Facial Pain in Migraine

Lower facial pain during a migraine attack occurs in 9% of migraine patients, according to a recent report published in Cephalalgia by German researchers.  One of the 517 migraine patients they looked at had lower facial pain as the leading symptom of migraine.  Some of my patients with lower facial pain wonder if they have a disorder of the temporo-mandibular joint (TMJ).   Some of them do benefit from an oral appliance that reduces grinding and clenching, in most however, a successful treatment of their migraines with abortive or prophylactic medications will often relieve the jaw pain as well.