Temporomandibular disorders and fibromyalgia

 WHAT ARE TEMPOROMANDIBULAR DISORDERS?

Temporomandibular disorders (TMD's) are a group of more than 30 conditions that cause pain and dysfunction in the jaw joint and muscles that control jaw movement. “TMDs” refers to the disorders, and “TMJ” refers only to the temporomandibular joint itself. ~ National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research

WHAT IS THE CONNECTION BETWEEN FIBROMYALGIA AND TEMPOROMANDIBULAR DISORDERS?

Research at the National Institutes of Health, shows that Fibromyalgia patients often have a high occurrence of TMD's including both TM joint disk disorders and myofascial pain of the jaw, head, and neck muscles.

TMD's are separate disorders from Fibromyalgia, but many patients with Fibromyalgia have TMD symptoms. This makes sense to me especially as TMD's can often involve myofascial pain and that is very common in Fibromyalgia.  Myofascial pain causes discomfort or pain in the fascia (connective tissue covering the muscles) and muscles that control jaw, neck and shoulder function.

According to the TMJ Association scientists have found that 85% of patients with TMJ also experience other painful conditions. These comorbid conditions include fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, chronic headache, endometriosis, interstitial cystitis, irritable bowel syndrome, low back pain, sleep disorders, and vulvodynia. They are considered comorbid because they occur together more often than chance can explain.

A 1999 study in Sweden actually concluded that Fibromyalgia is one of the causes of TMD. Two hundred and thirty-seven individuals with fibromyalgia affiliated to the Stockholm Rheumatologic Association were included in the study.

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF TEMPOROMANDIBULAR DISORDERS?

The following are the most common signs and symptoms of TMD according to Johns Hopkins Medicine:

• Jaw discomfort or soreness (often most prevalent in the morning or late afternoon)

• Headaches

• Pain spreading behind the eyes, in the face, shoulder, neck, and/or back

• Earaches or ringing in the ears (not caused by an infection of the inner ear canal)

• Clicking or popping of the jaw

• Locking of the jaw

• Limited mouth motions

• Clenching or grinding of the teeth

• Dizziness

• Sensitivity of the teeth without the presence of an oral health disease

• Numbness or tingling sensation in the fingers

• A change in the way the upper and lower teeth fit together

The symptoms of TMD may look like other conditions or medical problems. See a dentist or your doctor for a diagnosis.

PERSONAL STORIES OF FIBROMYALGIA AND TEMPOROMANDIBULAR DISORDERS

* From Mandy at Mandy and Michele: Chronic pain has been a part of my life for 12 years. TMJ didn't show up until about 10 years after my first diagnosis. But I was on the look out for it. I was diagnosed with Central Sensitivity Syndrome with implications of chronic pain, myofascial pain, and fibromyalgia. The doctor showed me a Venn diagram with 12 issues that could be show up. TMJ was on that list.  

* From Julie at Counting My Spoons: When fibromyalgia entered the picture for me (about 2 years after my TMJ disorder diagnosis) my TMJ doctor told me that he felt they were connected. In fact, he believes my fibromyalgia is actually TMJ disorder.

* I believe they may be connected (perhaps the TMJ disorder was the trauma that sparked fibromyalgia), but separate entities. Read her full TMJ story. 

From Shelley at Chronic Mom: I initially had no idea that TMJ was associated with Fibromyalgia. I only found out the name TMJ a few years ago when another blogger wrote about the link and suddenly it all made sense. Although I was never officially diagnosed, I kept experiencing teeth, mouth, and cheek pain that wasn’t connected to any problems with my teeth. Eventually, a dentist gave me a mouth guard and that seemed to help somewhat, but I still wake up with pain in my face on a regular basis, especially when I’m stressed. Read her full TMJ article.

Katie Clark talks about how she get some relief from jaw pain in The Frozen Fascia of Fibromyalgia. She uses techniques learnt through experience and the ideas of Dr Geneva Liptan to help release the myofascia. Read the full article. 

SOURCES:

TMD (Temporomandibular Disorders) including treatments and helpful tips. National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research

The Chronic Pain Research Alliance (CPRA)

Conditions that coexist with TMJ TMJ Association

Presence of orofacial pain and temporomandibular disorder in fibromyalgia. A study by questionnaire. B Hedenberg-Magnusson , M Ernberg, S Kopp

Temporomandibular Disorder (TMD) Johns Hopkins Medicine

What is the Relationship Between Fibromyalgia and TMD? Head and Neck Pain Clinic

The relationship of temporomandibular disorders and fibromyalgia: Implications for diagnosis and treatment. James R. Fricton DDS

The relationship between fibromyalgia and temporomandibular disorders: prevalence and symptom severity O Plesh , F Wolfe, N Lane