How neck pain, jaw pain and migraines are related
Physical health professionals like chiropractors (like me), acupuncturists, massage therapists, and physical therapists work with patients who have neuromusculoskeletal conditions. We can usually help relieve the pain.
Many times, the patient will present a problem. However, it is not uncommon for a patient to come to our office with several coexisting pain conditions. I have seen multiple occasions where a patient has neck pain, jaw pain, and migraines. This article will discuss how these three conditions are related, how they can be successfully treated, and some recent research addressing this topic.
First let’s look at some anatomy of the human body. Neck pain commonly stems from misalignments of the bones in the upper spine, called the cervical vertebrae. If there is incorrect alignment and movement of these vertebrae, it can pinch and irritate the nerves and joints in the upper spine, leading to neck pain. This is called cervical dysfunction.
The jaw joint is called the temporomandibular joint. It is made up of two bones. The lower bone is the mandible. The top bone is the skull. Excessive stress on the powerful muscles that surround the temporomandibular joint can cause it to move incorrectly. With chronic abnormal movement, this joint can become painful. We call a painful temporomandibular disorder of the jaw joint (TMD).
Migraine headaches are excruciating headaches that usually only occur on one side of the head or the other. They are incredibly disabling for the patients who suffer from them.
A study in the research journal Acta Odontologica Scandinavica, June 2020, found that among a group of 314 adolescents with TMD, researchers noted that those with comorbid migraines were more likely to have abnormal cervical posture, trigger points in the trapezius muscles and neck pain.
When chiropractors work with patients who have misalignments, improper movement, and poor posture of the cervical neck, they can help alleviate neck pain. Since the jaw muscles will also relax concomitantly, relief from jaw pain may result.
Migraine headaches are also commonly related and associated with cervical dysfunction. There is much scientific research and practical experience among physical health professionals in providing migraine headache relief.
Chiropractors commonly use a technique called chiropractic adjustment to correct cervical dysfunction. A chiropractor will use their hands to gently and safely restore proper alignment and movement to the dysfunctional area of the cervical spine.
By performing the chiropractic adjustment, there can be simultaneous relief from associated neck and jaw pain and migraine headaches.
