Advanced Wellness Solutions offers personalized holistic healthcare, including primary care, medical weight loss, gentle chiropractic, acupuncture and medical massage therapy. Discover the difference patient-centric care makes. Advanced Wellness Solutions is offering primary care in our Stuart location in Martin County. Offering primary care is not just a service; it’s a commitment to the health and […]
pain relief tmj
Acupuncture for relief of TMJ pain
We’ve been seeing excellent results using acupuncture for relief of TMJ pain as well as for chronic pain relief.
What is TMJ disorder?
TMJ disorder, or temporomandibular joint disorder, refers to a complex group of conditions affecting the jaw joint and surrounding muscles. It presents as pain in the jaw, face, neck, and shoulders, which activities like chewing or yawning can exacerbate. Surprisingly, it isn’t just about physical discomfort; TMJ issues can also trigger emotional strain due to chronic pain and limited mobility. Many people are unaware that their stress levels can inadvertently heighten symptoms by prompting teeth grinding or clenching during sleep.
What makes TMJ disorder particularly fascinating is its multifaceted nature. It often intersects with other health concerns like migraines or dental issues but remains an enigma in terms of definitive causes—ranging from ergonomic stressors to postural imbalances.
Common Symptoms of TMJ Disorder
TMJ pain often manifests as discomfort in the jaw, headaches, and even neck pain, making daily tasks like eating or speaking a challenge. Many people don’t realize that stress can exacerbate this condition. Tension can lead to jaw clenching and teeth grinding. Such behavior simply compounds the issues. The interplay between physical health and emotional well-being is crucial in addressing TMJ disorders.
How Acupuncture Works for Pain Relief
Acupuncture1 offers a unique approach to managing TMJ pain. It targets specific points on the body that promote relaxation and increase blood circulation around the affected area. By stimulating these acupoints, practitioners aim to alleviate muscle tension not just in the jaw but throughout connected regions, such as the neck and shoulders.
Additionally, acupuncture encourages an overall state of calm that can help reduce stress-related triggers for TMJ pain. This holistic treatment perspective offers relief not only through localized care but also by addressing underlying factors contributing to discomfort—providing a pathway toward more comprehensive healing.
Benefits of Acupuncture for relief of TMJ pain
Acupuncture has gained recognition as an effective treatment for temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ), offering a holistic approach that extends beyond mere symptom relief. One of the key benefits of acupuncture is its ability to reduce inflammation and promote healing in the affected jaw muscles. By stimulating specific points around the face and neck, acupuncture alleviates pain and encourages blood flow, which helps repair tissues and restore function to the jaw. This process can be especially beneficial for individuals who experience tightness due to stress or habitual grinding.
Another intriguing aspect of acupuncture for TMJ is its role in addressing underlying emotional factors that often exacerbate physical symptoms. TMJ issues are commonly linked to stress and anxiety, leading patients into a cycle of tension that intensifies discomfort. Acupuncture sessions provide a calming environment, allowing individuals to unwind while activating their body’s natural relaxation response. This dual action—physically relieving muscle tension while promoting emotional well-being—sets acupuncture apart as a comprehensive treatment strategy, making it particularly appealing for those looking to tackle TMJ from multiple angles. The result? The outcome is a more balanced approach to health that addresses both body and mind, paving the way for lasting improvement.
Advanced Wellness Solutions is delighted to offer residents of Stuart, Palm City and their surrounding areas acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine.
If you’re looking for a holistic approach to TMJ pain, call 855-509-5400 to schedule an appointment for acupuncture to relieve it.
Chiropractic Treatment of TMJ Headaches
Chiropractic treatment of TMJ headaches is an effective drug-free method of treating the pain of TMJ.
Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction, a.k.a. myofascial pain disorder, is a surprisingly common complaint. At best, TMJ problems can cause annoying and sometimes painful clicking. At it’s worst, temporomandibular joint dysfunction can cause painful headaches.
How can I tell if it’s TMJ?
TMJ dysfunction often presents with a dull, aching pain in and around the ear. In some cases, the pain travels to the side of the scalp, back of the head, or down into the neck. Tenderness in the jaw area and neck is common
Chewing, excessive talking, or yawning frequently makes TMJ dysfunction worse.
What causes TMJ dysfunction?
TMJ dysfunction rarely has a single defining cause. Instead, it is usually the result of several contributing factors, including:
- Degenerative joint disease affecting the jaw can cause motion issues and pain.
- Stress and associated grinding of teeth can cause extreme jaw pain and headaches.
- A history of trauma involving the jaw can also play a role in TMJ dysfunction.
Often it is a combination of all of these factors that leads to TMJ dysfunction.
Chiropractic treatment of TMJ headaches
By manipulating the affected area, chiropractors can significantly reduce pain from TMJ dysfunction.
Unfortunately, most people are unaware that the jaw can be adjusted.
Adjusting the jaw is a delicate procedure that requires a skilled hand using a very light technique or gentle chiropractic care. Because of the finesse involved, there usually isn’t the satisfying “clunk” that accompanies many other joint manipulations.
A series of TMJ adjustments by a skilled chiropractor can be the determining factor in whether concurrent TMJ therapies are able to provide long-term relief.
Reducing muscle spasms is another important part of chiropractic treatment of TMJ dysfunction, which is key in helping to reduce the associated headaches almost immediately.
TMJ dysfunction pain often affects other nearby areas, and effective chiropractic treatment includes reducing the spasm in other affected areas, including the muscles of the neck, shoulders and face.
The muscle spasms associated with TMJ dysfunction must be directly addressed to achieve long-term relief of TMJ headaches and pain. Trigger point therapy, a momentarily uncomfortable but very effective method of muscle release, reduces and releases muscle spasms.
The Role of Stress Reduction
A third often overlooked but very important component in treating TMJ dysfunction and associated headaches is stress reduction.
Many TMJ headache sufferers clench and grind their teeth subconsciously as a reaction to stress. This relentless clenching and grinding can contribute to the development of TMJ pain and headaches.
You can mitigate teeth clenching and grinding with a mouthpiece, but to achieve long-term pain relief, it must be used with relaxation techniques for long-term success.
If you are experiencing TMJ symptoms or headaches and wish to discuss your treatment options, please call 855-509-5400 to schedule your appointment today.
