TMJ pain

Jaw pain, also known as Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) pain is a very common condition that affects many people. It is something that can come and go with stress, or be present all the time for a variety of reasons such as arthritis, trauma to the jaw or muscle spasms. Osteopathy and Physiotherapy treatment can help to manage your jaw pain symptoms.
Many people can experience Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) pain over the course of their life for a variety of reasons. Your TMJ is the joint connecting your mandible (jaw) to your skull. Between these bones is an articular cartilage disc which allows the bones to move smoothly over each other whenever we open and move our jaw. It is a common area where pain can arise from, however, a variety of treatment options can help to manage symptoms.

Causes of TMJ pain/dysfunction:

  • Clenching your teeth
  • Grinding your teeth
  • Stress
  • Trauma to the jaw i.e. direct blow
  • Arthritis
  • Muscle spasms causing decreased movement
  • Cervical (neck) posture
  • Articular cartilage disc within the TMJ moving out of place or eroding.

TMJ dysfunction symptoms:

TMJ dysfunction can present in a number of different ways:

  • Pain in the jaw
  • Pain at the joint between your jaw and skull (TMJ)
  • Pain with chewing
  • Clicking of the joint
  • Locking of the jaw with movement
  • Grating sensation when opening your mouth
  • Aching facial pain
  • Limited jaw range or motion
  • Headaches
  • Earaches

What to do if you think you have TMJ dysfunction:

If you experience any of the above symptoms that concern you it is a good idea to see a health care professional to determine if you have TMJ dysfunction. Many healthcare workers can provide relief to your symptoms including osteopaths, physiotherapists, dentists and doctors.

In order to diagnose TMJ dysfunction your health care professional will assess a number of areas. They may look at the quality of movement of the jaw, the range of motion, listen/feel for any clicking or locking sensation and feel for any areas of tightness or tenderness. They may also look at your neck and jaw posture, examine for stiffness or hypermobility of the jaw and look for any signs that you clench or grind your teeth during the night. Imaging such as X-rays, CT scans and MRI can also be used to give a clearer indication about what is happening to the jaw and what is causing your pain.

Management of TMJ dysfunction:

There are a number of ways an osteopath or physiotherapist can manage your TMJ symptoms and differs depending on your presentation.
If the pain is derived from the jaw and mastication muscles, treatment may involve soft tissue release work to both internal and external muscles. This can include massage to external muscles and trigger point release work to both internal and external TMJ muscles. Joint mobilizations to the jaw can also be utilized to promote a greater range of motion.

Some people may experience neck pain and headaches in conjunction with their TMJ pain. Alongside treatment to the jaw, soft tissue release work and mobilizations to the neck can be used to relieve neck pain and headaches.

If incorrect posture of the neck, shoulders or jaw is contributing to pain, posture correction may be utilized to relieve symptoms. Reminders to correct posture and exercises to help aid jaw/neck/shoulder position can be utilized to achieve this.

Other health professionals can also help manage this condition. If you clench your teeth or grind them during the night a dentist may provide you with a mouth guard or splint to prevent this. Medications can be used to reduce inflammation if this is an issue that is contributing to your pain, and medication to help relax any tight muscles. In some cases, Botox may be injected into your jaw to reduce the pain. Surgery may be considered as an option in severe cases when pain persists despite trialling other treatment options.

Outside of physiotherapy and osteopathy treatment, there is a number of things you can implement at home to help relieve symptoms. It is important to follow any exercises given to you by your healthcare professional to help manage your condition. Stress can often contribute to TMJ pain, so managing stressors in your life can help to relieve symptoms. If chewing is difficult for you choosing foods that are softer can help to prevent flare-ups of pain. Additionally, not resting your chin on your hands throughout the day, using heat or ice packs to relieve pain and focusing on not clenching your jaw can also be beneficial.

Most people can have great results with physiotherapy or osteopathy treatments, so if you are experiencing TMJ pain, speak to our team about who can best help you.

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