The exceptionally windy days and influxes in temperature that we have been experiencing over the past few weeks have really taken a toll on my poor head. It seems like I have a headache everyday and if I don’t have one, I can feel something creeping up as the weather begins to take a turn for the worse. Thankfully, I am not one of the 3 million Canadian women that suffer from migraine headaches, although when I do get a headache, I end up feeling a lot of pain and discomfort in my jaw joint – probably because I can’t help but cringe and clench my teeth together due to Mother Nature’s fascination with playing with our weather so often.
In order to feel some relief, migraine and TMD sufferers turn to over-the-counter and prescription medications in order to manage their pain and discomfort. Medications can be hard on our system, which is why this relatively new treatment for migraines is so exciting!
Clenching and Grinding and Headaches, OH MY!
Clenching and grinding of the teeth (bruxism) is often caused by stress or anxiety. Because bruxism occurs mostly at night, individuals often wake up in the morning with pain in the muscles of the face and jaw and for some, tension or migraine headaches. Conventional treatments generally consist of wearing a custom made dental splint at night. The splint repositions the jaw, helping to prevent the grinding and clenching from occurring. The splint is also designed to protect the teeth from wear and fracture caused by the excessive forces on the teeth.
A Unique Recommendation for Pain Management
Botox© is typically used as a cosmetic treatment for wrinkle reduction however, Botox© Therapeutic is now being used by dentists to treat migraine headaches and disorders of the TMJ (jaw joint). Yes, you read that right! The cosmetic injection best known for turning back the hands of time is now considered a medical treatment for a number of aliments. Botox©, a naturally purified protein, is highly effective in relaxing the muscles that are responsible for headache pain and bruxism. Botox© Therapeutic is a quick and relatively painless, non-invasive treatment; in fact, the injection is similar to the fine, pain-free needle that diabetic patients use for their insulin injections. When used for the treatment of bruxism, Botox© Therapeutic can be combined with splint therapy to relieve jaw tension by preventing the muscles from engaging in involuntary and extremely tense contractions that produce headaches and muscle pain. Therapeutic Botox© has also been successful in treating limited jaw movement or lock jaw, clicking or popping of the jaw, and ringing of the ears (tinnitus). Patients that suffer from chronic migraine headaches have noticed significant pain relief when Botox© is utilized in conjunction with their preventative treatment plan.
If you experience headaches and/or jaw pain, Botox© Therapeutic may be a great treatment option for you.
