Headaches & Jaw Pain in Plymouth

Understanding your symptoms and finding the right approach to your care.


Headaches and jaw pain can affect your concentration, sleep, work and everyday activities. Whether you're experiencing recurring headaches, discomfort around your jaw or tension through your neck and shoulders, understanding what's contributing to your symptoms is an important first step.


At First Touch Osteopathy, we assess musculoskeletal factors that may contribute to certain types of headache and jaw discomfort.


We'll take the time to understand your symptoms, carry out an appropriate assessment and discuss whether osteopathic treatment or another approach is suitable for you.



Understanding Headaches and Jaw Pain

Headaches and jaw discomfort can have several possible causes, and symptoms can sometimes overlap.


Some headaches are associated with problems involving the muscles and joints of the neck, while others, including migraine, have different underlying mechanisms.


Jaw pain can involve the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), the muscles used for chewing or a combination of factors.


Understanding the nature of your symptoms is important in deciding whether musculoskeletal treatment may be appropriate or whether you would benefit from assessment by your GP, dentist or another healthcare professional.

What Types Of Back And Neck Problems Do We Assess?

Neck-related Headaches

Jaw Pain & TMJ Discomfort

Neck-related Headaches

Headaches that may be associated with movement or dysfunction of the joints and muscles of the neck.

Tension-type Headaches

Jaw Pain & TMJ Discomfort

Neck-related Headaches

Headaches that can feel like pressure or tightness around the head, sometimes accompanied by neck or shoulder tenderness.

Jaw Pain & TMJ Discomfort

Jaw Pain & TMJ Discomfort

Jaw Clicking & Restricted Movement

Pain or discomfort around the jaw joint, face or surrounding muscles, particularly during chewing or speaking.

Jaw Clicking & Restricted Movement

Recurring Head, Neck & Jaw Symptoms

Jaw Clicking & Restricted Movement

Clicking, catching or difficulty opening the mouth comfortably, sometimes associated with temporomandibular disorders.

Neck & Shoulder Tension

Recurring Head, Neck & Jaw Symptoms

Recurring Head, Neck & Jaw Symptoms

Muscular discomfort and stiffness that may occur alongside certain headaches or jaw problems.

Recurring Head, Neck & Jaw Symptoms

Recurring Head, Neck & Jaw Symptoms

Recurring Head, Neck & Jaw Symptoms

Symptoms that keep returning or appear to be associated with particular activities, movements or periods of increased stress.

Not every headache or jaw problem is musculoskeletal. Assessment helps establish whether osteopathic care is appropriate or another professional should be involved.

Our approach to headaches and jaw pain

We take an individual approach to understanding your symptoms and deciding on the most appropriate next steps.


1. Listen and assess

We'll ask about your symptoms, medical history and any factors that appear to influence your headaches or jaw discomfort.

Where appropriate, we'll assess your neck, jaw movement and surrounding muscles.


2. Discuss your treatment options

If your symptoms are suitable for osteopathic care, we may recommend appropriate hands-on techniques, movement advice and exercises.

We'll explain our findings and involve you in decisions about treatment.


3. Plan your next steps

We'll discuss practical strategies for managing your symptoms and identify when further investigation or another healthcare professional may be appropriate.

Our aim is to help you understand your problem and make informed decisions about your care.

Could your neck be contributing to your headaches?

Some headaches, known as cervicogenic headaches, originate from structures within the neck.

These headaches may be associated with neck pain, restricted movement or discomfort triggered by particular head and neck positions.


Our osteopaths can assess your neck movement, muscles and joints alongside your wider symptoms to help determine whether a musculoskeletal problem may be contributing.


If appropriate, your care may include hands-on treatment, exercises and advice about managing your symptoms. Where your symptoms suggest another type of headache or require further investigation, we'll discuss the appropriate next steps.

Most headaches are not caused by a serious underlying condition, but some symptoms require urgent assessment.


If you experience a sudden, extremely severe headache, particularly one that reaches maximum intensity within seconds, seek emergency medical attention.


A headache accompanied by new weakness, speech difficulties, confusion, loss of vision or other sudden neurological symptoms also requires emergency assessment. Call 999.


New or significantly changing headaches, or persistent jaw pain, should be discussed with an appropriate healthcare professional.


If you're unsure whether an osteopathy appointment is suitable, please contact us before booking.

Understanding Jaw Pain and TMJ Problems

Your temporomandibular joints connect your lower jaw to your skull and are involved in everyday activities such as talking, chewing and yawning.


Problems affecting these joints or the surrounding muscles are commonly known as temporomandibular disorders (TMD).


Symptoms may include pain around the jaw, clicking, difficulty opening your mouth comfortably or tenderness in the muscles of your face.


We can assess musculoskeletal factors that may be contributing to your symptoms and discuss suitable treatment options, which may include gentle hands-on techniques and exercises.

Where dental problems, persistent locking or other symptoms require specialist assessment, we'll recommend that you speak to your dentist, GP or an appropriate specialist.

Osteopathy Prices

Our Plymouth Clinic

Our Plymouth Clinic

£85

Initial osteopathy appointment

Includes consultation, assessment and treatment where appropriate.


£50

Follow-up osteopathy appointment

Book an appointment

Our Plymouth Clinic

Our Plymouth Clinic

Our Plymouth Clinic

First Touch Osteopathy

John Moore Dental

51 Houndiscombe Road

Plymouth PL4 6EX


Street parking is available nearby.

Get directions

Headaches & TMJ FAQs

Please reach us at hello@firsttouchosteo.co.uk if you cannot find an answer to your question.

Osteopaths can assess musculoskeletal problems that may contribute to certain headaches, particularly those associated with the neck. Whether treatment is appropriate depends on the type of headache and your individual assessment.

Problems involving the muscles and joints of the neck can contribute to certain types of headache. However, neck tension can also occur alongside headaches that have other causes, so an appropriate assessment is important.

Jaw clicking is relatively common and doesn't always indicate a problem requiring treatment. If clicking is accompanied by pain, locking or difficulty opening your mouth, an assessment may be appropriate.

This depends on your symptoms. Dentists can assess dental causes and temporomandibular disorders. Osteopaths may assess associated musculoskeletal problems. In some circumstances, input from both professions may be appropriate. With our clinic located inside a dentists practice, we can swiftly provide you with the care needed.

Your first appointment begins with a consultation and assessment. If osteopathic treatment is appropriate and there is sufficient time, treatment may begin during the same appointment.

Osteopathy

Sports Injury & Rehabilitation

Back & Neck Pain

Learn more about our general osteopathic assessment and treatment.

Osteopathy

Back & Neck Pain

Sports Injury & Rehabilitation

Back & Neck Pain

Individual assessment and treatment for new, persistent or recurring back and neck problems.

Back & Neck Pain

Sports Injury & Rehabilitation

Sports Injury & Rehabilitation

Sports Injury & Rehabilitation

Assessment and rehabilitation for sports and exercise-related injuries.

Sports INJURY & REHABILITATION

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