Dextroamphetamine sulfate treatment eradicates long-term chronic severe headaches from temporomandibular joint syndrome--a case that emphasizes the role of the gynecologist in treating headaches in women.

PURPOSE: To test sympathomimetic amine therapy on another type of chronic headache syndrome--headaches from temporal mandibular joint (TMJ) syndrome. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A woman with 20 years of severe daily pain from TMJ refractory to all therapies was treated with dextroamphetamine sulfate. RESULTS: The woman showed immediate 100% relief from sympathomimetic amine treatment saving her from an expensive jaw breaking operation that was only given a slight chance of helping. CONCLUSIONS: Unfortunately most treating physicians are unaware of this defect of sympathetic nervous system hypofunction leading to the absorption of toxins, which when it involves brain tissue, leads to severe headaches. Thus, the gynecologist who is aware of this syndrome because sympathetic nervous system hypofunction is the most common cause of pelvic pain, may need to intervene in women with chronic headaches, even TMJ.