The many symptoms of TMJ beyond the jaw: Neck muscle spasms, myofascial pain, breathing problems, digestive disorders and dizziness

Ross Hauser, MD

In many patients that come to our center, we see primary problems related to neck pain and cervical instability. One of the symptoms of these problems is TMJ. We also see a lot of people with primary problems of TMJ. One of the symptoms of this problem is cervical neck pain. Surprisingly, despite the research suggesting the connection, many patients were not made aware that their jaw pain could be a problem originating in the neck and their neck pain can be a problem originating in their jaw.

Discussion points of this article 

TMJ and neck problems have long been linked together

It has long been known that there is a strong association between neck disability and jaw disability. To put it another way, whenever the neck is affected by a structural issue, it affects the jaw and vice versa. Despite TMJ and neck problems being linked together, it is not often that a patient will report to us that their previous health care providers made this connection between their TMJ problems and their neck pain and offered treatments addressing both concerns. In the following research the links and the treatments for both TMJ problems and cervical neck instability point to a problem in the neck.

Ct Scan Of A Patient With Malocclusion

CT Scan Of A Patient With Malocclusion

In the medical journal Clinical Oral Investigations, (1) oral surgeons in Belgium made this connection between TMJ and cervical instability. This research is from 1998, so the problems of TMJ and neck disorders are hardly a new idea. We will bring this research forward 25 years to 2023.

The researchers conducted a study looking for possible correlations between clinical signs of temporomandibular disorders (TMD) and cervical spine disorders.

Doctors detail the connection between neck pain and TMJ disorders, going further to demonstrate a connection between neck pain and people who suffered from asymptotic TMD.

Let’s now jump to a 2021 paper, citing this research. Publishing in the journal BioMed Research International (2) and led by the Orthopaedic and Rehabilitation Department, Medical University of Warsaw, Poland, doctors detailed the connection between neck pain and TMJ disorders, going further to demonstrate a connection between neck pain and people who suffered from asymptotic TMD. Here are the learning observations:

“In most (patient) cases, it is difficult to identify the cause of neck pain (as one clear factor), which is a substantial obstacle when customizing congruent therapy and preventing further recurrences. Chronic idiopathic neck pain is defined as neck pain lasting more than 3 months, without the presence of trauma, cervical hernias with clinical symptoms, or radiculopathy. On the basis of its etiology, it was divided into specific neck pain, trauma-induced neck pain, and idiopathic (nontraumatic) neck pain. The complicated anatomical structure of the cervical spine, its complex biomechanical function, close proximity of nervous system structures, and symptom inhomogeneity (mysterious and accountable symptoms) are a challenge for clinicians and researchers dealing with diagnostics and treatment of neck pain.”

Let’s stop here for a simple recap.

The TMJ connection

“Some (researchers) have reported a relationship between craniofacial and neck pain, including biomechanical, neuroanatomical, and neurophysiological aspects. Close anatomical connection of the cervical spine to the masticatory system and frequent comorbidity of the neck and temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMD) suggest the need to study the relationship between these areas. Incorrect tension of the masticatory muscles was found to be associated with head posture and was suggested as one of the causes of dysfunctions in cervical paravertebral muscles. The possible explanation could be the neurophysiologic connections between the cervical spine and temporomandibular area, such as the convergence of trigeminal and upper cervical afferent inputs in the trigeminocervical nucleus.”

Let’s stop here for a recap.

What the researchers are suggesting is that there is a connection between problems of the cervical spine and TMJ, and as the doctors of 1998 suggested, here in this 2021 paper the connection needs to be explored. They also point out the problems of the trigeminal nerve.

