How can a chiropractor help with TMJ?

Many people suffer from pain resulting from temporomandibular joint disorders, also known as TMJ. TMJ disorders can cause your quality of living to rapidly decrease, and if not looked at and treated by a professional, it could be life-altering. When considering medical treatment for TMJ, chiropractic care can be one of the best ways to treat your pain.

What is TMJ and what are the symptoms?

TMJ describes a large group of bodily disorders where the point between your jaw and your skull becomes very swollen and painful. Unfortunately, the causes of TMJ vary greatly and sometimes the cause cannot be discovered. If you are not sure whether you suffer from TMJ, it can be helpful to know what the symptoms are. Many symptoms of TMJ are:

•  Jaw pain

• Headaches

• Dizziness

• Trouble chewing or talking, and

• 9Neck pain
   

In fact, the pain associated with TMJ can often be categorized into three main categories:

•      Internal Derangement. This is usually a result of a dislocated disc.

•      Myofascial Pain. Pain from the muscles in your jaw and the muscles that connect your
        shoulders and neck.

•      Degenerative Joint Disease. Similar to arthritis, this disease specifically afflicts the jaw
        joint and can stiffen your movement causing a great deal of pain.
   

Because these symptoms can be a result of other problems, it is important to see a professional chiropractor to get diagnosed.

What can a chiropractor help with?

One way a chiropractor can help is by relieving the tension in your spine. Once this tension has been alleviated, the pressure and pinched nerves begin to loosen and the pain will start to lessen. A second way chiropractors can help is with soft tissue massages. These massages can be performed on the back or could even be performed intra-orally (using gloves) to help relieve muscle tension. In addition to receiving treatment at your chiropractor’s office, they can also give you massage or physical therapy techniques to take home so that you can continue your treatment both in and out of the office. Because many people who suffer from TMJ suffer from continuous symptoms, receiving regular care from your chiropractor can help to reduce pain and keep your side effects at bay.

What are my next steps?

If you are suffering from pain resulting from TMJ, a dedicated chiropractor can help you with physical therapy Capitol Heights, MD. Never feel like you should suffer from pain alone when a solution is only a phone call away.

Thank you to our friends and contributors at AmeriWell Clinics for their insight into chiropractic care and TMJ.