Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) disorder is identified by a variety of symptoms. Different patients undergo different kinds of symptoms and sometimes diagnosing this disorder is not always immediate. Pain brought about by TMJ complications goes far and beyond your facial area with parts such as the lower back also affected. Below are some of the areas in which you could experience TMJ aches.

Temporomandibular joint disorder is not a comfortable condition. Conditions arising from disorders in this joint are often excruciating and even lead to partial numbness in certain parts of the body. What matters most is dealing with the root cause of the problem. Your doctors should make your life easier by first dealing with the disorder’s symptoms. Pain caused by this disorder can present itself in a variety of ways, including headaches, migraines, pain in the jaw, neck, or shoulders, and general pain in the face.

Other symptoms of TMJ include dizziness, nausea, ringing of the ears, and loss of normal function of the jaw. People who suffer from this syndrome may experience strange noises when opening and closing their mouths. They may also lose the ability to completely close or open their mouths. Pain brought about by TMJ complications goes far and beyond your facial area with parts such as the lower back also affected. Below are some of the areas in which you could experience TMJ aches.

List Of Symptoms

TMJ Jaw Pain is one of the most common symptoms that a patient will suffer from. Since the temporomandibular joint is located in the jaw area, the jaws are adversely affected. They sometimes tend to lock, making it very painful to use or open your mouth. The muscles also tend to get sore, putting pressure on your gums and teeth. They also sometimes produce some clicking sounds, which can give you an uncomfortable feeling. Usually, a TMJ patient will experience the most pain when chewing or yawning.

• The pain may also spread to areas surrounding the neck, ears, and shoulders. This pain is usually rife in the morning and evening.
• It is also not uncommon to have swelling in the face. When this occurs, it’s best to visit a dentist or your physician.
• Opening and closing of the mouth should not cause pain in a healthy individual. If you are experiencing a stiff jaw or have a locked jaw feeling when you are eating, speaking, or yawning, then this could be a symptom of the disorder.
• Frequent tension headaches are a TMJ symptom which often goes ignored. Migraines can also be experienced. Migraines and headaches tend to occur most often in the mornings, probably as a result of clenching and grinding the teeth while sleeping.
• Clicking sounds in the jaw are also a sign you should not ignore.

Eye and Ear Symptoms

The eyes are also a good indicator of TMJ conditions. Below are eye symptoms to look out for:

• Pressure behind the eye sockets and sometimes blurry vision may point towards the disorder. This may be brought about by the frequent headaches. Besides pressure, you may also experience some pain around the eyes.
• An increase in sensitivity to light, constant watery eyes and straining that is not associated to any eye problems are common TMJ symptoms.

TMJ ear pain is another common complaint seen with this disorder. TMJ complications can affect the ears and this ear pain also comes in the form of funny sounds and ringing in the ears. A specialist will also try to find out if you have experienced any TMJ symptoms ear problems. These include:

• Constant ringing or unfamiliar sounds in the ear.
• Frequent ear pains
• Constantly itchy and clogged ears too

Neck, Shoulder, and Back Symptoms

TMJ disorders do not just affect the facial area but spread to surrounding areas such as the neck and shoulders and all the way to the back.

• TMJ patients often experience soreness in the shoulder region which sometimes feels like an extra weight.
• If you experience pain in the neck, you may be unable to move the neck freely. You may also feel as if your shoulders feel heavy.
• The lower back is the part of the body that can cause excruciating pain to someone suffering from TMJ. This could be on the upper back or lower back. Stiffness in the lower back is also experienced as well as some pain in the chest. The back pain can put a lot of pressure on the patient and can lead to difficulty in movement.
• Numbness in the fingers, arms, and limbs is also a symptom that should never be overlooked.

The above are just some of the many symptoms TMJ patients may suffer from. As you can see most of these symptoms vary and it is important you get medical attention if you suspect that you have one or more of the symptoms described above. TMJ symptoms can be uncomfortable and sometimes very painful. They affect a variety of body parts and you should therefore disclose all symptoms in order to get an accurate diagnosis. The earlier your TMJ condition is identified, the easier it is to treat and avoid major complications.