In our article Non-surgical treatment for Trigeminal Neuralgia: I discuss why we examine the neck of a patient who comes in for a Trigeminal Neuralgia consultation. Here I write:

We examine the neck of a patient who comes in for a Trigeminal Neuralgia consultation because we are looking for compression of the nerve.  The head and neck, as all parts of the body, live in complex relations. Something in the neck can cause problems in the jaw, face, shoulders, fingers, etc. Problems in the jaw can cause problems in the neck. Any musculoskeletal problem can cause problems of headaches. Back to the keyword compression. We are looking for problems in the neck that can be influencing problems of the head and jaw. When a physician and a patient believe that a nerve is getting compressed, it is easy to see why surgery would be recommended. Unfortunately, when cervical neck instability is the cause of neuralgia, the surgery does not help relieve the pain. Cervical instability can also be responsible for almost all painful neuralgias of the head and face including occipital and trigeminal neuralgia,  as well as structural headaches including tension, migraines, and cluster. This is not a new concept for us, the examination of the cervical neck area is a crucial component of our comprehensive non-surgical Trigeminal Neuralgia program.

Forward Head Posture and TMJ

The forward head posture has many negative effects on the body, but it is especially harmful to the TMJ and upper cervical spine. Forward Head Posture is both a cause and a symptom of ligament weakness in the neck. Weakness of the neck ligaments commonly occurs because most people spend a good portion of their days looking down at phones and hunched over while working. Their work may consist of typing on a computer or being constantly tethered to their mobile devices for many hours per day, as well as the huge surge in computer gaming. Increasing amounts of patients have suffered from “text neck.” All of these tech activities precipitate the head-forward position and put the cervical vertebral ligaments in a stretched position. Over time, these ligaments weaken and cause pain (creep). The ligament laxity causes an even more head-forward position, as the ligaments can no longer keep the cervical vertebrae in their proper posterior alignment. The paracervical muscles (the neck muscles) tighten to stabilize the joints and head. As the muscles tighten, they create more pain.

What are we seeing in this image?

A description of the vents depicted is below the image. The caption explains: A forward head posture shows one mechanism by which passive tension (the ligaments and muscles have a “stretched” resting position) in selected suprahyoid and infrahyoid muscles alter the resting posture of the mandible. The mandible is pulled inferiorly and posteriorly changing the position of the condyle within the temporomandibular joint, Also in this image note the relationship between the cervical spine and the shoulder.

The above also explains why forward head posture is so damaging to the TMJ. Habitual head forward posture is a well-known etiological cause or contributing factor of craniofacial, craniocervical, and craniomandibular syndromes. As the head goes forward with habitual sitting and looking at a computer screen or down at a smartphone, the anterior muscles of the neck tighten. This causes a shortening of the inferior hyoid muscles, pulling the hyoid bone inferior. This causes a lot of stretching or tension on the suprahyoid bone to keep the hyoid bone in place. This tension on the suprahyoid bone causes the mandible to retract, which forces the mandibular to condyle posteriorly (backward). Remember from above that the poor lateral pterygoid muscle, as the main protractor of the mandible, has to go against the powerful temporalis and masseter muscles that retract the mandible. So in addition to this, the habitual forward head posture, also retracts the mandible, further causing a “stretching” or contraction of the lateral pterygoid and the articular disc is again forced anteriorly by the posterior moving condyle. To counter the pull on the disc, the lateral temporomandibular ligament stretches. Eventually, it gets stretched out too much, resulting in TMJ instability.

As a person loses cervical lordosis in the lower cervical vertebrae because of a forward head posture or trauma-inducing posterior ligament complex injury, the C1-C2 vertebrae become more lordotic or have too much inward curve.

In April of 2021 doctors in China published their findings (3) on the investigation of the differences in forward head posture between patients with temporomandibular disorders and healthy people. These researchers found that compared with healthy people, TMD patients present more forward heads with abnormal head and neck posture.

TMJ disorders impact cervical, thoracic and lumbar spines

In November 2022 in the medical journal Biomedicines (14) doctors tested the effectiveness of physical therapy as a treatment of Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction and the impact the treatment would have on pain coming from the neck. In this paper, 64 patients were divided into two groups. Thirty-three patients underwent conservative drug treatment and physiotherapy treatment, and 31 patients in the control group underwent only conservative drug treatment. The participants were examined at baseline and re-examined after 3 months. In this study there was a higher incidence of female patients.

