It is uncommon to have neck pain due to TMJ problems, as the muscles involved are all connected and go from your face to the neck and the shoulder.

I also strangely suffer from back pain in the subscapular area by the shoulder blade. and up to the neck.

I know that my posture is not that good. My neck has a tendency to protrude forward. I also have clicking in my right shoulder. I am thinking that couple traumas caused it.


Have you had any previous car accident, neck or shoulder injury?

Working by the computer also makes my pain unbareable in the neck and upper back on the right side although I am left handed, but I use the mouse with the right hand. Since no longer working with the computers that much, I am seeing improvement. It is very important to sleep with the bach and neck straight. Best position I found is one on the stomach, this way the neck is forced back. After long day when I lay down in this position I feel tingling in the lowest part of the back, like electrical kind of sensations when I try to relax.

I would also recommend a TENS unit, (Transcutatnous electrical stimulation), have you tried it with physical therapy? It helps me when the pain is very bad. Also the capcaisin cream/liquid roll on helps me too.

Please tell us what physical therapy you had?

you mean not uncommon right? its pretty typical to have neck and shoulde pain.

Thanks for the reply. I didn't have any car accident or injury. Since I am a computer programmer, I used to sit with the computer 8 hrs a day. But I quit the job last december to take care of my health. But still the problem is there. My GP thinks it is stress ,so gave me some muscle relaxer.

Currently I don't have any major stress , spending time with my 4yrs old son. After my chiropractor told me that my side of the neck muscle ( from ear to the collar bon) always swollen and tight asked me to see a dentist.

I am currently using the night guard(NTI) and seeing massage therapist for complete body massage.

I still can't sit and stand for longer time as it hurts my neck and shoulder and back to leg also.

I don't know whether I should see TMJ speaclist or should focus on neck and pain treatment

working at the computer and having your neck in an odd position may be your cause as well as stress---its not always caused by trauma. i would get into a chiropractor--that might just solve your whole problem you might not even have tmd. but id go to a specialist just to make sure

Thanks for the reply. I saw two different chiropractors. The second one told me that he couldn't find any problem in my spine area and to go and see a dentist.

Regd my dental issues, my front tooth got damaged when I was 10 and I had to do
root canal for 4 times for that tooth and finally extracted and done bridge work as I wrote earlier. Do you think that would have changed my bite and jaw misalignment.
Because the pain starts both side from back of the ear to the neck to the shoulder. But I don't have any problem in opening the jaw or something... anyway as you said i want to make sure it is not TMD.

Sometime I feel I think too much about the pain and it comes daily and switches the side... I really don't know the pain is physical or mental..

Thanks

did you see an atlas orthoganist? there may be a problem not with your back but with your neck. Pain isnt mental I doubt that you are the kind of person that makes up pain. I went to an atlas orthoganist and it was the only thing next to nmd that helped at all. in fact the atlas orthoganist was what got me to the nmd and they worked together and that is why i had success.

Would like to hear a follow-up. I had a root canal performed last summer on a lower back tooth. Now I am experiencing pain from right ear, down neck, and shoulder. Dentist xrayed and saw no problem. Now what?

Dear Murugad,

It is so strange you mention your front tooth having a tooth canal. I had same thing - no trauma, except for dentist did a bad job, and then it got infected, and then she did the canal wrong, so I had it redone just about two year ago, and I thank God so far so good, because they had to cut and drain the infection, my face was swollen and they even consider putting IV antibiotics, but I ended up just taking antibiotic pills.
You mentioned the pain goes down your leg. That is very interesting, because it might indicate lower back problems, how is your lower back?
Ed