Headache Improvement Through TMD Stabilization Appliance and Self-management Therapies

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to assess headache response of unselected neurology clinic chronic headache patients to TMD stabilization appliance and self-management therapies, and to identify features of patients whose headaches are more likely to improve from these therapies. Twenty chronic headache patients in a nontreatment control period were provided appliance and self-management therapies, evaluated five weeks after therapy, and those who chose to continue using their appliances were evaluated three months later. The mean pretreatment Headache Disability Inventory (HDI) score of 64.5 suggested the headaches were severe. After five weeks, the mean HDI score decreased by 17 percent (p<0.003), headache medication consumption dropped by 18 percent (p<0.0001), and headache symptoms decreased by 19 percent (p<0.002). Comparing the three months with pretreatment follow-up, the fourteen participants who chose to continue using their appliances had a mean HDI score decrease of 23 percent (p<0.003), headache medication consumption drop of 46 percent (p<0.001), and headache symptom decrease of 39 percent (p<0.001). There was no correlation between response and headache type (p=0.722). These results suggest appliance and self-management therapies can be beneficial for many severe headache patients, irrespective of the headache type (tension-type, migraine without aura, and migraine with aura).

Influence of Myofascial Pain on the Pressure Pain Threshold of Masticatory Muscles in Women With Migraine

“…28,29 Future randomized controlled trials should be performed to clarify the relationship between the cause and effect of decreased PPT of masticatory muscles in women with a migraine.…”

Signs and Symptoms of Temporomandibular Joint Disorders Related to the Degree of Mouth Opening and Hearing Loss

“…The temporomandibular joint has muscular and ligamentary connections to the cervical region forming a functional complex. Headache is regarded as the most common symptom (22%) of TMD patients [16], while 55% of chronic headache patients referred to a neurologist had signs or symptoms of TMD [31]. The muscles of the neck and trunk are reported to have a greater electromyographic activity in TMD subjects [32] sensitizing the sympathetic nerves of the autonomous nervous system and leading to headache via the trigeminal nerve.…”

Self-reported aural symptoms, headache and temporomandibular disorders in Japanese young adults

“…Findings from epidemiological and experimental-intervention studies indicate that TMD is a chronic pain condition that can occur in association with some other common chronic pain conditions, notably headaches, pain in the neck and shoulder area and back pain. Headache is regarded as the most common symptom (22%) of TMD patients, while 55% of chronic headache patients referred to a neurologist had signs or symptoms of TMD [11,15]. Investigations evaluating associations between headache and TMD could therefore be of practical relevance with both clinical and social implications.…”