The doctors found that “After 3 months of treatment of the TMJs and cervical spine, pain decreased in both groups. Muscle testing at the cervical spine and temporomandibular level showed a decrease in pain and muscles spasms. The average percentage values of the Neck Disability Index (NDI) and the Jaw Functional Limitation Scale 8 decreased significantly in both groups . . .” The researchers noted however that pain reduction and increase in function was specifically seen in the patients receiving conservative drug treatment and physiotherapy treatment. The researchers concluded: “Physiotherapy treatments could maintain the functional state at the temporomandibular and cervical levels, thus contributing to increasing the quality of daily life.”

But how does physical therapy help? The researchers citing previous studies noted that TMJ disorders can impact the boy well beyond the jaw. TMJ disorders may negatively affect not only mastication, swallowing, and breathing but also distort the muscle movements of the cervical, thoracic and lumbar spines. “Balancing TMJs through exercise corrects the dysfunctions and changes the position of the center of gravity, which has effects on the mobility of the spine and the stability of the limbs. . . A direct relationship exists between the movements of TMJ and cervical spine and posture.

Progressive TMJ osteoarthritis may be related to altered head posture in the upright position to compensate for reduced airway dimensions

A December 2020 study published in the Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (4) sought to investigate associations among progressive temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis, airway dimensions, and head and neck posture. In this study 114, temporomandibular disorders patients were enrolled. Among 114 patients, 28 had no pathologic bony changes (bone spurs) in the TMJ condyles, 45 had progressive TMJ osteoarthritis and 41 demonstrated TMJ osteoarthritis which had not progressed for 12 months.

The volume (size opening) change of the oropharynx (the back part of the throat) in supine (lying face up) position was more prominent in the progressive TMJ osteoarthritis than in the TMD no osteoarthritis patient but no significant differences in changes in the pharyngeal airway (that part of the pharynx that regulates airflow) while in an upright position was detected. Conclusion: Progressive TMJ osteoarthritis may have associations with retrognathia and decreased oropharyngeal airway volume in the supine position but not in the upright position. Progressive TMJ osteoarthritis may be related to altered head posture in the upright position to compensate for reduced airway dimensions.

The connection between the cervical spine and jaw displacement in TMJ

Let’s make one more connection as observed by doctors writing in the European Journal of Orthodontics, (5) doctors in Japan made this connection:

The TMJ altered your posture by stressing your cervical spine? Isn’t posture a problem of swallowing difficulties? Isn’t posture a problem of everything?

Craniocervical physical therapy in patients with myofascial temporomandibular pain disorders. Focus on muscle spasms

In a 2017 study (6) from researchers at the University of Comenius’ Faculty of Medicine in Slovakia, doctors suggested that physical therapy could improve craniocervical dysfunction and myofascial pain symptoms in the head and neck. Here are the highlights of this study:

According to the study’s results, all three groups of patients saw an improvement in pain perception, but the overall subjective remission of painful sensations in the third group took place in as many as 88 % of patients. In this group, there was a significant decrease in the tenderness of trigger points in the trapezius and sternocleidomastoid muscles. This was achieved by a combination of simply relaxing and stretching exercises of cervical muscles with a standard method used in the therapy of masticatory muscles that are significantly more efficient.

In this study, the focus was on muscle spasms and the pain they cause. If you can relax the muscles of the TMJ and cervical neck region, you would have less pain. For some people, this will be very effective. For others, it will not. Typically, the people who will not find success will be people who have ligament damage or weakness and tendon attachment weakness or damage. For muscle techniques to work, there needs to be a resistance that allows the muscles to strengthen. If ligaments and tendons are damaged, there is lesser resistance and the treatment will not succeed as wished. We address this problem below.

