What is TMJ?
TMJ stands for temporomandibular joint disorder. It refers to a group of conditions that affect the temporomandibular joints, which connect your jawbone to your skull. These joints allow you to open and close your mouth and move your jaw from side to side. TMJ disorder causes pain and dysfunction in these joints. Some common symptoms include:
- Jaw pain or soreness
- Clicking, popping, or grinding noises when opening or closing the mouth
- Difficulty opening the mouth wide
- Locking of the jaw when attempting to open the mouth
- Headaches or earaches
TMJ can be caused by various factors like injury, arthritis, grinding or clenching of teeth, stress, and more. It is a relatively common disorder, estimated to affect about 10-15% of adults. Women are more frequently affected than men.
Can TMJ make you feel tired?
Yes, TMJ disorder can make you feel tired for a few reasons:
Pain and discomfort
The constant pain and discomfort in the jaw area from TMJ can be exhausting. It may make it difficult to fall asleep or stay asleep, leading to fatigue. Even during the day, the nagging pain can drain your energy.
Difficulty eating
Chewing and eating requires using the temporomandibular joints. If these joints are damaged or inflamed, eating can become challenging and painful. This may cause people with TMJ to avoid eating properly, resulting in nutritional deficiencies that lead to low energy levels.
Stress and tension
Coping with chronic TMJ pain is stressful for many people. High stress often disrupts sleep and can result in fatigue. The muscles surrounding the jaw joint tend to tense up when you’re stressed, which can worsen TMJ symptoms. This cycle of pain and stress can be mentally and physically draining.
Medication side effects
Some medications used to treat TMJ like muscle relaxants and anti-inflammatory drugs can cause drowsiness as a side effect. This may contribute to increased fatigue.
Poor sleep quality
TMJ pain and discomfort often interfere with sleep. The inability to fall into deep, restful sleep can leave you feeling tired and fatigued during the daytime. TMJ may also cause issues like sleep apnea, which further diminishes sleep quality.
Depression
Chronic pain conditions like TMJ are associated with increased risk of depression. Depression can cause symptoms like low energy, fatigue, and excessive sleeping.
So in summary, TMJ can definitely make you feel overtired due to the pain, discomfort, difficulty eating, medication effects, poor sleep, and depression that often accompany this condition. Seeking proper treatment for the TMJ disorder is important to manage the symptoms.
How does fatigue from TMJ present itself?
Here are some of the main ways that fatigue shows up as a symptom of TMJ disorder:
- Excessive daytime sleepiness
- Increased need for naps
- Brain fog and inability to concentrate
- Low motivation and difficulty starting tasks
- Fatigue even after a full night’s rest
- Drowsiness throughout the day
- Feeling “wired but tired” – exhausted but unable to sleep
- Caffeine does not relieve the fatigue
- Head feels heavy and eyelids droop
- Sluggish cognitive tempo
- Changes in mood – more irritable, sad, stressed
- Lack of energy for exercise or social activities
The tiredness can range from mild fatigue to severe exhaustion that impedes daily functioning. The fatigue may come and go or be persistent. Paying attention to patterns of when the exhaustion occurs can help identify triggers. Keeping a diary to track symptoms and energy levels can provide insight.
How common is fatigue with TMJ?
Studies suggest that fatigue and lack of energy are very common among people with temporomandibular joint disorders:
- A 2016 study found 77% of people with TMJ reported fatigue as a symptom.
- In a survey of over 3,000 TMJ patients, more than half said they felt tired and worn out.
- Up to 31% of people with TMJ may experience excessive daytime sleepiness.
- One study showed 85% of patients had sleep problems due to TMJ pain.
- Research indicates people with TMJ have higher rates of anxiety and depression, both associated with fatigue.
So while estimates vary among different studies, most evidence indicates a majority of TMJ patients – around 50-80% – complain of substantial fatigue or lack of energy. This suggests fatigue is one of the most common yet overlooked symptoms of this condition.
Why does TMJ cause fatigue?
There are several explanations for why TMJ often leads to increased feelings of tiredness and low energy:
Pain and inflammation
The ongoing pain signals from the damaged temporomandibular joints and facial muscles can be mentally and physically exhausting for the body to manage. The inflammation may also release cytokines that make you feel sick and fatigued.
Impaired sleep
Many people with TMJ have trouble falling asleep and staying asleep due to pain. Chronic lack of quality sleep contributes greatly to fatigue. TMJ may also contribute to sleep disorders like sleep apnea.
