There's a Link Between Chronic Migraines And This Common Jaw Disorder

People who get chronic migraines might not think there's anything worse than the debilitating attacks – but it turns out that many of the afflicted could be experiencing a double whammy.

New research has found a link between chronic migraines and a common jaw condition called temporomandibular disorder (TMD), and scientists think the disorder could increase the severity and frequency of migraine attacks.

"Our study shows that patients with chronic migraine, meaning attacks occurring on more than 15 days per month, are three times as likely to report more severe symptoms of TMD than patients with episodic migraine,"  says one of the researchers.

The temporomandibular joint  connects the jaw to the skull on either side of the face, and up to 30 % of the adult population are thought to experience some degree of pain related to the joint's movement and function, collectively called TMD.

Symptoms falling under the TMD umbrella include joint pain, reduced jaw movement, clicking or popping of the joint, and also muscle pain and fatigue, extending as far as the neck.

While TMD is thought to be primarily related to stress and muscle overload, researchers have also previously looked at associations between the temporomandibular joint and migraines.

Now, for the first time, the team have investigated the link between TMD and chronic migraines.

As opposed to patients who get episodic migraines (occurring less than 15 times monthly), chronic migraineurs experience attacks at least every other day over a three-month period.
 
The researchers studied 84 women in their early to mid-thirties – 21 being chronic migraine patients, 31 experiencing episodic migraines, and 32 with no history of migraine.

Among the cohort, TMD symptoms were observed in just over half (54 percent) of the control participants, but in episodic and chronic migraineurs, this figure jumped to 80 percent and 100 percent respectively.

According to the team, the ties between migraines and TMD could relate to nerve endings called nociceptors that process pain in response to dangerous or noxious stimuli.

"The repetition of migraine attacks may increase sensitivity to pain," leader explains.

"On the other hand, TMD can be considered a potential perpetuating factor for migraine because it acts as a constant nociceptive input that contributes to maintaining central sensitisation and abnormal pain processes."

But while migraine patients are more likely to have signs and symptoms of TMD – at least, going off this study's relatively small Brazil-based sample, that is – the TMD condition itself doesn't seem to predict who gets migraines, but the team thinks it may increase the frequency and severity of attacks.

"We do know migraine isn't caused by TMD," researcher says.

"Migraine is a neurological disease with multifactorial causes, whereas TMD, like cervicalgia – neck pain – and other musculoskeletal disorders, is a series of factors that intensify the sensitivity of migraine sufferers."

To fully understand the causal mechanism at play here will fall to future research, but for now, the researchers say their work will help clinicians treat patients with migraines, in terms of looking out for any signs of TMD that could worsen their migraine pain.

In the meantime, if you're one of those affected by these terrible attacks, scientists say you may want to take a look at your diet: and we really hope you don't like chocolate or wine.

We may not have all the answers on how to beat migraines just yet, but there's lot of simple things you can try. 

THIS IS ONLY FOR INFORMATION, ALWAYS CONSULT YOU PHYSICIAN BEFORE HAVING ANY PARTICULAR FOOD/ MEDICATION/EXERCISE/OTHER REMEDIES. PS- THOSE INTERESTED IN RECIPES ARE FREE TO VIEW MY BLOG-                      

HTTP:GSEASYRECIPES.BLOGSPOT.COM/
FOR INFO ABOUT KNEE REPLACEMENT, YOU CAN VIEW MY BLOG-                                                                           

HTTP://KNEE REPLACEMENT-STICK CLUB.BLOGSPOT.COM/
FOR CROCHET DESIGNS
HTTP://MY CROCHET CREATIONS.BLOGSPOT.COM

Chronic migraine cases are amplified by jawbone disorder

In a new study, a group of researchers have found that the more frequent the migraine attacks, the more severe will be the so-called temporomandibular disorder. 

The temporomandibular joint acts like a sliding hinge connecting the jawbone to the skull, therefore the disorder's symptoms includes difficulty chewing and joint tension.

The first author of the study said, “Our study shows that patients with chronic migraine, meaning attacks occurring on more than 15 days per month, are three times as likely to report more severe symptoms of TMD than patients with episodic migraine.” 

Previous studies already indicated that migraine is somehow associated with pain in the chewing muscles. 

However, this research was the first to consider the frequency of migraine attacks when analyzing its connection with TMD: eighty-four women in their early to mid-thirties were assessed, being that 21 were chronic migraine patients, 32 had episodic migraine, while 32 with no history of migraine were included as controls. 

Signs and symptoms of TMD were observed in 54 percent of the control participants without migraine, 80 percent of participants with episodic migraine, and 100 percent of those with chronic migraine.

For researcher, central sensitization may explain the association between the frequency of migraine attacks and the severity of TMD.

Researcher noted, “The repetition of migraine attacks may increase sensitivity to pain. Our hypothesis is that migraine acts as a factor that predisposes patients to TMD. On the other hand, TMD can be considered a potential perpetuating factor for migraine because it acts as a constant nociceptive input that contributes to maintaining central sensitization and abnormal pain processes.” 

Nociceptive pain is caused by a painful stimulus on special nerve endings called nociceptors.

Migraine and TMD have very similar pathological mechanisms. Migraine affects 15 percent of the general population, and progression to the chronic form is expected in about 2.5 percent of migraine sufferers. 

On the other hand TMD is stress-related as much as it has to do with muscle overload. Patients display joint symptoms -- such as joint pain, reduced jaw movement, clicking or popping of the temporomandibular joint, but also develop a muscular condition, including muscle pain and fatigue, and/or radiating face and neck pain.

TMD and migraine are comorbidities. However, while people who suffer from migraine are predisposed to have TMD, people with TMD will not necessarily have migraine.

“Migraine patients are more likely to have signs and symptoms of TMD, but the reverse is not true. There are cases of patients with severe TMD who don't present with migraine,” shared the lead researcher for the study and principal investigator for the Project.

The researchers believe that TMD may increase the frequency and severity of migraine attacks, even though it does not directly cause migraine.

“We do know migraine isn't caused by TMD. Migraine is a neurological disease with multifactorial causes, whereas TMD, like cervicalgia -- neck pain -- and other musculoskeletal disorders, is a series of factors that intensify the sensitivity of migraine sufferers. Having TMD may worsen one's migraine attacks in terms of both severity and frequency,” noted author. 

THIS IS ONLY FOR INFORMATION, ALWAYS CONSULT YOU PHYSICIAN BEFORE HAVING ANY PARTICULAR FOOD/ MEDICATION/EXERCISE/OTHER REMEDIES.
PS- THOSE INTERESTED IN RECIPES ARE FREE TO VIEW MY BLOG-                      

HTTP:GSEASYRECIPES.BLOGSPOT.COM/
FOR INFO ABOUT KNEE REPLACEMENT, YOU CAN VIEW MY BLOG-                                                                           

HTTP://KNEE REPLACEMENT-STICK CLUB.BLOGSPOT.COM/
FOR CROCHET DESIGNS
HTTP://MY CROCHET CREATIONS.BLOGSPOT.COM