What are we seeing in this image? The close anatomical association between temporomandibular joint TMJ in the upper cervical vertebrae

It is easy to visualize how injury to the ligaments that support the atlas and axis could cause pain to travel to the head face and TMJ area through the nervous system likewise TMJ instability can affect the same areas including the neck and upper cervical region

In our article on Cervicogenic dysphagia, swallowing difficulties as being caused by problems in the neck and brain, we explored research that noted that TMJ patients and cervical neck instability patients have difficulties in swallowing.

Craniocervical muscle problems in older patients with myofascial temporomandibular pain disorders

A 2019 study from Orthopedic and Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons in South Korea published in the journal Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics (7) demonstrated the associations among degenerative changes in the cervical spine, head and neck postures, and myofascial pain in the craniocervical musculature in elderly with myofascial temporomandibular disorders (TMDs).

In this research:

RESULTS:

Cervical Muscle Tenderness in Temporomandibular Disorders

A 2020 study appearing in the Journal of Oral & Facial Pain and Headache (8) examined 192 patients with TMD and cervical muscle tenderness. What they found was cervical muscle tenderness was notable only in those with a myogenous (muscle problems) TMD diagnosis, but not in arthrogenous (degenerative TMJ disc disease). (Our note: the problem was not in the TMJ joint but likely a problem of cervical spine instability). This is something the researchers concluded as well:

“cervical muscle tenderness differentiated between TMD patients and controls and between TMD diagnoses. Specific patient and pain characteristics associated with poor outcomes in terms of cervical muscle tenderness included effects of interactions between myogenous TMD, female sex, whiplash history, comorbid body pain and headaches, and pain on opening. It can, therefore, be concluded that routine clinical examination of TMD patients should include assessment of the cervical region.”

Understanding the TMJ temporomandibular joint itself. What are we seeing in this image?

In this simplified view of the TMJ, we can get an understanding of the mechanisms behind TMJ disc displacement. When this person would close their mouth, they would get the characteristic clicking sound and accompanying “pop” or feeling of displacement. See that the disc in this image has ligaments behind it. The ligaments are there to provide structural stability between the jaw bone at the skull. The ligaments are holding the jaw to the skull. In front of the disc towards the face are the powerful jaw muscles. Attaching these power muscles to the jaw are the muscle tendons. Notice how the muscle turns white as they approach the bone. The tendons are the muscles attached to the bones and they are white in color. They hold the muscles to the jaw. If the ligaments or tendons are weak, damaged, stretched out, or lax, the jaw is floating, the disc can be displaced.

In this simplified view of the TMJ, we can get an understanding of the mechanisms behind TMJ disc displacement. When this person would close their mouth, they would get the characteristic clicking sound and accompanying "pop" or feeling of displacement. See that the disc in this image has ligaments behind it. The ligaments are there to provide the structural stability between the jaw bone at the skull. The ligaments are holding the jaw to the skull. In front of the disc towards the face are the powerful jaw muscles. Attaching these power muscles to the jaw are the muscle tendons. Notice how the muscle turns white as they approach the bone. The tendons are the muscles attachments to the bones and they are white in color. They hold the muscles to the jaw. If the ligaments or tendons are weak, damaged, stretched out, or lax, the jaw is floating, the disc can be displaced.

The temporomandibular joint connects the mandible (lower jaw) to the part of the skull known as the temporal bone. The joint allows the lower jaw to move in all directions so that the teeth can bite off and chew food efficiently. Temporomandibular joint ( TMJ ) syndrome occurs when the joints, muscles, and ligaments involved do not work together properly, resulting in pain.

Temporomandibular joint syndrome and TMD or TemporoMandibular Disorders have been demonstrated to be caused by ligament weakness in many patients, often as a result of clenching the jaw or grinding the teeth, sleeping position, or a forward-positioned mandible (lower jaw).

Malocclusion, or a poor bite, places stress on the muscles and may also lead to temporomandibular joint syndrome, as may an injury to the head, jaw, or neck that causes displacement of the joint. If left untreated, jaw osteoarthritis can result.

