Doctor, Why Does My Face Still Ache?

This groundbreaking book explains why millions of Americans with persistent headaches, toothaches, jaw pain, and other debilitating facial pain can’t find relief—even after seeing many doctors in search of a solution. The problem is that most physicians and dentists look for injury or disease to explain the pain but ignore the relationship between emotions and muscles, which compose most of the face.This book will not only benefit people with chronic pain, but also physicians and dentists less familiar with these problems or unable to adequately explain to patients how stress and emotions have fueled their suffering.

This groundbreaking book explains why millions of Americans with persistent headaches, toothaches, jaw pain, and other debilitating facial pain can’t find relief—even after seeing many doctors in search of a solution. The problem is that most physicians and dentists look for injury or disease to explain the pain but ignore the relationship between emotions and muscles, which compose most of the face. While the mind-body connection has been applied to treat back, heart, skin and stomach ailments, this is the first book to clearly explain how the brain initiates bodily changes that result in persistent facial pain. Case studies describe the authors’ methods to relieve patients’ pain, from teaching about the “brain-pain” connection to prescribing medications and administering therapies to help relax muscles. This book will not only benefit people with chronic pain, but also physicians and dentists less familiar with these problems or unable to adequately explain to patients how stress and emotions have fueled their suffering.

Donald R. Tanenbaum, DDS, MPH, maintains a private practice in New York and holds university and hospital appointments. He is a Past President of the American Academy of Orofacial Pain and received a DDS and MPH degree from Columbia University.