Headache is one of the most common complaints of those who suffer with various types of TMJ problems. The first well-known classification of headache pain was proposed in 1962 by the Ad Hoc Committee on Classification of Headache of the National Institute of Neurolgical Diseases and Blindness. Because there are certainly more than three main types of headaches, in 1987 the International Headache Society developed more specific criteria to provide greater uniformity and reproducibility in the diagnosis of headache. However, for most doctors and patients, it is still useful to divide all headache pain into the three original categories. Occassionally, the headache is bilateral Traction-Inflammatory Headaches.
Examples are brain tumors, anneurysms, infections, and neuralgias.
Symptoms vary and can't be neatly categorized. However, often the pain of headaches falling into this category is very severe, increases when the sufferer bends over or coughs, and may be accompanied by other neurologic symptoms. The most common type of headache is the muscle contraction or tension headache. The TMJ headache is a Tension type of headache. The pain of muscle contraction headache usually starts in the forehead, temples or back of the head and spreads over the neck and shoulders.