TMJ Headaches Treatment in Cary and Raleigh, NC

Are you looking for treatment for TMJ headaches in Raleigh NC? Constant headaches can impact the quality of life and can even be debilitating. But you don’t have to live with chronic pain and discomfort anymore. At the TMJ Sleep Center, we believe in identifying the root cause of your pain and providing treatment that can help minimize it so patients enjoy long lasting relief.

Headache is defined as the pain arising from the head or from the upper neck of the body. It is one of the most common symptoms of pain experienced by humans. Headache or head pain are sometimes difficult to describe as there are many types of headaches, but some of the most common ones are tension headaches, migraines, mixed headache syndrome and cluster headaches.

Broad Categories of Headaches

Headaches can be broadly classified into 3 types: Primary Headaches, Secondary Headaches and finally cranial neuralgia.

Primary Headaches

Some of the common headaches in this category are cluster headaches, tension headaches and migraines (with or without aura). However, many people know about migraines as it is common these days. Migraines affect both children and adults. Tension headaches arise due to the muscle contraction resulting in prolonged pain. And they are more common than you’d think, with more women being affected than men. In contrast, a cluster headache is an intense throbbing pain which affects the rear of an eye. It’s certainly a rare type of headache compared to tension headaches and migraines.

Secondary Headaches

Secondary headaches are rare but they can be a warning sign of a more serious condition. Structural factors such as brain tumors or hemorrhage, or the structural factors in the upper neck or head can result in secondary headaches. Moreover secondary headaches can also occur due to certain diseases, which include encephalitis and meningitis. This type of headache can lead to excruciating pain.

Cranial Neuralgia

Cranial neuralgia is mainly caused due to the inflammation of the nerves in the upper neck or in the head. These inflamed nerves are not only responsible for cranial neuralgia but also responsible for facial pain. The pain caused by cranial neuralgia can best be described as piercing or stabbing and its frequency can be sporadic. The three most common types of cranial neuralgia are: trigeminal neuralgia, glossopharyngeal neuralgia, and occipital neuralgia.

While the frequency and intensity of headaches can no doubt determine their impact on the overall quality of life, one must not confuse the severity of the pain as an indicator of how life threatening it could be. A medical professional is in the best position to identify the type of headaches you experience. If you or anyone you know suffers from frequent or debilitating TMJ headaches in Raleigh NC it’s best to seek medical advice at the earliest.

Your Guide to Migraine Headaches

Migraine are powerful headaches that are usually associated with nausea, sound, smell, vomiting, and sensitivity to light. Many people use the term migraine to express any severe headache, however a migraine headache is the result of physiologic changes that happen within the brain. The pain associated with the migraine often involves only one side of the head but in some cases the pain can occur on both sides. The pain can be mild or severe which can also last for many hours depending on the severity.

The exact cause behind the migraine is still unknown, however many doctors and scientists say that abnormal brain activity, genetics and neurovascular issues are some possible causes of a migraine.

There are many remedies for headache, and medication is one which can offer TMJ headache relief as it helps ease the pain. However changing your lifestyle can also work well, which can help you in controlling stress or to avoid triggers. That said, what works for one person may not work for another. Thus co-operate with your doctor to find the best therapy for your TMJ headache in Raleigh NC.

Treatments for Headaches

Majority of headaches can be treated with simple painkiller, but this will not treat the root cause of the problem. Many medications have been intended to treat headaches which can be classified into Pain-relieving medications and Preventive medications. Pain-relieving medications are taken when a person is suffering from headache, this medication is basically intended to stop the symptoms. Preventive medications are the types of drugs which are taken regularly to reduce the severity of headache. However there are many supportive remedies which can act as a substitute for medication. Supportive remedies include, stress management, massage therapy, acupuncture, biofeedback and many.

Headaches and A TMJ Disorder

A person with TMJ disorder can also get a chronic headache. And most of the times people try to ignore a TMJ disorder as a possible cause of chronic headaches. You don't be one of them, because nearly 40 percent of the sensations which are processed by the brain pass through the trigeminal nerve. A part of this nerve runs through your jaw, thus it is very important that the misaligned jaw should be realigned at the earliest.

Call us at 919-365-6744 to clear all your questions regarding TMJ headaches in Raleigh NC or make an appointment with TMJ & Sleep Therapy Centre of Raleigh-Durham for an initial assessment.