Your jaw hurts. That does not always mean your jaw is the problem.
Every day your jaw helps you speak, chew, yawn, swallow, laugh, sing, and even breathe. Most people never think about it, until opening the mouth hurts.
Jaw pain can come from the temporomandibular joint itself. It can also involve the jaw muscles, the teeth and bite, habits like clenching, the neck, arthritis, trauma, sleep, stress, or a condition outside the jaw altogether.
Our first job is not treating your jaw. It is understanding why it hurts, so the plan fits the actual cause.
The jaw is one of the most used and least noticed joints in the body. It moves thousands of times a day, quietly, until something changes. Then chewing becomes uncomfortable, the jaw starts to click, opening the mouth hurts, or headaches begin around the temples.
When that happens, it is tempting to assume the problem is simply the jaw joint. Sometimes it is. But jaw pain frequently involves several systems working together: the joint, the muscles that move it, the teeth and bite, the neck, the nervous system, sleep, and stress. Occasionally, pain felt in the jaw reflects a dental or medical condition that is not really about the joint at all.
Because pain near the jaw is not, by itself, a diagnosis, the first step is never a standard treatment. It is a careful history and examination that identifies which factors are actually contributing to your symptoms.
This page is written to help you understand that jaw pain is a symptom, not a single diagnosis, and that the same complaint can come from very different sources. It walks through the structures and habits that can be involved, the patterns that hint at where the pain is coming from, how a thorough evaluation sorts them out, and where conservative care fits within a broader plan. It is meant to inform rather than alarm. Most jaw pain improves, and much of it responds well to a combination of careful diagnosis, conservative care, and dental collaboration.
Our approach here is the same as everywhere else on this site. We take the time to understand what is happening and what makes it better or worse, we screen for the concerns that fall outside a routine visit, and only then do we talk about treatment. TMJ care is often a team effort, and when what we find belongs with a dentist or another provider, we say so and help you get there.
Does this sound familiar?
Patients recognize experiences more than diagnoses. Different symptoms often point toward different structures, which is exactly why the evaluation matters.
A jaw that clicks without pain is a different situation than a jaw that locks, and morning soreness points somewhere different than pain that builds while you talk. Ear pain, temple headaches, and neck tightness that travel with the jaw are all clues. Sorting out which ones apply to you is the purpose of a careful evaluation.
It helps to notice not just what you feel but when and how it behaves. Symptoms that are worse in the morning suggest something different than symptoms that build through a day of talking. Pain tied to chewing tough food points one way, while pain that comes with headaches and neck tension points another. You do not need to interpret these patterns yourself. Simply noticing them gives the evaluation a valuable head start.
Jaw symptoms getting in the way?
Schedule an evaluationTMJ is not one condition
TMJ is often used as if it named a single problem. It does not. The letters simply refer to the joint, and pain around it can come from several very different sources.
Joint
- Disc displacement
- Arthritis
- Capsule irritation
- Hypermobility
Muscles
- Masseter and temporalis
- The pterygoids
- Muscle overuse and fatigue
- Trigger points
Teeth and bite
- Grinding and clenching
- Bite-related strain
- Dental disease
Neck
- Upper cervical dysfunction
- Muscle referral
- Head and neck posture
Nervous system
- Stress and clenching habits
- Pain sensitivity
- Persistent pain patterns
Medical conditions
- Inflammatory arthritis
- Trigeminal neuralgia
- Infection
- Other referred pain
Seeing the possibilities grouped this way makes the point clear. Two people can both say they have TMJ and have entirely different problems, one driven by muscle tension and clenching, another by a displaced disc, and another by a contribution from the neck. Naming the category is the first move, and it changes everything that follows.
It also explains why a single treatment rarely fits everyone. Care aimed at muscle tension and clenching looks different from care for a disc problem, which looks different again from addressing a neck contribution or coordinating with a dentist about the bite. The reason we spend time on the evaluation is to avoid applying one approach to a problem it was never meant to solve. When more than one category is involved, and often more than one is, the plan is weighted toward the pieces that matter most for you.
Understanding the TMJ
A small amount of anatomy makes everything else easier to follow. The temporomandibular joint is more complex than it looks, and it never works alone.
