yes yes yes---heat helps also a little massage helps too

I also suffer from upper back pain on the same side as TMJ. This has been present for long time even before TMJ. It is in the subscapular (shoulder blade) area up to the neck. I also notice that my neck muscles and even soft tissues/glands are inflamed very often.

Also, the shoulder often pops in and out too, especially if I rotate it around, unlike the other side, it is less stable, and is prone to pain if I lay on it.

I have shihatsu massage every week, and recently he has been working the muscles on the side of the breast by the ribs and also the upper chest area - it seems to help. He said the muscles in between the ribs are spasmed as well. I find stretching helps - AND I try to keep my hands off my face - I tend to constantly probe and feel around, pop my jaw, check the crepitus, etc - I know this is bad!!

yeah resist the urge as much as possible things do get better--i know it seems like it doesnt and that it never will--but it does

scalene pain and inflammation suck. Mine will actually spasm at times. My joint is out and it affects the muscles around my head too. Not fun. Even pushing on blood vessels at times and making me go foggey and feel drunk almost. Thank God for my hot tub. It helps a ton.

Yes- some days the scalenes do not bother me - on days they do, it's very painful EVERYWHERE. I get a low of under-the-jaw pain and also in the notch behind the jaw right under the ear - when I press there, it hurts, but not all the time!! This is why I tend to think it's muscles, not glands - nothing is swollen. thanks for the feedback - I actually hope this is tmj and not something dreadful...p