What You Need to Know about TMJ Pain
By Sara Butler
TMJ? If you've suffered from this kind of pain, then you already know what that stands for. If you've been lucky enough to avoid it, TMJ stands for temporomandibular joint. Some may view TMJ as simply a weird sound your jaw makes when you open or close your mouth or some jaw pain, but TMJ is actually a lot more complicated than that. Here's what the chiropractors at The Joint Chiropractic want you to know about TMJ and how they can help.
What is TMJ?
As previously stated, TMJ stands for temporomandibular joint. It's formed where your skull and jaw joint together and it's supported by the muscles that help you open and close your mouth, which enables you to chew, talk, and even yawn. Many people confuse the term TMJ with the pain felt when something in the joint isn't functioning correctly, but the correct term for that is TMD or temporomandibular disorder.
The Causes of Pain
The bones in your TMJ are separated by a small disc of cartilage. This disc is the key to smooth movement in the joint. When the disc is displaced, the muscles in your jaw are irritated, or the joint is impacted by a disease such as arthritis, then the joint won't move as smoothly as it is supposed to.
The most common symptoms associated with TMD include:
- Clicking sound
- Popping sound
- Joint tenderness
- Muscle tenderness
- The inability to open your mouth fully
The pain associated with these symptoms is broken up into three categories:
- Myofascial pain - This is a pain in the muscles that connect the neck with the shoulder as well as pain in the muscles that control the jaw joint itself
- Internal derangement - This is when the disc of cartilage is displaced or dislocated
- Degenerative joint disease - This includes diseases of the joint that occur over time such as arthritis
The truth is that developing TMD can happen to anyone, but you have a higher risk if you clench or grind your teeth, you suffer an injury to the jaw, or you're under a lot of stress.
What You Can Do
If you suspect you have TMD, bring it to the attention of the chiropractors at The Joint. They can assess your condition and proceed with a treatment plan that can help. This treatment plan may include things such as relaxation exercises, chiropractic adjustments, ice therapy, and eating soft foods for a time.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Austin, Tex.