TMJ is the cause of dizziness

When balance is off, a person often complains of dizziness or lightheadedness. Dizziness or lightheadedness is a common symptom for those who have TMD or cervical instability. There are three well-known mechanisms by which cervicogenic dizziness occurs:

One that I believe is missing is cervical instability-induced vagus nerve compression.

One of the easiest ways to understand how TMD and upper cervical instability affect balance and various symptoms is to consider the Eustachian tube and the vagus nerve

What are we seeing in this image? Proper eustachian tube function vs. dysfunction. The proper opening of the eustachian tube requires the action of the levator veli palatine and tensor veli palatine muscles innervated by the vagus and trigeminal nerves respectively. When these muscles don’t operate optimally, fluid builds up in the middle ear potentially causing ear discomfort, fullness, pressure, pain, dizziness, and even partial or complete hearing loss.

Proper eustachian tube function vs. dysfunction. The proper opening of the eustachian tube requires action of the levator veli palatine and tensor veli palantine muscles innervated by the vagus and trigeminal nerves respectively. When these muscles don't operate optimally, fluid builds up in the middle ear potentially causing ear discomfort, fullness, pressure, pain, dizziness and even partial or complete hearing loss.

One of the eustachian tube’s functions is the ventilation of the middle ear to equilibrate air pressure in the middle ear with atmospheric pressure and drainage and clearance into the nasopharynx of secretions from within the middle ear. This eustachian tube is innervated by the vagus nerve and mandibular branch of the trigeminal nerve, both of which are affected by TMJ and upper cervical dysfunction or instability.

One of the easiest ways to understand how TMD and upper cervical instability affect balance and various symptoms are to consider the Eustachian tube. The Eustachian tube is a canal that connects the middle ear to the nasopharynx. Its job is to create equal pressure between the outside world and the middle ear. When Eustachian tube dysfunction occurs, there is a disturbing middle ear pressure to inner ear pressure relationship, causing dizziness, vertigo, and imbalance. TMD has been found to affect Eustachian tube function. The structures involved in the vestibular system are responsible for:

 The vestibular system shows the interconnectivity of body functions. Sensory input from the inner ear, sight, and proprioception (from the neck primarily but can be from other parts of the body) go to the cerebellum, which coordinates and regulates posture, movement, and balance. Some of the sensory information also goes to the brainstem and, together with the cerebellum, they figure out what to do with all this information. In order to have balance, we must have the right motor impulses and the right eye movements to make postural adjustments. There is evidence that suggests that upper cervical sensory nerves interact directly with vestibular nuclei in the midbrain to keep us upright and stable. Balance issues, especially after a neck injury point toward the missing diagnosis, cervical instability as being the cause.

Eustachian tube dysfunction is one of several mechanisms by which upper cervical instability can cause lightheadedness, dizziness, imbalance, tinnitus and vertigo. Upper cervical instability can also produce these symptoms through compression of the vertebrobasilar artery, resistance to cerebrospinal fluid flow, dysautonomia, as well as altered proprioceptive input through mechanoreceptors.

The last is perhaps most important because the brain can only give the right instructions to the rest of the body if it gets the right sensory information. For the body to have the head perfectly balanced on the neck and for the rest of the body to balance on planet earth, you need exact sensory information coming from the mechanoreceptors to the central nervous system. They have to function at an optimum level at all times. When there is upper cervical instability, this does not occur. Another point that needs to be made is that the upper cervical instability also makes much of the body unable to carry out the commands of the brain even if the commands were correct. So one can see again that upper cervical instability has whole body-damaging effects!

