Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 16, 2026
06:37
Temporomandibular Joint Pain Measurement by Bite Force and Von Frey Filament Assays in Mice
Published on: September 13, 2024
Sympathetically maintained pain presenting first as temporomandibular disorder, then as parotid dysfunction
1Minnesota Head and Neck Pain Clinic, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
Journal (Canadian Dental Association)
|March 16, 2007
Summary
Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) in the head and neck can occur without nerve injury. This case study shows successful treatment of neuropathic pain with sympathetic involvement using stellate ganglion blocks and clonidine.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Pain Management
- Medical Case Study
Background:
- Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is a chronic pain condition often linked to nerve injury.
- Previous literature documented 13 head and neck CRPS cases, all with identified nerve injury as the pain origin.
- This study focuses on a rare presentation of CRPS in the head and neck region.
Observation:
- A 30-year-old female presented with sympathetically maintained pain, lacking apparent nerve injury.
- Initial symptoms included preauricular pain and limited mouth opening, mimicking temporomandibular joint arthralgia and myofascial pain.
- Subsequent symptoms included intermittent preauricular pain, swelling, and hyposalivation, resembling parotitis.
Findings:
- Extensive diagnostics failed to identify a definitive underlying pathology.
- A diagnosis of neuropathic pain with a significant sympathetic component was established.
- The patient experienced adequate pain relief after two years of treatment.
Implications:
- This case highlights that CRPS in the head and neck can manifest without evident nerve injury.
- Effective management involved repeated stellate ganglion blocks and enteral clonidine pharmacotherapy.
- The findings suggest considering neuropathic pain with sympathetic involvement in complex head and neck pain presentations.
