Craniofacial Pain in EDS/HSD

Craniofacial pain is a term that is used to describe any pain in your face, neck or head that is chronic or ongoing. The most common kind of craniofacial pain is TMJ, or temporomandibular joint disorder. But there is another called CCD, also known as Craniocervical disorder. We often forget that our faces can be affected by unstable joints, so it's important to know what it is and what causes

The symptoms of TMJ include migraine headaches, earaches, abnormal or painful jaw movements, ear pain, pain in and around the eye, cheek pain, and jaw pain. In addition, some patients report having a locked jaw, a jaw that deviates to one side, having a hard time finding a comfortable resting place, cracking and popping, or excessive or limited movement.

CCD is used to describe a disorder that initiates from the vertebrae of the neck. The symptoms include limited head movement (esp. rotation), trouble swallowing, forward head posture, upper neck pain, sore/tender/weak neck, snapping or popping with regular head movement, and cervical referral pain into the face.

People with EDS are more prone to facial pain, especially if you are particularly hypermobile in the joints close to the neck and skull. Just one joint can cause a cascade of effects not only in the jaw and skull, but also with the other related cartilage and muscles.

These can also be paused by muscle spasms and stricture, circulatory restriction, neurological abbreviations, and skeletal displacement (especially in the cervical spine)

Be sure to consult with your primary care physician or other medical professionals in regards to your medical concerns. This text cannot and should not replace advice from the patient's healthcare professionals. Any person who experiences symptoms or feels that something may be wrong should seek individual professional help for evaluation and/or treatment. This information is for guidance only.