2. Pain in the jaw
The pain caused by TMJ disorder can affect the jaw beyond the temporomandibular joint itself. The pain can extend to any part of the jaw, including points that are directly surrounded by the joint, as well as spots far beyond the joint. In fact, you may not experience any pain in the temporomandibular joint itself, but rather feel pain in other spots in the jaw and the cause could still be TMJ disorder.
This is known as referred pain, or pain that is experienced in other parts of the body than the site of the pain stimulus. If you are experiencing pain in your jaw that doesn’t originate in the temporomandibular joint itself, a doctor will check for other conditions that could be causing your discomfort, such as with the teeth; however, often, pain in any part of the jaw is associated with TMJ disorder.
