Can TMJ Cause Body Fatigue?
TMJ can cause body fatigue because of muscle tension, chronic pain, reduced jaw function, bruxism, stress, anxiety, and sleep disruption. Koala® Center For Sleep & TMJ Disorders provides comprehensive treatment for TMJ disorders. For more information, contact us or book an appointment online. We have convenient locations across the U.S. in Bloomington IL, Peoria/Dunlap IL, Mishawaka IN, Kansas City MO, El Paso TX, and Wausau WI.
Table of Contents:
Can TMJ cause body fatigue?
Why does TMJ make me feel weird?
How does TMJ affect the rest of your body?
TMJ disorders can cause pronounced body fatigue, due to:
– Muscle tension – TMJ conditions can lead to increased muscle tension in the jaw, face, and neck. Prolonged muscle tension can trigger fatigue in these areas and radiate to other parts of the body, such as the shoulders and upper back.
– Chronic pain – TMJ disorders often cause chronic pain in the jaw, head, and neck. Persistent pain can be draining, leaving patients feeling fatigued and less energized throughout the day.
– Reduced jaw function – Jaw problems often limit the joint’s ability to open and close properly, affecting proper chewing and swallowing.
– Sleep disruptions – Pain caused by TMJ conditions can make it challenging to find a comfortable sleeping position. This often leads to disrupted sleep patterns and reduced sleep quality, resulting in daytime fatigue.
– Bruxism – Bruxism caused by TMJ dysfunction results in excessive muscle activity during sleep. This can contribute to muscle fatigue and morning tiredness.
– Stress and anxiety – TMJ can be aggravated by stress and anxiety, and in turn, TMJ-related discomfort can contribute to increased stress levels. This vicious cycle of stress and pain often leads to exhaustion.
If you experience body fatigue along with jaw pain, it’s highly recommended to consult a TMJ specialist. Our team of experts can perform a comprehensive evaluation to determine if TMJ disorder is the root cause of your fatigue and recommend the best treatment solutions.
Experiencing a sense of weirdness or unusual sensations related to TMJ is not uncommon. TMJ disorder involves dysfunction of the jaw joint and the surrounding muscles, which can lead to various symptoms that may feel strange or unfamiliar, such as:
– Jaw popping or clicking – TMJ issues can cause the jaw joint to pop or click during movement. This sensation can be disconcerting and give the feeling that something is out of place in the jaw.
– Dizziness and vertigo – TMJ disorders affect the body’s balance and equilibrium, leading to a feeling of being off-balance. This sensation of unsteadiness is often perceived as weird and disorienting.
– Ear pain – This joint is closely connected to the ears, so its dysfunction can lead to sensations of fullness, pressure, and mild to moderate ear pain.
– Facial tingling or numbness – TMJ-related muscle tension can affect nerves in the face and cause tingling or numbness in the cheeks, lips, or chin.
– Headaches and facial pain – These TMJ symptoms are often described as weird due to the unfamiliar location of the discomfort.
– Difficulty opening or closing the mouth – TMJ dysfunction can lead to limited jaw movement and create challenges to fully open or close the mouth.
– Tooth sensitivity – TMJ misalignment can lead to oral sensitivities, especially when biting or chewing. This sensation can be unusual and cause discomfort during meals.
TMJ issues often have far-reaching effects on the rest of your body, extending beyond the jaw joint. These effects include:
– Head and neck pain – TMJ misalignment often causes tension and pain in the head, neck, and shoulders. This discomfort can also radiate to the upper back and contribute to chronic headaches or migraines.
– Ear issues – As the TMJ is close to the ears, problems with this joint can cause various symptoms such as earaches, ringing in the ears, and a feeling of fullness or pressure.
– Facial pain and tenderness – Facial discomfort, especially around the jaw joint and the temples, can be onset due to TMJ misalignment. It’s not uncommon for affected areas to feel tender to the touch.
– Balance difficulties – TMJ dysfunction can lead to balance problems, dizziness, or a sensation of being lightheaded or off-balance.
– Eye strain and vision issues – TMJ-related muscle tension can result in strain around the eyes. This strain leads to discomfort and can cause vision changes in some cases.
– Cognitive difficulties – Some individuals with TMJ disorder report experiencing difficulty concentrating and memory issues due to chronic pain and discomfort.
– Posture problems – TMJ issues significantly influence the alignment of the jaw, which, in turn, affects your posture. Poor posture can lead to additional musculoskeletal issues over time.
– Stress and anxiety – The chronic pain and discomfort associated with TMJ often causes stress and anxiety, which can, in turn, exacerbate the condition.
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