. Usually, the neck, nape and shoulder blades get affected and the pain is felt there. This obviously misleads the person that he is not suffering from TMJ but from tensed muscles due to too much exercise, long hours of being hunched over a desk at work or even weight related stress like carrying a heavy tummy.

Most of the people who experience this kind of pain say that they often hear ringing in their ears. So more often than not, TMJ Pain can also be thought of as Vertigo. It is a little difficult to nail down the right kind of disorder when pain is around; especially if the pain manifests away from the real culprit.

Just remember that since TMJ is on the jaw, there are underlying inter connected nerves that travel as far as your lower back. One great example is why would your entire body hurt when you just have a tooth ache? The pain radiates. So the same reason goes for this joint disorder.

Among all kinds of headaches, head-splitting ones such as those caused by TMJ Disorders can be very difficult to deal with. People who suffer TMJ Headache-related symptoms can best attest to the famous line that says “if symptoms persist, consult your doctor.” Not a day will pass by these people would really want to hit their temples against any willing chair, table or wall... if only that would help. They say that it may not be that excruciating but the constant ring in their ears and throbbing drives them crazy. If that sounds crazy to you, then you really have to experience it to understand.

The pain that is felt throughout the head area like the temples, eyes, ears, and base of the skull is directly associated with TMJ. This pain’s journey starts from the jaws then seeks a final resting place either between the eyes or near each ear. Since it is considered as a form of tension headache, the pain gladly travels to the neck and down to the shoulders as well as back regions.

The TMJ Headache usually increases in pain levels and lasts up to 4 days to a couple of months. Imagine all the wasted hours of tossing and turning at night which results to dark under eye circles and unfinished work. No fast acting, heavy duty strength painkiller can tone it down to a much lower intensity.

On a sad note, the presence of this TMJ Headache often leads to or affects other health-related conditions. It leads to emotional stress and physical stress and it disrupts the normal menstrual cycle in women. When it rains, it pours with this disorder, and symptoms often come in pairs like headaches with sinus congestion, and jaw, neck, and shoulder pain with a splitting migraine.

To alleviate the immediate pain you could try applying a cold compress to the jaw joint for about ten minutes then shift to hot compress for the same duration. You have to repeat it hour every after hour. One hits the muscles, the other promotes blood to the joint. The cold compress relaxes the muscles while hot compress allows blood to surge through the bones. You could also try facial, neck, jaw and nape massages. Ultimately you will want to look into other treatments that your dentist recommends, often this involves simple adjustments to your lifestyle and your diet. TMJ Surgery should always be considered a last resort, and not to be explored until every other kind of treatment has been exhausted.