TMJ pain isn’t always limited to the area where your jaw joints are. It’s actually quite common for the discomfort to radiate well into your forehead, scalp, ears, neck, shoulders, back, and your teeth.
Since bruxism (clenching and grinding) is a primary factor with TMJ disorder, it’s important to look at the condition as a series of muscles contracting over and over. Each of those muscles has an entry point where they connect to your body. If one end is at the TMJ, the other is elsewhere. That’s why it’s so common for your neck and shoulders to tense up if you’re constantly tightening your jaw.
Headaches and earaches are common symptoms of TMJ disorder. Even if you visit an ENT and have no apparent signs of an ear infection, you could have serious ear pain because of how close your ears are to your TMJ.
And of course, it’s possible to feel pain in and immediately around your TMJ. Joint stiffness, popping, clicking, and limited range of motion are some of the most common symptoms to accompany any soreness.