Do a Herniated Disc in the Neck and the Jaw Joint Affect Each Other?

Key points in 30 seconds

1. The lower jaw hangs from the head, and the head sits on top of the neck.
2. When your head juts forward, the lower jaw is pushed back.
3. On the other hand, when the jaw shifts, the head tilts and the neck goes out of line with it.
4. If treating only the neck keeps wearing off, we also look at what's coming down from above.
5. If your arm goes numb or your hand loses strength, it needs to be checked separately.

What we often hear

• "The back of my neck is always stiff, and headaches come with it."
• "My neck and jaw are both uncomfortable. Where should we start?"
• "I've tried changing pillows, but nothing changes."

Do a herniated disc in the neck and the jaw joint affect each other?

They do. The lower jaw hangs from the skull and the head sits on top of the neck, so when the angle of the neck changes, where the jaw closes changes too.

That's why we look at the jaw when you come in with neck pain, and at the neck when you come in with jaw pain. The two are structurally connected.

What happens to the jaw when the head juts forward?

When the head moves forward, the lower jaw is pushed back. Biting and chewing in that position changes the direction of force on the inside of the jaw joint.

The head weighs about 5 kilograms. The further forward the head goes, the harder the muscles at the back of the neck have to work to hold that weight, and that tension carries over to the muscles that move the jaw.

Can the jaw affect the neck in turn?

Yes. If you chew only on one side or your jaw is shifted to one side, the head tilts to keep balance, and the upper neck vertebrae go out of line with it.

So when the neck has been treated several times but it goes back before long, we also look at what's coming down from above. When something is coming up from below and something is coming down from above at the same time, treating only one gives only half the improvement.

Can a herniated disc in the neck cause headaches?

It can. Nerves coming out of the upper neck vertebrae run to the back of the head, so when that area is pinched or the surrounding muscles stiffen, pain rises from the back of the head toward the top.

The hallmark of this kind of headache is that it changes when you turn your head in a certain direction. It gets worse after sitting for a long time and eases when the back of the neck is loosened.

What are the limits of this judgment?

That the neck and jaw affect each other is an explanation based on structure, and there's no sure way to tell which came first.

One more thing. If numbness runs down your arm or your hand loses strength, how much the nerve is pinched needs to be checked separately. If the pain started after a neck injury, imaging comes first.

We look at the neck and jaw together. When the way your jaw bites changes, the neck follows it, and the reverse is true too.

If your neck and jaw take turns being uncomfortable, come see us. We often see cases that didn't settle well when each was treated separately.

The order of treatment differs from person to person, depending on which side it started from.