Temporomandibular Joints

You can develop an issue known as temporomandibular joint disorder, sometimes referred to as TMJ or TMD. Although the exact cause isn’t always known, certain factors play a role like arthritis, teeth grinding or clenching, genetics, or a jaw injury.

TMJ can cause you pain in one or both of your joints. Sometimes, you’ll experience pain or an aching sensation that extends to your ears. The pain can interfere with your ability to chew and open your mouth fully. Headaches and neck pain are also possible. Some people experience tinnitus, which is ringing in the ears. A common sign that you have TMJ is you hear a grating or clicking when you open your mouth.

If you only hear a clicking sound when you open your mouth, your TMJ is most likely mild and does not require treatment. However, when you have pain and the TMJ symptoms interfere with your ability to chew, you should seek out treatment.

It’s quite common to experience shoulder and or clavicle pain. Even though the clavicle isn’t a “moving” bone, exterior pressure and weight can bear on this bone and cause discomfort. In addition, pain from one or both shoulders can radiate to the clavicle. Shoulder pain is even more common. Because the shoulder joint is so complex as well as so often used, pain in this area usually occurs to almost everyone at least once.