Q Since my jaw joint got worse, I've developed headaches and ringing in my ears (tinnitus) at the same time. Are they related?
A Yes, a jaw joint problem is closely connected to tension-type headache, ringing in the ears, and forward-head symptoms through tension in the temporalis and neck muscles.
Detailed Answer
When the chewing muscles around the jaw joint become excessively tense, the tension spreads to the temple muscles and neck muscles, producing tension-type headache. Because the jaw joint and the ear are anatomically close, a joint problem may also appear as ringing in the ears or a blocked-ear sensation. Rather than treating headache and tinnitus separately, they should be addressed together with the jaw joint to prevent recurrence.
Korean Medicine Clinic Perspective
At Dongjedang, we see these accompanying symptoms as "a signal arising from rising heat and a stiff neck and shoulders blocking circulation to the head and face." So we proceed together with treatment that brings down the rising heat (cheongsang) and releases the neck and shoulders to open up circulation to the head and face. The jaw, headache, and ear ringing often subside together.
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