Kingston TN
Nothing can disrupt your daily life quite like living with chronic pain. TMJ disorder can provoke pain that is debilitating enough that it hinders your ability to function. This pain often manifests in the form of headaches, especially first thing in the morning, that can be chronic and severe. Correctly identifying a case of TMJ disorder is one of the greatest diagnostic challenges in all of medical science. In order to avoid a misdiagnosis, you should know about certain symptoms of TMJ disorder that may be indicators of different health issues.
Lyme disease: Here in Kingston and the surrounding areas of East Tennessee, “tick season” happens between the months of April and October. Ticks spread Lyme disease, which can be fatal if it goes untreated. Common symptoms of Lyme disease include joint pain, which may occur in the jaw joints. Numbness in the extremities also is a symptom of Lyme disease. All of these issues also are frequently reported symptoms of TMJ disorder. Know the difference between the symptoms caused by each ailment. TMJ disorder also creates vertigo, as well as popping or clicking sounds as the jaws open and close. Lyme disease also causes fever, flu-like symptoms, and a round-shaped rash around the site of the tick bite that is the source of the disease—none of which are symptoms of TMJ disorder.
Ganglion cyst: These fibrous cysts develop on joints, causing swelling and pain. Ganglion cysts are most common on the wrists and ankles, but they also can develop on the jaw joints as well. A ganglion cyst is usually visibly evident; look for a rounded protrusion on one side of the jaw. These cysts also are filled with joint fluid and feel that way, whereas swelling related to TMJ disorder feels no different than normal muscles and cartilage.
Migraine headaches: After decades of medical research and the development of various treatments, medical science still has not come to a consensus as to how migraines occur. However, headaches caused by TMJ disorder often are misdiagnosed as migraines because both types of headaches provoke severe pain and occur on a regular basis. If you have been diagnosed with migraines but treatments only manage the severity of the symptoms and do nothing to alleviate how often the headaches occur, then TMJ disorder actually could be the cause of your headaches.
Neuromuscular dentistry in Kingston, Tennessee
You have seen how easy it may be to misdiagnose a case of TMJ disorder, which makes it important to find the right medical professional to evaluate you. A neuromuscular dentist is the best-qualified individual to help you. Neuromuscular dentists undergo special post-graduate training that goes far beyond what is taught during normal dental school, giving them the expertise necessary to diagnose TMJ disorder and differentiate it from other ailments that produce similar symptoms.
You do not have to live with the chronic pain that TMJ disorder causes. If you or someone you love is experiencing symptoms of TMJ disorder, schedule an appointment at LakeView Dental Arts today. Just call (865) 376-9687 or contact us online.