The main structures include:
- Mandible, the lower jaw
- Temporal bone of the skull
- The articular disc between them
- Joint capsule that surrounds it
- Ligaments that support it
- The muscles that move the jaw
- Joint fluid that lubricates movement
The most important thing to understand is that the TMJ is actually two joints, one on each side, that must work together every time you talk, chew, swallow, or yawn. A small cushioning disc sits inside each joint and moves with the jaw. When the muscles, the disc, the joint, and the neck all coordinate smoothly, you never notice. When any part of that system is off, the whole jaw can feel it.
Because the two joints must move as a pair, they cannot be considered in isolation. A problem on one side changes how the other side moves, and the powerful muscles that close the jaw can amplify any strain. The joint also sits directly in front of the ear and just below the temple, which is why jaw problems so often produce ear-area pain and headaches even when the ear and head are otherwise healthy. Keeping this picture in mind, a paired joint, driven by strong muscles, sitting close to the ear and connected to the neck, makes the rest of this page easier to follow.
Common causes of jaw pain
These are among the most common sources of pain felt in and around the jaw. The goal here is not to self-diagnose from a list. It is to see how different these are, and why classification comes before care.
Temporomandibular disorders
TMD is a broad term for problems involving the jaw joint, the muscles, or both. Symptoms include pain, limited opening, clicking, and fatigue. It is the most common source of ongoing jaw pain and often responds well to conservative care.
Myofascial jaw pain
Pain from the jaw muscles themselves, often from overuse, clenching, or tension. The muscles can be tender, tired, and achy, and pain may spread to the temple, ear, or cheek. It frequently improves with load management and addressing habits.
Disc displacement
The small disc inside the joint can move out of its normal position, sometimes producing clicking, catching, or, less often, locking. Not every disc click needs treatment, and imaging is interpreted alongside the examination.
Joint arthritis
Wear or inflammation of the joint surfaces, which can cause stiffness, crepitus, and pain with use. Inflammatory forms of arthritis can also involve the TMJ and are managed with the right medical care.
Bruxism and clenching
Grinding and clenching, often at night or under stress, can overload the jaw muscles and joint. Morning soreness and headaches are common, and care includes habit awareness and often dental collaboration.
Stress-related tension
Stress can drive clenching and muscle guarding without a person realizing it. This does not mean the pain is imagined. It means the plan may include stress and habit strategies alongside physical care.
Trauma
A blow to the jaw or face can injure the joint, disc, or muscles. Significant trauma, an inability to open or close, or a suspected fracture calls for prompt medical or dental evaluation.
Whiplash and neck injury
Rapid neck injury can be associated with jaw symptoms, because the jaw and neck are closely connected. Our whiplash and neck pain pages explain how these overlapping problems are sorted out.
Dental and bite factors
Tooth problems, dental disease, and bite-related strain can contribute to jaw pain. These are evaluated with a dentist, and dental care is an important part of the overall picture.
Sinus conditions
Sinus congestion and infection can produce facial and jaw discomfort that can be mistaken for a joint problem. Screening helps tell them apart.
Trigeminal neuralgia
A nerve condition that causes sharp, shock-like facial pain. It is different from a mechanical jaw problem and needs specific medical evaluation, which is why the neurological screen matters.
Neck referral
Pain and tension from the upper neck can be felt around the jaw and face. This is one area where conservative care may help, when the examination shows the neck is genuinely contributing.
Each of these has a different natural history and a different best approach, and more than one can be present at once. Someone can clench under stress, have tight jaw muscles, and also have a contribution from the neck. The purpose of the first visit is to identify which factors are driving your particular symptoms, and to weight the plan, and any referrals, toward the ones that matter most.
A word about honesty is worth adding here. Some of these causes fall squarely within conservative care, some belong mostly with a dentist, and a few need specific medical evaluation. A good TMJ plan is not about making every symptom fit one kind of treatment. It is about matching the care to the cause, drawing on the right combination of conservative, dental, and medical care, and being clear about which is which.
Why does my jaw click?
Jaw clicking is one of the most searched TMJ questions, and the honest answer is that it depends. A click is a piece of information, not a diagnosis by itself.
Clicking without pain
A jaw that clicks but does not hurt, opens fully, and does not lock is very common and often does not need treatment. On its own, a painless click is usually not a sign of something dangerous.
Clicking with pain
When clicking comes with pain, limited opening, or muscle soreness, it is more likely to reflect a joint or muscle problem worth evaluating and addressing.
