Jaw pain can be challenging and complex to diagnose. While it’s natural to suspect dental issues or jaw-related problems, the body’s pain pathways don’t always play by the rules. Let’s explore a case of a patient who presented recently to our office with persistent jaw pain.
This 60-year-old woman had already sought care from her dentist, who believed her lower second molar was the source of her discomfort. After extracting the tooth, however, her pain persisted. When she arrived at our office, she continued to point to her lower jaw as the source of her discomfort.
Uncovering the Real Source of Pain
During her evaluation, we examined her jaw muscles and surrounding areas. While her masseter muscle was tender, it didn’t seem to explain the extent of her symptoms. Expanding the assessment to include other muscles, we palpated her trapezius.
The trapezius, a large muscle in the neck and shoulder, revealed an interesting clue. Pressing on a specific tender point in her trapezius not only caused local discomfort but also referred pain directly to her jaw. This finding suggested that her jaw pain wasn’t originating in her teeth or jaw but was referred pain from a trigger point in her trapezius. Thus, we performed a trigger point injection into her trapezius. The result? Immediate relief—her jaw pain went away at that visit.
What Are Trigger Point Injections?
Trigger points are taut bands, colloquially known as knots, in muscles that can form due to stress, overuse, or injury. They’re not only painful on their own but can also refer pain to distant areas.
A trigger point injection is a minimally invasive procedure that targets these knots directly. Using a fine needle, a small amount of local anesthetic is injected into the trigger point and the knot is broken up by a needling process. This intentionally creates a micro injury to stimulate healing, help the muscle relax, and disrupts the pain cycle. Many patients experience immediate and lasting relief.
Why Did Pain Refer to Her Jaw?
Muscle pain can be deceptive because of the phenomenon of referred pain. The trapezius, for example, has referral patterns that overlap with areas in the jaw and face. This can make pain from a trapezius trigger point feel like it’s coming from the jaw.
In this patient’s case, the pain she experienced in her lower jaw was referred pain originating in her shoulder. Her tooth extraction didn’t resolve the issue because the root cause was musculoskeletal, not dental.
A Complex Puzzle with a Simple Solution
This case highlights how interconnected our muscles and pain pathways are. Jaw pain isn’t always about the jaw—it can stem from trigger points in seemingly unrelated areas.
Trigger point injections are a valuable tool in resolving pain like this, offering both relief and insight into its true origins. If you’re dealing with persistent or unexplained pain, exploring the possibility of referred pain and trigger points might provide the answers you’ve been searching for.
Could a trigger point injection be the solution to your pain? Let’s find out together.
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