EPISODIC AND CHRONIC MIGRAINE ASSOCIATED WITH TMJ TENDERNSS: NEW STUDY IN CLINICAL JOURNAL OF PAIN JUNE 2010

A NEW STUDY (see PubMed abstract below) IN THE CLINICAL JOURNAL OF PAIN IN JUNE 2010 ISSUE DISCUSSES LINKS BETWEEN MIGRAINE AND TMJ TENDERNESS.

There is a very high correlation between TMJ disorders (TMD) and Migraines. This is true of classical migraine, transformed migraine, chronic migraine as well as Tension-type headaches and facial pain. This new study is out of the Neurology Dept and is a controlled prospective study. This type of study is considered the highest research protocol.

The study showed migraine patients (all types) were significantly more likely to have masticatory muscle tenderness and tenderness over the TM Joints. They did not have statistically significant increases in joint clicking or decresed range of motion. This is in perfect agreement with the practice of Neuromuscular Dentistry which believes that the muscles and Trigeminal Nerve are the primary culprits in Migraines and Chronic Daily Headaches.

The authors concluded that “In a tertiary care population, individuals with EM and CM are more likely to have tenderness at the temporomandibular joint and on the masticatory muscles, relative to controls.”

The practice of Neuromuscular Dentistry can frequently improve and/or eliminate headaches and migraines. Aitonal information on headache elimination with neuromuscular dentistry can be found at http://www.ihateheadaches.org

Clin J Pain. 2010 Jun;26(5):418-21.
Signs of temporomandibular disorders in migraine patients: a prospective, controlled study.
Stuginski-Barbosa J, Macedo HR, Bigal ME, Speciali JG.

Department of Neurology, School of Medicine at Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To identify signs of temporomandibular disorders and cervical pain in individuals with episodic and chronic (transformed) migraine (CM), relative to controls without headaches. METHODS: In this prospective, controlled, double-blind study, we examined 93 individuals divided in 3 groups: episodic migraine EM, (n=31), CM chronic migraine (n=34), and controls without migraine (n=28). We recorded signs of temporomandibular disorders, and of pain in the neck, after the protocol of Helkimo (1974). We calculated the odds ratio (OR) and confidence intervals (CI) of symptoms as a function of headache status. Data from all groups were paired and compared using the chi test. The level of significance was 5% in 2-tailed tests. RESULTS: Relative to controls, participants with EM and CM were significantly more likely to have tenderness in the masticatory muscles [controls=28%, migraine=54%, (OR=3.0, 95% CI=1.1-8.9), CM=73% (OR=6.9, 95% CI=2.3-21.2)], and in the temporomandibular joint [controls=25%, migraine=61%, (OR=4.7, 95% CI=1.5-14.5), CM=61% (OR=4.8, 95% CI=1.6-14.5)]. They were numerically (but nonsignificantly) more likely to have limited lateral jaw movements (CM=34%; EM=26%; NP=18%), joint sounds (CM=44%; EM=29%; NP=28%), and tenderness in neck muscles (CM=64%; EM=51%; NP=35%). CONCLUSION: In a tertiary care population, individuals with EM and CM are more likely to have tenderness at the temporomandibular joint and on the masticatory muscles, relative to controls. Studies are needed to investigate whether treatment of 1 disorder will improve the other.

PMID: 20473049 [PubMed – in process]