Clicking with locking
Clicking that progresses to catching or locking, where the jaw sticks open or closed, is a more meaningful pattern and deserves prompt evaluation to understand what the disc and joint are doing.
Clicking usually reflects the disc and the jaw mechanics moving in a way that produces a sound. What matters is the company the click keeps. A painless click with full, comfortable opening is reassuring. A click paired with pain, restriction, or locking is the version worth evaluating. Chiropractic care does not reposition the joint disc, and eliminating every click is not the goal. Restoring comfortable, functional movement is.
Many people are surprised to learn how common painless jaw sounds are. A large share of the population has some clicking without any pain or limitation, and for most of them it never becomes a problem. Chasing a sound for its own sake can lead to unnecessary worry and treatment. The more useful questions are whether the jaw opens fully, whether it hurts, and whether it catches or locks. Those answers, not the click itself, guide what happens next.
Why do I wake up with jaw pain?
Waking with a sore, tired jaw is a frequent complaint. There are several possible reasons, and they point the plan in different directions.
Contributing factors can include:
- Clenching or grinding during sleep
- Bruxism that overloads the jaw muscles overnight
- Stress that carries into the night
- Poor or fragmented sleep
- Airway and breathing factors in some people
- Head and neck position during sleep
- Morning headaches that travel with the jaw soreness
Nighttime clenching and grinding are common drivers of morning jaw pain, which is why habit awareness and, often, a dental night guard are part of the plan. That said, not everyone with morning jaw pain has a sleep disorder, and it would be wrong to assume so. When sleep, airway, or breathing concerns appear during the history, we screen for them and refer to the right provider rather than guessing.
There is a useful loop worth understanding here. Poor sleep can increase pain sensitivity, pain can disrupt sleep, and stress can worsen both while also driving clenching. That is why a good plan often addresses more than the jaw alone. Improving sleep, reducing daytime clenching, and managing stress can each take load off the jaw, and together they frequently do more than any single treatment aimed only at the joint.
Can neck problems cause jaw pain?
The neck and the jaw are closely connected, and for some patients the neck genuinely contributes to jaw symptoms. This is one area where conservative care may help.
The connection runs through several channels:
- Muscles shared between the jaw, head, and neck
- Nerve pathways that connect the upper neck and the face
- Upper cervical joint dysfunction
- Head-forward and sustained postures
- Referral of pain from the neck into the jaw and temple
This is precisely the area where balance matters. It is genuinely true that the neck can contribute to jaw symptoms, and it is also genuinely true that many jaw problems have little to do with the neck at all. Overstating the connection, as if every clicking jaw traced back to a single vertebra, does patients a disservice. So does ignoring it. The honest position is that the neck is one of several things worth checking, and the examination decides how much it matters for you.
It would be wrong to claim that every jaw problem comes from the upper neck. Some patients have a meaningful cervical contribution, and some do not. The examination is what tells the difference. When the neck is genuinely part of the picture, addressing it can help the jaw. When it is not, we say so. Our neck pain and whiplash pages go deeper into how the neck is evaluated.
Can jaw problems cause headaches?
Jaw pain and headaches frequently travel together. Understanding how they overlap helps direct treatment to the right place.
Tension-type headaches
Jaw muscle tension and clenching can contribute to the band-like pressure of tension-type headaches, especially around the temples.
Migraine overlap
Jaw and facial pain can coexist with migraine, and each can influence the other. Sorting out the pattern guides which approach helps.
Cervicogenic overlap
When the neck contributes to both the jaw and the headache, addressing the neck can help both. This is where the jaw, neck, and head are evaluated together.
Temple and facial pain
Pain over the temples and across the face is common with jaw muscle problems and is one of the reasons headaches and jaw pain are so often connected.
The practical value of understanding this overlap is that it prevents chasing the wrong target. A headache driven mainly by jaw muscle tension calls for a different emphasis than a migraine that happens to coexist with jaw pain, or a headache that is really coming from the neck. When these are untangled, the plan can address the actual driver rather than treating every temple headache the same way.
Because these patterns overlap, the jaw, the neck, and the headache are best evaluated together rather than in isolation. Our headaches and migraine pages explain how we classify headaches before treating them.
Do you need imaging?
Imaging is not the first step. A careful examination usually tells us more about how the jaw is working than a scan does, and it guides whether imaging is worth doing.
