TMJ (Temporomandibular joint dysfunction) is a disorder that causes pain and discomfort in the jaw and affects more than 10 million Americans. The main cause of TMJ is injury or trauma to the head, neck or jaw area. Other things such as arthritis, teeth grinding (bruxism) and stress can also be contributors to TMJ disorders. If you feel that you are suffering from these issues, we ask that you consider visiting our TMJ specialist in Tudor City at H&D Physical Therapy. Our staff has recently added TMJ treatment into our repertoire, and we look forward to treating NYC residents who suffer from this type of jaw pain.
What are the symptoms of TMJ?
Symptoms of TMJ may include but are not limited to:
1) headaches and neck pain
2) popping or clicking sounds when opening and closing the mouth
3) whiplash sensations
4) ringing in the ears (tinnitus).
5) swelling of jaw muscles, face, gums or neck area.
6) earaches.
7) problems such as locking or catching of the jaw, when opening or closing the mouth.
8) loose teeth.
9) changes in the bite.
If I want to get TMJ treated without surgery, what are my options?
The following are non-surgical treatments for TMJ disorder:
1) Use ice packs to reduce swelling, pain and muscle spasms in the jaw area. Take ibuprofen medicine to help reduce pain and swelling.
2) Exercising the jaw muscles can help reduce pain, spasms and locking. One way to do this is by holding ice cubes in your mouth for 30 seconds at a time, 10 times or until the ice melts.
3) Use moist heat on the face and jaw area to relax muscles and reduce pain.
4) Take note of how you sleep, sit and use your computer. Try to alter these habits if it makes your jaw muscles more tense than usual.
5) Avoid opening or closing your mouth too wide when yawning or chewing, which could cause further damage.
6) Do not wear braces with metal coils or brackets.
7) Use a mouth guard when you play sports, grind your teeth or speak loudly in order to protect your jaw muscles from tension and pain.
8) If the above treatments do not work after a period of time, then talk to your doctor about surgery. Surgery is only a last resort because it is more involved and can be expensive.
How can physical therapy help treat my TMJ?
In physical therapy, treatment for the TMJ disorder works on reducing pain and stress and to increase strength and range of motion in the jaw area (1). Treatment involves: 1) using moist heat and ice packs to reduce pain and swelling; 2) exercises such as moving your mouth in different directions or opening wide while keeping your mouth closed; and 3) using a bite plate to reduce clenching or grinding of the jaw.
In addition, physical therapy with a TMJ specialist in Tudor City can help people who have been diagnosed with TMJ by building up the muscles around the jaw area. This helps make it more stable for an individual with TMJ disorder to chew properly. In most cases, once this strengthening and relaxation of the muscles is done, it would alleviate or reduce pain.
Would surgery be my only option to treat my TMJ?
In some cases, surgery may be an option to fix a painful TMJ disorder. However, this is only a last resort due to the high risks involved with surgery and the very high cost of it. Most people do not go through with surgery because hand-held tools can be used to work on the jaw muscles, which alleviates pain for most. Physical therapy can also help reduce pain and stress in the jaw area.
Would physical therapy be a better option for my TMJ than surgery?
Physical therapy can help individuals reduce pain and stress in the jaw area. Treatment consists of using ice packs, moist heat and exercises to strengthen muscles around the jaw area. Surgery is only a last resort for TMJ because it’s expensive and has high risk. Physical therapy typically helps most with reducing pain and muscle tension. In addition, physical therapists can build up the muscles around the jaw area. This can help an individual with TMJ chew properly and alleviate or reduce pain.
Contact Our TMJ Specialist in Tudor City
H&D Physical Therapy is happy to treat your jaw pain. For appointments, please navigate to our appointments page by clicking here.
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