Did you know that fibromyalgia and TMJ pain often go together? Unfortunately for many fibromyalgia patients, this is a painful reality.

Your jaw is one part of the body that you don’t think about much until it starts to hurt or malfunction. This vulnerable area of your body allows you to do so many daily activities that many people take for granted like eating, yawning, talking and drinking.

However, when you start to notice symptoms of pain, tightness, clicking, or soreness in the jaw, you may have trouble chewing, talking, finding a comfortable sleeping position or even just relaxing. You might also find yourself doing more grinding at night.

If you suffer from temporomandibular joint disorder, also known as TMJ, your jaw may cause agonizing pain as well as a list of other symptoms, including:

Headaches
Nausea
Dizziness
Earaches
Difficulty chewing
Difficulty opening/closing your mouth
The pain of TMJ can extend to all areas of your face, neck, and head as well. The muscles, ligaments, and nerves that keep your chompers chomping are also responsible for functioning and sensation to all connected body parts. This is why many fibromyalgia patients report tenderness and pain in areas beyond the jaw.

One area just below the jaw (into the front neck area) that can greatly correlate with fibromyalgia is the sternocleidomastoid (trigger point area) So it could happen that your TMJ symptoms exacerbate points in the surrounding areas leading to that radiating and referring pain you might feel.

Fibromyalgia and TMJ Pain – What’s the Connection?
It’s estimated that about 90% of people living with fibromyalgia experience some type of jaw or facial pain. However, that doesn’t mean that all of those will have TMJ.

Some people assume that you have to experience a complete jaw lock before you’re diagnosed with TMJ, but that isn’t the case. The presence of other related symptoms when all other potential causes have been ruled out is enough for the diagnosis in some cases.

TMJ and the associated facial/ jaw pain can be an extension of fibromyalgia when a diagnosis for fibromyalgia is already in place. Others will give a secondary diagnosis of TMJ. Whether you receive both diagnoses or not, the combination of these conditions is often debilitating.

When the pain stops you from sleeping comfortably, limits range of motion for your head, and affects proper chewing, this can affect your quality of life.

I have just found something that has taken the pain right down to a manageable level for me. I was having a shower and let the water hit the side of my face the pain was in. Within 10 mins the pain has reduced. I have just found one of the reuseable handwarmers so if it flares over night i can use that and see if it works. Hope this helps someone else x

I get it sporadically, part of it is because I grind my teeth. Have you been checked for trigeminal neuralgia? It can cause jaw pain, and face pain as it infflames the nerves in your face, and jaw. Softer pillow, and mattress have helped, as I get migraines, neck pain, and back pain. My skin gets sensitive to pressure. I too have spent quite a bit of money on clothing, and shoes. I understand the frustration. I’m so sorry you’re going through this! Fibromyalgia is a pain in the arse. The amount of different types of medicine for pain, I take - both regularity, and sporadically, is ridiculous.

Hi @A MyFibroTeam Member atleast you know now where your pain is comming from. I hope you find something that is helping for your pain. I have also this jaw teeth ear eye neck shoulder back pain. Afther having tried so much pills and treatments without getting any painreleave I decided to not take any more pills. Now I take only sometimes a painkiller or when I can't stand it anymore a muscle relaxer and a sleeping pill. But I use these ad less as possible otherwise they don't have none painreleave any more. But we are all diffrent I hope you find something that helps you. Have a nice day. God bless you 😘😘😘💜💜

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A MyFibro...

Yes, @A MyFibroTeam Member

I’ve had it for years and it was put down to grinding my teeth. The dentist made me a mouth guard and it does help. I have a lot of sensitivity in my gums and mouth too. I recently ate a crisp and it Burt the skin on the roof of my mouth clean off.

Hugs xxxx

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A MyFibro...