Chronic Head, Face, Or Neck Pain That Won't Go Away - Could it Be TMJ?

Chronic head, face, or neck pain that won't go away could indeed be TMJ. Although there are other causes of this type of pain, it may be associated with a TMJ disorder if the chronic pain exists along with a number of other symptoms associated with TMJ.

Other symptoms of TMJ include:

1. Facial pain that feels like extreme electrical or shock like attacks.

2. In contrast, you may also have facial pain in the jaw area and near the ear that is dull and throbbing in nature as well.

3. Facial pain that is associated with a burning sensation.

4. Facial pain that is located on one side of the face only, or is accompanied by swelling on one side of the face.

5. Facial pain in the jaw area that is present upon awakening; the cause of this pain is due to nighttime tooth grinding and jaw clenching, and may be related to TMJ.

6. Facial pain that does not respond to antibiotics; this is often one sign that the facial pain is not a result of infection, sinusitis, or other respiratory illness.

7. Tooth ache pains that are not associated with any cavity, infection, gum disease, or any diagnosis by a traditional dentist.

8. Facial pain, pain in the ears or below or in front of the ears for which a doctor has not been able to find a cause.

9. Facial muscles that feel stiff, tired, or painful after speaking a lot, upon awakening, during the day, or when yawning.

10. Head pain at the side of the temples.

11. Head pain accompanied by a blocked or stuffed sensation in the ears, or ringing ears.

12. Head or facial pain accompanied by a burning mouth sensation.

13. Neck problems associated with throat pain, difficult swallowing, or sore throat.

14. In some cases tongue pain may accompany face pain as well.

If you have any of the above symptoms along with chronic head, face, and/or neck pain, it is a good idea for you to consult with your doctor in order to find an effective treatment plan. Of course you will need to consult with a doctor before determining a specific diagnosis for your condition, but if it is a TMJ disorder there are many treatment options available to help you find relief from the pain.