What informs the decision includes:
- Your history and how the pain started
- Observation of the jaw and face
- Jaw opening, closing, and deviation
- Joint sounds such as clicking or crepitus
- Muscle examination
- Neck examination
- The neurological screen
- A dental evaluation when appropriate
Examination first
How the jaw moves, where it is tender, and how the neck and muscles behave usually localizes the problem better than any single image.
X-ray
Useful for selected questions about the joint and bone. It does not show the disc or most soft tissue.
MRI
Useful for selected disc and soft-tissue questions when the result would change treatment.
CBCT
A specialized dental scan used for detailed bone and joint questions, arranged through dental or specialist care when it will change the plan.
Imaging is recommended when it will change the diagnosis or the treatment, not by default. Many jaw problems are diagnosed and managed well on the strength of a good examination. Different studies also answer different questions: an X-ray or CBCT speaks to bone and joint structure, while an MRI is the tool for looking at the disc and soft tissue. Ordering the right one for the right question, at the right time, matters more than imaging early for its own sake, and much of that decision is shared with your dentist or a specialist.
How we evaluate jaw pain
A jaw evaluation is a structured process. It looks at the jaw, the muscles, the neck, the nervous system, sleep, and stress before anyone talks about treatment.
History
- When and how the pain started
- What makes it better or worse
- Clicking, locking, and catching
- Chewing, opening, and talking
- Any trauma or dental work
- Headaches and their pattern
- Sleep and nighttime clenching
- Stress and daytime habits
Jaw examination
- Jaw opening and closing
- Deviation of the jaw
- Joint sounds
- Muscle tenderness
- Range and quality of movement
Neck and posture
- Neck movement and screening
- Head and neck posture
- Shoulder and upper-back involvement
Neurological screening
- Cranial nerve screening
- Sensation in the face
- Signs that point to a nerve condition
Sleep, stress, dental history, imaging review, and diagnosis. We ask about sleep and stress because both influence the jaw, review your dental history and any imaging you already have, and bring the findings together into a working diagnosis. When findings point to a dental problem, a disc or joint issue beyond conservative care, a possible nerve condition, or another concern outside our scope, we coordinate with a dentist or the right specialist promptly.
The purpose of an evaluation this thorough is not to complicate a simple problem. It is to confirm that a simple problem really is simple before treating it as one, and to catch the less common situations that need a different kind of attention. Most people who come in with jaw pain have something that responds well to a combination of conservative care, habit changes, and dental support. The evaluation is what lets us say that with confidence rather than assumption, and it is also what tells us early when someone needs a dentist, an oral surgeon, or a medical workup instead.
Bring your dental and imaging history.
Schedule a comprehensive TMJ evaluationWhat chiropractic care can and cannot do
Conservative care can help with parts of the jaw-and-neck picture, especially the muscles, the neck, posture, and associated headaches. It is one part of a larger plan, often shared with a dentist, and honesty about the limits matters.
It may help with
- Address a neck contribution to jaw pain
- Improve upper cervical and thoracic mobility
- Reduce muscle tension around the jaw and neck
- Help with associated headaches
- Address posture that loads the jaw and neck
- Guide jaw and neck rehabilitation
- Support a graded return to comfortable function
It cannot
- Replace dentistry
- Repair damaged teeth
- Reposition the joint disc
- Eliminate every joint sound
- Replace oral surgery when it is needed
- Treat every cause of facial pain
- Guarantee permanent relief
Being clear about these limits is not a weakness of the approach. It is the point of it. A provider who claims to fix every jaw problem with one kind of treatment is not being straight with you. The most useful thing we can offer is an honest read of where conservative care genuinely helps, where a dentist or specialist should lead, and how the pieces fit together into a single plan rather than competing ones.
When jaw pain requires medical or dental care
Most jaw pain is not an emergency. But certain patterns need prompt medical or dental evaluation, and a few need urgent care, rather than a routine appointment.
Seek prompt medical or dental care for:
- A suspected jaw fracture after trauma
- A dental abscess or severe tooth infection
- Severe or spreading facial swelling
- An inability to open the mouth
- An inability to close the mouth
- Facial paralysis or drooping
- Progressive numbness or neurological symptoms
- Fever with jaw swelling
- A history of cancer with new jaw pain
- Significant trauma to the face or head
- Jaw or facial pain with chest pain or shortness of breath
Jaw or facial pain with chest pain, shortness of breath, or sweating can signal a heart problem and needs emergency care. If any of these are present, seek medical or dental care first. A chiropractic evaluation can follow once you are stable.