Is it eustachian tube dysfunction or TMJ dysfunction

There is a controversy surrounding the understanding of eustachian tube dysfunction and TMJ dysfunction. Doctors from the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, University of Louisville, and Indiana University wrote in April 2020 in the medical journal Laryngoscope (10) “Symptoms of eustachian tube dysfunction (fullness, pressure and/or pain in the ears) are highly prevalent among patients with TMJD determined by patient-reported outcome measures. It is not clear if these symptoms reflect true derangement of eustachian tube function in these patients or whether there is only clinical similarity between Eustachian tube dysfunction and TMJ dysfunction. However, future research efforts may resolve this dilemma.”

Ocular Stabilization Reflexes

In discussing dizziness related to the cervical spine or TMJ, several reflexes should be addressed that give balance to the body so we don’t fall over or get symptoms such as dizziness or vertigo when upright or changing positions. Balance is provided by automatic reflexes for stabilization of the visual field (vestibulocochlear reflex, VOR) as well as for erect standing (vestibulospinal reflex, VSR) and head position (vestibulocollic reflex, VCR) so that we can have correct posture. All of these reflexes are called ocular stabilization reflexes that serve to stabilize the visual image on the retina during head movements. These help us have the proper posture so we can balance and see what we are doing without falling over. When the vestibular system is not working properly, even small head movements can be accompanied by gaze instability and postural imbalance results. The vestibular system is crucial in controlling gaze, balance, and posture, and an imbalance can manifest as a dramatic, sudden onset of vertigo. The vestibulocochlear reflex (VOR) functions to stabilize gaze and ensure clear vision during everyday activities. Vestibular signals from the inner ear go to the vestibular nuclei in the medulla (brainstem), which connect to the cranial nerves that control eye movements. During head movement, the eye movement is equal and opposite to that of head movement. The vestibulospinal (VSR) reflex stabilizes the head and upright posture in relation to gravity.

The vestibulocollic reflex (VCR) serves to stabilize the head position in space. Muscles of the neck respond to input from the vestibular system to provide reflexive head movement. For example, when the head is rotated in relation to the neck, the VCR stabilizes the head position thereby stabilizing gaze direction in space. When the head moves, the vestibulocochlear reflex (VOR) tends to stabilize the image of an object in space on the retina by producing eye movement compensatory to head movement.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome, gastrointestinal distress, and TMJ syndrome

In November 2020, doctors in Spain writing in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (12) sought to identify if the presence of irritable bowel syndrome was included as eligibility criteria of participants included in clinical trials investigating the effects of physical therapy in individuals with temporomandibular pain disorders (TMDs). In other words, was irritable bowel syndrome recognized as comorbidity or condition in addition to TMJ that the patient suffered from. The reason for asking this question was that a link had been noted in previous research.

In 2014, doctors at the University of Maryland wrote: “The majority of patients with temporomandibular disorder report symptoms consistent with irritable bowel syndrome. Stress and female prevalence are common to both conditions.” (13)

In 2017 doctors writing in the World Journal of Gastroenterology (14)  investigated the prevalence and the risk of temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) in patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) (including each subtype: constipation, diarrhea, and mixed) compared to the general population. Bowel syndrome patients had a more than three times greater risk of TMD compared to healthy controls. The risk of having TMD was similar in different IBS subtypes. IBS patients that also fulfilled the criteria for TMD seem to share along with chronic facial and abdominal pain a significant co-occurrence with psychiatric disorders and female preponderance.

Treatments

Upper cervical instability causes a massive amount of abnormal sensory input to be sent to the spinal cord, brainstem, and eventually to various parts of the brain including the thalamus and cerebral cortex. The manifestation of this altered sensory information is symptoms such as dizziness, vertigo, lightheadedness, and tinnitus. After Prolotherapy and restoration of the TMJ and upper cervical spine stability, there are wide-ranging effects on proprioceptors and sensory input. With the upper cervical spine and TMJ stability, there is a greater likelihood that the sensory information it sends out will be correct. This will help to correct dysfunction in any or all of the nerve tracts that receive input directly or indirectly from the temporomandibular joint and the upper cervical spine. This can have wide-ranging effects but especially regarding the resolution of dizziness, lightheadedness, tinnitus, and dizziness.

