Dr. Katz, iHATEheadaches Blog

Stress has been shown to be a major factor in the onset and longevity of tension headaches. We all experience occasional tension headaches. Sometimes they come infrequently but sometimes they can become chronic occurring on a daily basis. Chemical levels in the body such as serotonin and endorphins may be effected by outside stresses on the body and may be the trigger for many headaches.

Frequent episodic tension type headaches can last from hours today. They are bilateral, pressing and frequently coexist with migraines without aura.

Many years ago, I treated a middle aged women who suffered from almost daily headaches. She was also being treated by a neurologist for her headaches and I don't recall any TMJ related
symptoms that might have been contributing to her condition.
She was very high strung, nervous and asked to be sedated for her dental treatment. This occurred over twenty five years ago so I don't have her records available to me any longer but I do remember the following episode very well. I remember that she had a very unusual name with 6 or seven consonants and one vowel. A name I had much trouble pronouncing.

I completed her dental treatment under sedation and she then disappeared from my practice.
I remember that on her last visit I wished her well and hoped that she would eventually find relief from her chronic and debilitating headaches.

A few years later I was introduced to a new patient with the same unusual name as
the woman with the headaches I had seen previously. The patient was a very pleasant, neat
young woman with no dental needs other that a good cleaning.
After my initial examination, I mentioned to her that a few years back I had seen someone
with the same unusual name and out of curiosity asked if there was any relationship.
"Why Yes, she answered me, that was my mother.

I was quite surprised and my immediate question was about her mother's headaches.
"Does she still get them. Are her headaches still as debilitating as they had been."

My Mother , she answered does not get any headaches any more she's doing great and very happy. Astounded, I asked what accounted for the dramatic turn around in her mothers
health. She divorced my father she answered. She just left him.
We both broke out laughing. I was quite amazed and very happy for her mother.
It was a great lesson learned. The mind can definitely effect our bodies and health both in a positive and a negative way. Medication is not always the answer.

True story
So, for your own good health, treat your spouse well

I had not seen Donna, who was now 50 years old, for more than six years. On examination Donna showed evidence of multiple caries and moderate periodontal disease. She had four bicuspids missing,her teeth were crooked and crowded and it was obvious from the four bicuspid extractions that she had had braces at a young age. Her main concern was that she was very dissatisfied with how her teeth looked. She could not open her mouth very wide and made a lot of noise when opening and closing her mouth but was not concerned about it..

"Do you also have shoulder pain", I asked. she told me her shoulders always hurt especially on the left side. "What about your neck?" Her neck had been hurting for as long as she could remember. ' But that's because I sit in front of a computer screen all day. "Well, how about headaches, do you get them often?" I get them a lot especially when I'm tense around my temples and over my eyes. "Do your fingers tingle too." Yes she said, but how did you know that and what does all this have to do with my teeth. "

"Good question", I answered. Maybe your symptoms are all related to your posture, work habits, level of tension and migraines. But you have certain symptoms that can also come form another source, the relationship of your upper to your lower jaw, the relationship of how your teeth come together (occlusion) and the effect the position of your teeth and jaws have on your neck, shoulder and jaw muscles.From the noise your jaws were making it sounds like you jaws (TMJoints)have taken a beating. That popping noise and grinding feeling has to do with your jaw
fitting in the groove of your skull. Like worn shock absorbers or worn brakes , your jaw has become poorly aligned and could just be the cause of your headaches , neck pain and even tingling in your hands. Just like realigning your tires and getting new brakes your car will function better and last longer.

Your teeth are not isolated a vacuum that's your mouth. Your teeth are part of a system in your body and changes in that system effects other parts of your body. From your teeth to your neck and shoulders to your ears hands and back.

Your body likes to be in balance and when one of its parts goes out of balance
it lets you know by sending you pain signals. After a while those sharp pains become low grade chronic pain and only become acute if an additional factor suddenly reminds the body that there is still an imbalance and it making you hurt. Worn and broken teeth, shifting teeth, painful jaw joints, bad bite, limit opening and closing are all things that might be causing or contributing to severe head pain.

So when I examined Donna again, I told her I was not only looking at her teeth but that I was observing signs and symptoms that might be telling me that she may have more problems than broken fillings and an unsightly smile that might need addressing.
She was definitely impressed and surprised that I was paying attention to so many thing besides just her teeth. "When I look at you, I told her, I see more than just teeth". I see someone who wants to be as healthy as she can be."