Nutritional deficiencies
Difficulty chewing and eating due to TMJ pain can lead to inadequate intake of important nutrients, which may create fatigue. Deficiencies in iron, vitamin B12, vitamin D, and magnesium are especially linked to low energy.
Stress response
TMJ pain triggers the body’s stress systems, including the hormone cortisol and the sympathetic nervous system. Chronic activation of these stress pathways is linked to fatigue.
Depression and anxiety
Coping with constant TMJ pain is associated with higher rates of depression and anxiety. Both take a toll on your energy levels.
Jaw muscle overuse
People with TMJ often clench, grind, or overuse the jaw muscles. This muscle fatigue can make you feel tired.
Medication side effects
Medicines like muscle relaxants, opioids, and anti-inflammatories used for TMJ pain may cause drowsiness.
So in summary, the pain, inflammation, nutritional effects, sleep impairment, stress response, mood changes, and medication side effects of TMJ all conspire together to sap your daily energy levels.
Tips for reducing fatigue from TMJ
Here are some tips that may help reduce fatigue if you have TMJ disorder:
- Get enough sleep – Maintain a regular sleep schedule and sleep hygiene habits.
- Take frequent breaks – Take short breaks throughout the day to recharge.
- Exercise – Light physical activity can boost energy. Avoid excessive jaw clenching.
- Try relaxation techniques – Massage, yoga, deep breathing can reduce stress.
- Consume energizing foods – Eat a balanced diet with whole foods.
- Stay hydrated – Dehydration worsens fatigue.
- Consider supplements – Magnesium, B vitamins, iron, CoQ10 may help.
- Pace yourself – Adjust your schedule and take things slower when needed.
- Treat TMJ – Seek therapies that address pain and dysfunction.
- Communicate with your doctor – Report fatigue symptoms so they can assist.
- Monitor caffeine intake – Too much caffeine can exacerbate tension.
Making lifestyle changes, using coping strategies, and treating the root TMJ problem can help boost your energy levels. But discuss significant fatigue with your doctor to identify any underlying health issues.
When to see a doctor for fatigue from TMJ
Consult your doctor promptly if your fatigue from TMJ is:
- Severe or interfering with your daily activities
- Persisting most days for over 2 weeks
- Accompanied by other concerning symptoms like fever, weakness, dizziness, chest pain, etc.
- Not improving with lifestyle remedies and more rest
Your doctor can assess for other potential medical causes of fatigue beyond TMJ, like:
- Sleep apnea
- Chronic fatigue syndrome
- Underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism)
- Anemia
- Depression
- Nutrient deficiencies
- Side effects of medications
Diagnostic tests like blood work, sleep studies, and questionnaires can help identify any underlying conditions. Your doctor may be able to provide further TMJ treatments or refer you to a specialist like a dentist, neurologist, or pain clinician to better manage your symptoms.
Long term outlook for fatigue from TMJ
With proper treatment, the prognosis for fatigue caused by TMJ disorder is generally good. Here is an overview of the long term outlook:
- Mild TMJ: Fatigue may resolve completely with rest, physical therapy, and pain relievers. No permanent joint damage.
- Moderate TMJ: May experience periodic fatigue flares. Requires some long-term lifestyle changes to manage symptoms. Risk of depression.
- Severe TMJ: Fatigue may persist at moderate level without remedy. Higher risk of chronic fatigue syndrome. May require surgery to correct joint damage.
- With effective TMJ treatment and fatigue management, most people see gradual improvement in energy levels over 6-12 months.
- Cognitive behavioral therapy and anti-depressants can help with mood disorders and fatigue.
- Relapses can occur during periods of increased stress. Ongoing stress reduction important.
- Regular exercise, good sleep habits, balanced nutrition support sustained energy.
In summary, a diligent self-care regimen and comprehensive TMJ treatment plan can typically resolve fatigue issues from TMJ over the long-term. But some chronic fatigue may remain possible depending on severity. Close provider follow-up is key.
Conclusion
Fatigue and lack of energy are common but often overlooked symptoms of TMJ disorders. The majority of people with TMJ report substantial tiredness due to pain, poor sleep, nutrition issues, medication effects, and mood changes. Making lifestyle adjustments, using energy conservation techniques, and properly treating the TMJ itself can help manage fatigue. But severe or persistent exhaustion should be medically evaluated for other potential causes. With a well-coordinated treatment approach, the prognosis for recovering from TMJ-related fatigue is generally favorable over time.