Interactively View the Anatomy of the Trigeminal Nerve

• Most commonly located around or behind the eyes.
• May be located over the side of the head, on top of the head, on in the back of the head.
• May feel like and be reported as sinus headaches.
• May feel like and be reported as migraine headaches, including visual disturbances.
• May be acute or chronic in nature and quite disabling.
• Onsets vary.
• Duration varies.
• Frequency varies.
• In other words, almost any headache of any nature may be a TMJ headache.

• Usually occur right where the neck joins the skull in the back of the head.
• May be quite severe in nature and very disabling.
• Often described by the patient as a “tension headache”.
• Pain often radiates from the neck to one or both shoulders.

• Can be any muscle or muscle group, especially the muscles of mastication.
• Most often tender at either the origin or insertion.
• May be due to spasm.

• May be chronic or acute.
• May be lancing or dull.

• May be constant or intermittent.
• May be described at ringing, buzzing, humming, or like listening to a sea shell.
• Can become quite severe and produce pain.

• Can be very severe and almost totally disabling.
• May be chronic or intermittent in nature.

• Generally does not motivate patient to seek treatment, but is very noticeable.
• Characterized by a “forward” head position.

• Most common in the ring and little finger.
• May be intermittent or chronic.

• May be unilateral or bilateral.
• Most often occurs as a radiation of the neck pain.
• Can affect one or both shoulders.

• Not a frequent symptom.
• May be quite severe.

• Often described as an ulcer-like symptom.
• Usually intermittent in nature.

• Occasionally quite severe and may in fact be the patient’s chief complaint.
• Usually chronic in nature.