Jaw stiffness is a common complaint that can disrupt daily life, making simple actions like chewing, speaking, or yawning uncomfortable. Many people immediately associate this discomfort with temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders, but jaw stiffness does not always point to TMJ issues alone. In fact, muscles in the neck and shoulders can also contribute to or even cause jaw stiffness. Understanding the connection between these areas can help you identify the root cause and f

The brain's limbic system is comprised of the hippocampus, amygdala, and the hypothalamus. It is responsible for the majority of emotional processing, storage of memories, sexual arousal, and learning. Individuals with an anxiety disorder may have heightened activity in these areas. The main function of the amygdala is in emotional responses, including feelings of happiness, fear, anger, and anxiety. The amygdala is linked to your fight or flight response. Anxiety happens

Pain is not “all in your head,” but the way we think and respond to pain can influence how our nervous system experiences it. When pain persists, it is easy to fall into fearful or negative thoughts such as, “This will never get better”or “Something must be seriously wrong.” These thoughts can increase stress and tension, which may make pain feel even more overwhelming. Positive self-talk does not mean pretending the pain is not real. Instead, it involves responding to yourse

Headaches…Stomach aches…Nausea…Muscle pain…Tension in jaw. All of these can be signs and symptoms of anxiety. Your autonomic nervous...

Did you know that TMJ disorder and chronic sinusitis share many of the same symptoms? Headaches, jaw and neck pain, facial pressure,...

What is TMD? Temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) are a group of more than 30 conditions that can cause pain and dysfunction in the jaw...

We are frequently asked about tinnitus. What can we do to help and what is causing the issue. Here are some points of interested for...

By: Kristie Bray, LPCC The brain's limbic system is comprised of the hippocampus, amygdala, and the hypothalamus. It is responsible for...

TMJ and Daily Life Don’t let TMJ (temporomandibular joint) dysfunction hijack your life. When it comes to managing chronic pain, small...

Central Sensitization: A Generator of Pain Hypersensitivity by Central Neural Plasticity Alban Latremoliere and Clifford J. Woolf Neural...

What Is The Cause of Chronic Pain? To answer this question, we need to understand some facts about the nervous system. Whatever its...

Most of us living in the Ohio Valley are plagued every spring and fall by seasonal allergies. Sometimes these little nuisances come and...

Cranial Compliance and its Role In Chronic Pain Since I began my journey into the world of healthcare I was taught very early on that...