How we treat TMJ disorders
Treatment depends on the diagnosis, and it is often shared with a dentist and other providers. Nothing is applied by default, and not every jaw needs the same thing.
Education and reassurance
Understanding what is driving your jaw pain, and what is not, reduces fear and helps you make good decisions. Reassurance here is grounded in the examination.
Activity modification
Practical guidance on chewing, jaw rest, and daily habits, so you neither overload the jaw nor shut it down completely.
Jaw mobility exercises
Gentle, guided movement to restore comfortable opening and control when the examination supports it.
Cervical treatment
Addressing the neck when it genuinely contributes to the jaw, which for some patients makes a real difference.
Thoracic and postural work
Improving upper-back mobility and posture that can load the head, neck, and jaw.
Soft-tissue treatment
Addressing tight, overworked jaw and neck muscles to reduce tension and improve comfort.
Corrective exercise
A graded program to rebuild control, endurance, and confidence in the jaw and neck.
Habit awareness
Helping you notice and reduce daytime clenching and other habits that quietly overload the jaw.
Stress-management strategies
Because stress can drive clenching, simple strategies to manage it are often part of the plan, not a substitute for physical care.
Dental collaboration
Working with your dentist on bite-related factors, night guards, and dental care, which are central to many TMJ plans.
Referral to specialists
Coordinating with oral surgery, ENT, or others when the jaw needs care beyond conservative management.
Sleep medicine referral
When the history suggests a sleep or airway concern, we refer to the right provider rather than assuming.
Headache co-management
Addressing associated headaches alongside the jaw and neck, since they so often travel together.
Pain-management collaboration
Working with medical providers when persistent pain needs a broader, coordinated approach.
Not every patient needs every one of these, and the mix changes over time. Early on, the emphasis is often on calming overloaded muscles, protecting the jaw from the habits that aggravate it, and restoring comfortable movement. As symptoms settle, the focus shifts toward rebuilding control and addressing the contributors, whether that is the neck, posture, stress, or a dental factor, so the improvement lasts. Throughout, we coordinate with your dentist and other providers rather than working in isolation, because the best TMJ outcomes usually come from a team.
Recovery means more than less pain
The real measure of a jaw recovery is what you can do again. Two people with the same pain rating can have very different limitations.
Because of that, progress should be tracked through returning function, not a pain score alone. Eating a normal meal, talking through a workday without your face tiring, and sleeping without waking sore is what recovery actually looks like.
This focus on function also keeps expectations honest. The goal is not to chase a perfectly silent jaw or to eliminate every sensation, but to help you use your jaw comfortably for the things that matter. When we measure recovery by what you can do again, it becomes clear whether the jaw is genuinely improving or simply quiet for a day, and the plan, along with any dental or specialist input, can be adjusted accordingly.
Jaw pain, answered honestly
What is TMJ?
TMJ stands for the temporomandibular joint, the joint that connects your lower jaw to your skull. People often use TMJ to mean jaw pain, but the joint itself is only one possible source of that pain.
What is TMD?
TMD stands for temporomandibular disorders, a broad term for problems involving the jaw joint, the jaw muscles, or both. It is the more accurate term for most ongoing jaw pain.
Why does my jaw click?
Clicking usually reflects the disc and jaw mechanics moving in a way that makes a sound. A painless click with full opening is common and often harmless. Clicking with pain or locking is more worth evaluating.
Should I worry about clicking?
Not necessarily. A click on its own, without pain, limited opening, or locking, usually does not require treatment. It is the associated symptoms that matter.
Why does my jaw lock?
Locking, where the jaw sticks open or closed, often involves the disc and joint mechanics. It is a more meaningful pattern than a simple click and deserves prompt evaluation.
Why does it hurt in the morning?
Morning jaw pain is frequently related to nighttime clenching or grinding, sometimes with stress or poor sleep. Habit awareness and often a dental night guard are part of the plan.
Can stress cause TMJ symptoms?
Yes. Stress can drive clenching and muscle tension, often without you realizing it. This does not mean the pain is imagined. It means stress and habit strategies may be part of care.
