TMJ Syndrome

Description

TMJ syndrome is a common dysfunction of the mandibular joint (jaw). TMJ makes it painful to chew. In rare instances, it can even cause discomfort while talking. It often accompanies neck pain and tension headaches.

Symptoms

Deep pain often manifests right at the jaw joint, close to your ear. Your muscles surrounding your jaw will also be tight and achy. When the jaw is in use, pain can become sharp. You may also get locking of the jaw, which results in this condition also being called lock jaw.

Etiology

All TMJ pain starts with neck dysfunction. Headaches and neck pain will start first and over time, move to the jaw. As you spend more time seated, looking down at your phone, or in other dysfunctional patterns, adhesion will develop in your suboccipitals, cervical spine erectors, and other neck muscles. This changes the biomechanics of your jaw, putting more load on your pterygoids, masseter, and temporalis.

Stress also plays a large part in TMJ syndrome. Because stress will cause you to clench your jaw, this places more load on the muscles of mastication, causing you to develop TMJ from neck dysfunction at a faster rate, and ultimately, perpetuating the condition.

What to expect

Home treatment

Home treatment starts with postural management. Avoid looking down at your phone as this places more load on your neck. While working at a computer, sit up, retract your chin, and make sure the middle of your monitor is at eye level.

Stress management is also key. I find that developing a practice of meditation can help with stress. While this doesn't have to be a traditional practice like sitting in stillness, anything that helps you to focus on the present will be helpful.

Our intervention

With Shockwave Therapy, we can comfortably remove adhesion and restore the joints of the neck and jaw. Depending on the severity of the case, most patients can expect up to 75% relief over the course of 6-10 visits.

Schedule an appointment

At Wildcard Spine and Sport, we specialize in fixing pain that’s lasted longer than six months, even if you’ve seen two or more providers. We are the only practitioners in the five boroughs certified to diagnose and remove adhesion. Click the button below or call the office today at 917-908-0055.

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