In my article The evidence and comparisons of TMJ injection treatments and conservative care treatments I offer varying treatment methods. I invite you to explore that article in its entirety, I will summarize it here:

It is the recommendation of The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, a branch of the US government’s National Institutes of Health, that less is best in treating TMJ disorders. They recommend that patients avoid treatments that cause permanent changes in the bite or jaw. Such treatments include crown and bridgework to balance the bite, orthodontics to change the bite, grinding down teeth to bring the bite into balance (occlusal adjustment), and repositioning splints, which permanently change the bite. They also state that finding the right care can be difficult, and they recommend looking for a health care provider who understands musculoskeletal disorders (affecting muscle, bone, and joints) and is trained in treating pain conditions.

A February 2022 review in the journal Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Clinics of North America (11) offers us this summary of the myriads of treatments available to the TMJ patient.

“Treatments include noninvasive pharmacologic therapies, minimally invasive muscular and articular injections, and surgery. Conservative therapies include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, muscle relaxants, benzodiazepines, antidepressants, and anticonvulsants.

Minimally invasive injections include botulinum toxin, corticosteroids, platelet-rich plasma, hyaluronic acid, and prolotherapy with hypertonic glucose. With many pharmacologic treatment options and modalities available to the oral and maxillofacial surgeon, mild to moderate temporomandibular joint disorder can be managed safely and effectively to improve symptoms of pain and function of the temporomandibular joint.”

“Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (with proton pump inhibitors) and muscle relaxants are first-line therapies shown to improve symptoms of temporomandibular joint disorder. Oral benzodiazepines, tricyclic antidepressants, and anticonvulsants are alternative therapies that may be considered in resistant or refractory temporomandibular joint disorder, in consultation with the patient’s physician. Botox injections have been shown to be safe and effective for treatment for myofascial temporomandibular joint disorder as intramuscular injections. Intra-articular injections have shown marked improvement in symptoms. Evidence suggests they share similar effectiveness. Prolotherapy with hypertonic glucose is effective for treating hypermobility and subluxation of the temporomandibular joint.”

Summary

In all probability, you have experienced a bout of dizziness at least once in your life, but you may not have analyzed how this phenomenon occurred. Our balance is maintained thanks to the interaction between the visual, vestibular, and spinal systems. The visual system makes us aware of the position of our bodies in relation to our environment; the vestibular system detects various motions such as walking, stopping, turning, or head movements; and the spinal system makes these movements happen. When we move our heads, the fluid within the vestibular system (inner ear) is set in motion, generating an electrical impulse that is carried to our brain for interpretation. When the brain recognizes the impulse as a head movement, it signals our eyes to move in a way that will maintain clear vision during the motion. The brain also signals our muscles to ensure good balance, regardless of whether we are sitting, standing, lying down, or moving.

The vestibular systems in both inner ears must work equally well sending uninterrupted signals to the brain because otherwise one’s sense of balance will be disrupted. When this happens, a person experiences dizziness, lightheadedness, or vertigo with symptoms such as unsteadiness on their feet, feeling woozy, or having a sensation of spinning or floating. Often the person is said to have Meniere’s disease, resulting from an abnormality in the way fluid of the inner ear is regulated; however, no basis for this is ever found. Perhaps the true missing diagnosis is TMJ instability.

Further reading

Summary and contact us. Can we help you?

We hope you found this article informative and it helped answer many of the questions you may have surrounding your TMJ issues.  If you would like to get more information specific to your challenges please email us: Get help and information from our Caring Medical staff

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References for this article:

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This page was updated January 24, 2022

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9738 Commerce Center Ct.
Fort Myers, FL 33908
(239) 308-4701 Phone
(855) 779-1950 Fax

Hauser Neck Center
9734 Commerce Center Ct.
Fort Myers, FL 33908
(239) 308-4701 Phone
(855) 779-1950 Fax
We are an out-of-network provider. Treatments discussed on this site may or may not work for your specific condition.
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