Temporomandibular joint disorder, or TMJ, is a debilitating condition that affects many people each year. The issue can make eating, talking, and using the jaw in general, a truly painful ordeal. In this article, we will take a closer look at the T.M. joint and how chiropractors can help with jaw pain.
What is the Temporomandibular Joint?
The TMJ is the junction between the mandible and the temporal bone (one of the bones of the skull). Within and nearby this joint, there are many different muscles and structures that have to operate perfectly for the jaw to open and close smoothly.
Besides just opening and closing, however, the jaw also has to move side to side to enable us to grind up our food.
What Is Temporomandibular Joint Disorder?
Whenever the jaw doesn’t track and move correctly, a person is said to have TMJD. However, TMJD can present in multiple different ways.
For instance, a person may have trouble opening their mouth, closing, their mouth, or a combination of both. Furthermore, there are many other different symptoms of TMJ that a patient may expect to experience.
Some symptoms of TMJ include:
- Dull jaw pain,
- Radiating, shooting pain throughout the face,
- Headaches.
Naturally, a patient might experience many different sensations when dealing with TMJ, but the above list provides a basic overview.
How Is TMJ Treated?
In terms of treating TMJ, there are a few options afforded to patients.
- Pain medication. Some doctors might prescribe pain medication for patients with TMJ. Luckily, most physicians these days understand that the over prescription of pain meds has led to catastrophic results throughout the world. For this reason, pain medication prescriptions have fallen in recent years. Still, in some cases, a physician might recommend non-opioid pain medication for their patients suffering from TMJ.
- Surgery. In very unusual and severe cases of TMJ, some surgeons may recommend that patients undergo surgery to release the joint. In these situations, patients will often have to undergo weeks of rehabilitation after the surgery has been performed in order to return the jaw to its prior level of function.
- Conservative care. For those that don’t want to undergo risky surgery or take a potentially addictive and damaging medication, conservative chiropractic care offers the perfect alternative.
In the next section, we will take a closer look at how chiropractic care can help individuals suffering from TMJ.
3 Ways Chiropractic Care Helps with TMJ
There are tons of ways that chiropractic care can help TMJ sufferers, here are the top three!
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Chiropractors Can Unlock a Locked Jaw.
When a joint gets “stuck” there are a few ways to try to fix it. One of the most effective ways is through the use of joint mobilizations and manipulations. An experienced chiropractor can perform a targeting TMJ manipulation that opens up a patient’s jaw. This can help them return to a pain-free life.
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Chiropractors Can Decrease the Headaches Associated with TMJ.
With regards to the headaches that often go along with TMJ, chiropractic manipulations are one of the best treatments available. The tense, aching pain that radiates throughout the face and head from TMJ can go away quickly after a few targeting treatments!
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Chiropractors Can Restore Normal Motion to the T.M. Joint.
Besides pain, one of the worst symptoms of TMJ is the decreased range of motion seen in the jaw. With an appropriate treatment plan, chiropractors can easily restore this range of motion enabling patients to eat, talk, and do whatever else they need to do throughout the day.
If you’re looking for a chiropractor in the Plano, TX area, look no further than Keystone Chiropractic. We would be happy to help you with your TMJ, back pain, or any other issue. Book your appointment today.
