The client is complaining of pain in his temporomandibular joint. During the nurse's assessment of this client, which of the following pieces of information does the nurse expect to find? Standard Text: Select all that apply

Question

1. The client has been under a great deal of stress due to a recent divorce.
2. The client has developed hypothyroidism.
3. The client has lost tooth enamel due to nighttime teeth grinding.
4. The client has developed hypotension.
5. The client has developed severe tension headaches.

Answer 1

1,3,5
Rationale 1: The client has been under a great deal of stress due to a recent divorce. Stress can produce unconscious jaw clenching that can result in temporomandibular joint pain.
Rationale 2: The client has developed hypothyroidism. Temporomandibular joint pain is not associated with hypothyroidism. Perhaps, the client with hyperthyroidism may experience more stress related to sympathetic nervous system stimulation and this could possibly result in teeth grinding and temporomandibular joint pain.
Rationale 3: The client has lost tooth enamel due to nighttime teeth grinding. Some clients with temporomandibular joint pain grind their teeth at night and wear down their tooth enamel.
Rationale 4: The client has developed hypotension. Temporomandibular joint pain is not associated with hypotension. The client with stress may develop hypertension and temporomandibular joint pain.
Rationale 5: The client has developed severe tension headaches. Clients with temporomandibular joint pain are more prone to tension headaches.