TMDH found to have a significant relationship with elevated TMD pain intensity, increased number of self‐reported bodily pain conditions and the greater number of painful sites in the neck and head zones according to research published in the Journal of head and face pain. The International Classification of Headache Disorders 3rd edition (ICHD-3) designated TMDH as a secondary headache.

The analysis involved medical reports of the patients who inquired the treatment from 2013 to 2014 at the University of North Carolina Orofacial Pain Clinic. Diagnosis of arthralgia and myalgia as per Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders was considered as the inclusion criterion. Data on the appearance and the number of self-reported bodily pain situations (such as fibromyalgia and low back pain), TMD pain onset number of painful sites in the head and neck upon palpation, and pain intensity were examined.

A total of 295 reports were analyzed. Thirty-four and Eighty-two patients completed the inclusion criteria for cases (TMD+TMDH) and controls (TMD-TMDH). Cases exhibited a higher number of bodily pain conditions as compared to controls. The number of cases to show at least two comorbid pain conditions was higher than controls. The cases also exhibited higher TMD pain intensity and the number of painful sites upon palpation in the neck and the head region as compared to controls. These results explain that patients with TMDH were associated with higher comorbid bodily pain.