There are more than 30 medical conditions that can cause joint and muscle pain in the jaw. One group of these conditions is called temporomandibular disorders (TMDs). This group includes three main classes, including disc disorders, muscle disorders, and headaches. While many TMDs will only last a short amount of time and then go away without further treatment, some cases become long lasting and are chronic conditions. Symptoms of TMDs include pain in the face or neck, stiffness of the jaw, limited movement of the jaw, as well as clicking or popping that is painful. There are both nonsurgical and surgical treatments available for TMDs, depending on the severity of the issue.
Key Takeaways:
- injuries can lead to tmds but the actual cause is not clear and can range from genes to life stressors
- there is no widely accepted or standard way to diagnose tmds because the causes vary , symptoms may also vary therefore identifying is also difficult
- there are many treatments that can be non surgical but depend on patient and can escalate from diet to physical therapy or medications
“Temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) are a group of more than 30 conditions that cause pain and dysfunction in the jaw joint and muscles that control jaw movement.”
Read more: https://www.nidcr.nih.gov/health-info/tmd