Fibromyalgia Symptoms: 10 Ways Chronic Pain Attacks

Jaw and facial tenderness

When your jaw hurts, who do you go see? The dentist or the doctor? For people living with fibromyalgia, the question becomes more complicated. Some doctors will see jaw pain as dentist territory and this can be a big mistake. What doctors may not be seeing is a condition called temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJD). 

TMJD can manifest itself in either the joints or muscles surrounding the jaw and can cause a variety of negative side effects. Lockjaw, nausea, dizziness and can make it hard to chew food. It’s interesting to note that some studies show TMJD as occurring in up to 90 percent of fibromyalgia patients. Stress is believed to play a role in TMJD as it can cause people to clench their jaw and grind their teeth. Orthotic occlusal plates are sometimes used to realign the jaw and relieve pain. Relaxation techniques such as yoga, massage and others can also reduce stress and ease discomfort.