Can neck pain cause jaw pain?
For some people, yes. The jaw and neck share muscles and nerve pathways, and the upper neck can contribute to jaw symptoms. The examination determines whether the neck is genuinely involved.
Can TMJ cause headaches?
Jaw muscle tension and clenching can contribute to tension-type headaches and can overlap with migraine and neck-related headaches. That is why the jaw, neck, and headache are evaluated together.
Can TMJ cause ear pain?
Yes. The joint sits just in front of the ear, so jaw problems commonly cause ear-area pain or fullness even when the ear itself is healthy. Persistent ear symptoms should still be checked by the right provider.
Can TMJ cause tinnitus?
Some people with jaw problems notice ringing or other ear symptoms. The connection is real for some, but tinnitus has many causes, so it is evaluated carefully rather than assumed to be the jaw.
Do I need a night guard?
Possibly. For grinding and clenching, a dental night guard can protect the teeth and reduce load on the jaw. This is a dental decision, and we coordinate with your dentist.
Should I see a dentist?
Often, yes. Dentists play a central role in TMJ care, especially for bite-related factors, night guards, and dental disease. We work alongside dental care rather than replacing it.
Can chiropractic help TMJ?
For selected patients, yes, particularly when the neck, muscles, posture, or headaches are contributing. It does not reposition the disc or replace dentistry, and it is one part of a broader plan.
Will I need surgery?
Most jaw problems improve without surgery. A small number need oral surgery or other specialist care, which is why prompt referral matters when the examination points that way.
Can jaw pain come from my neck?
Yes, it can, for some people. Pain and tension from the upper neck can be felt around the jaw and face. Screening the neck is part of a complete jaw evaluation.
Can arthritis affect the TMJ?
Yes. Both wear-related and inflammatory forms of arthritis can involve the jaw joint, causing stiffness, sounds, and pain. Inflammatory arthritis is managed with appropriate medical care.
When should I seek emergency care?
Seek prompt care for a suspected fracture, a dental abscess, severe swelling, an inability to open or close the mouth, facial paralysis, progressive neurological symptoms, or jaw pain with chest pain or shortness of breath.
Why patients choose Family Health Chiropractic
We identify the source before we treat
A careful history and examination come first, because pain near the jaw is not a diagnosis by itself.
We evaluate the whole person
The joint, the muscles, the teeth, the neck, sleep, and stress are all part of a complete jaw evaluation.
We collaborate with dentists and specialists
TMJ care is often a team effort, and we work alongside dental and specialist care rather than replacing it.
We emphasize rehabilitation
Restoring comfortable movement, strength, and control is how recovery lasts.
We use chiropractic care thoughtfully
We apply conservative care where the examination shows it may help, never as an automatic answer for every jaw.
We refer honestly when appropriate
When the jaw needs dental, medical, or surgical care, we say so and help you get there.
TMJ and jaw pain treatment in Austin and Westlake
Jaw pain has a way of touching everything: eating, talking, sleeping, working, and even how you handle a stressful day. When it lingers, guessing at the cause rarely helps.
Many people are told simply that they have TMJ, without an explanation of which part of the system is actually involved. A careful evaluation replaces that uncertainty with a clear picture: whether the joint, the muscles, the bite, the neck, sleep, or stress is driving your symptoms, and what the plan should be.
We serve patients from Austin, Westlake, Rollingwood, Bee Cave, Lakeway, and the surrounding communities. We take the time to examine the jaw and the neck, screen for headaches and the habits that overload the jaw, ask about sleep and stress, review any dental history and imaging you have, and build a plan focused on function, collaborating with your dentist and referring when your jaw needs another type of care.
Whether your jaw started clicking recently, has been sore in the mornings for months, or is tangled up with headaches and neck tension, a careful evaluation is a reasonable next step. Being told simply that you have TMJ is not the same as understanding which part of the system is involved and what can actually be done about it.
Family Health Chiropractic · 3736 Bee Caves Road, Suite 9, Austin, Texas 78746 · (512) 347-8881
Jaw pain does not always begin in the jaw.
The muscles, joints, neck, teeth, sleep, stress, and nervous system all influence how your jaw moves and feels. Our goal is not to assume the answer. It is to determine which factors are contributing to your symptoms and build the right plan for your recovery.