Neck pain, jaw pain and other localized pain around the head can be concerning. If you’re feeling pain in your neck and jaw, finding a solution is likely a top priority for you. Discovering an effective solution often depends on understanding the cause of your symptoms. Want to learn what’s causing your neck and jaw pain? A comprehensive physical therapy assessment may provide the answers you need. After an initial evaluation, a licensed physical therapist can begin developing a personalized treatment plan. By learning more about what might be causing your discomfort, you can gain insight into your own condition and how physical therapy could help.

Conditions that could be causing your neck and jaw pain

• TMJ dysfunction — The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is a joint located on each side of your face. This joint connects your jaw to your skull and helps enable jaw movement. If you’re feeling pain around your jaw and neck, it could be a sign that your TMJ is not functioning properly. TMJ dysfunction can occur for various reasons, ranging from jaw injuries to arthritis. Are you unsure if your pain is related to TMJ dysfunction or something else? In addition to jaw and neck pain, TMJ dysfunction has several other key signs. If you have TMJ dysfunction, you may notice that your jaw is stiff. People with TMJ issues often have a hard time moving their jaw to chew or speak. Your jaw may also feel like it locks into place when you close or open your mouth. When you do move your jaw, you may notice a clicking or popping sound. Though TMJ dysfunction primarily affects the jaw, it can lead to referred pain across your head and neck. Tension headaches are one fairly common symptom. You may also feel pain in your neck due to muscle tightness around the jaw.
• Spinal conditions — The cause of pain isn’t always located in the same area as the pain itself. When pain occurs in one part of the body due to an injury or condition affecting another part, it’s called referred pain. Referred pain can occur in the neck and jaw due to issues in the spine. This is especially common with conditions affecting the cervical spine. The cervical spine is the part of the spine that runs through the neck and supports the head. Though your jaw isn’t part of your cervical spine, it can still be affected by conditions such as herniated discs. A herniated disc in the cervical spine can compress surrounding nerves and soft tissue, leading to tension and referred pain around the jaw. The best way to address this kind of pain is to target the root cause. Physical therapy can offer a range of solutions.
• Bruxism — Bruxism is a condition defined by tooth grinding and jaw clenching. These behaviors can occur for many reasons. For some, bruxism is simply an unconscious habit. For others, it’s caused by tension around the jaw. Tooth grinding often happens during the night. While you’re sleeping, you may unconsciously grind your teeth together and clench your jaw tight. Sleep bruxism is fairly common. According to one study, it’s regularly reported by around 8% of the population. Bruxism puts extra stress on your jaw muscles. Over time, it can lead to persistent jaw and neck pain. Bruxism can also lead to dental issues if left unaddressed. If you’re experiencing bruxism while awake, recognizing and changing the behavior can be a good way to prevent further complications. Avoiding sleep bruxism can be more complicated, though. If you grind or clench your teeth while sleeping, wearing a formed mouthguard to bed should help. Your physical therapist can also help by providing treatments designed to alleviate tension around your jaw.

Can anxiety cause neck and back pain?

Are you feeling neck and back pain? These symptoms could be caused by several different conditions. In some cases, the causes of neck and back pain are not only physical — mental stress and anxiety can also play a role. While anxiety may not be directly responsible for your neck and back pain, it can increase your risk of experiencing these symptoms.

One way that anxiety can contribute to the development of neck and back pain is through muscle tension. Anxiety can elicit a stress response from your body. When this happens, your body may reflexively tense up. Chronic anxiety and stress can lead to chronic muscle tension, which can in turn lead to neck and back pain. Anxiety can also lead to behaviors such as jaw clenching and shoulder hunching. These behaviors often contribute to back, neck and jaw pain.

To effectively treat your symptoms, a comprehensive approach is best. Physical therapists take a holistic approach to care; they address each patient as a whole person rather than a set of symptoms. By working one-on-one with your physical therapist, you can find solutions, such as relaxation-focused exercises that can improve your mental and physical well-being.

Can frozen shoulder cause neck and back pain?

Frozen shoulder is a condition also known as adhesive capsulitis. This condition occurs when the capsule of the shoulder joint becomes inflamed. Frozen shoulder can cause discomfort throughout the upper body. Localized pain around the shoulder can lead to referred pain in other areas, including the neck and back. Here are some common symptoms of frozen shoulder:

• Aches — Frozen shoulder is typically accompanied by a dull, aching pain. You may feel persistent pain in and around the shoulder joint. This pain may worsen with activity, and it can radiate to surrounding tissue. Frozen shoulder can also cause pain in your neck and back due to added strain. When your shoulder is stiff due to frozen shoulder, you may change the way you move to accommodate your condition. To compensate for your shoulder’s inability to move, your body will engage different muscles to accomplish tasks that typically involve the shoulder. This can put more strain on surrounding muscles in the neck and upper back. As a result, you may start to experience persistent discomfort in these areas.
• Stiffness — Stiffness is a key symptom of frozen shoulder. Adhesive capsulitis is called frozen shoulder because it causes your shoulder to feel as if it’s frozen in place. You may feel unable to move your arm up and down or side to side at the shoulder joint. Frozen shoulder can also limit your ability to use shoulder muscles for activities like lifting. This stiffness can lead to tension in other areas, such as your back and neck. If your arm feels stiff due to frozen shoulder, physical therapy can help. Treatment methods such as manual therapy can help reduce inflammation and restore your shoulder function.
• Sleeping issues — Having a frozen shoulder can make sleeping difficult, because lying down tends to put more pressure on the shoulder joint. Lying on your side can lead to more pressure than other sleeping positions. When you’re putting weight on your shoulder while sleeping, it can aggravate your condition and lead to more intense discomfort that keeps you awake. By addressing your frozen shoulder, you can alleviate your pain and return to a more restful sleeping pattern. With physical therapy techniques like targeted stretches, you can reduce inflammation around the shoulder joint and experience lasting relief.

Lattimore Physical Therapy can help address your neck, jaw and back pain

Lattimore Physical Therapy offers an array of pain relief treatments. We can help you identify and address the cause of your pain. With our help, you can start your journey toward long-term relief from your upper body pain.

Contact our team today for more information about our treatment options or to schedule an initial appointment.