CHIROPRACTOR MAY HELP TMJ
Among the areas of the body that Wauwatosa WI and Delafield WI chiropractors can help, many people are surprised to learn that the jaw is on the list. It's easy to associate back pain and neck pain with chiropractic treatment, but people who suffer from TMJ or Temporomandibular Joint Disorder can also find relief.
WHAT IS TMJ?
Temporomandibular Joint Disorder refers to a group of conditions that affect the temporomandibular joint in the jaw. This joint connects your jaw to your skull, so it stands to reason that if you have issues with the muscles or ligaments that control its movement you may experience problems.
Some common symptoms of TMJ include pain in your jaw, cheek, teeth, or front of the ear when you chew or yawn, clicking noises in the jaw, an inability to open your mouth wide, or having your jaw lock when you are able to open it. You also may notice that your upper and lower teeth no longer fit together properly when you close your mouth. Some patients experience headaches, hearing issues, dizziness, or earaches as part of Temporomandibular Joint Disorder.
CAUSES OF TMJ
TMJ has a myriad of potential causes that your Wauwatosa WI and Delafield WI chiropractors will explore when you book your appointment. Some of the known causes of TMJ include serious jaw trauma or dislocation, physical or emotional stress, or even sitting in a dentist's chair for long periods of time with your mouth wide open. The emotional stress doesn't end up causing TMJ on its own, but if you tend to clench your teeth as a result, this may end up causing it. Statistics show that women are four times as likely to suffer from TMJ as men.
CAN A Wauwatosa WI and Delafield WI CHIROPRACTIC HELP TMJ?
Once your chiropractor confirms that you do have TMJ, you'll be given a treatment plan based on the specifics of your situation. Our team at Connect Chiropractic wants to get to the cause of your problem so every angle is explored before a thorough plan is created. Usually, a treatment plan for TMJ will include chiropractic adjustments, special exercises, and possibly heat or ice to lessen pain if it is particularly painful.
If you have any of the symptoms of TMJ, schedule a consultation with a chiropractor as soon as possible. It's also important that you follow any advice or recommendations given during that consultation and subsequent appointments. Every exercise and treatment is designed to remove the underlying cause of the problem and restore your jaw function back to normal.
A Patient Testimonial
“As a music major with severe TMJ pain, I came into Connect Chiropractic looking for a long-term solution that would give me the ability to play my saxophone more comfortably. My jaw had been locked shut for roughly 3 months, which affected not only my saxophone playing, but all aspects of my life -- including eating, yawning, and laughing.
Prior to starting care at Connect, I had seen my primary care doctor and a speech therapist, but nothing had really come of it. Since I haven’t had much luck with fixing these problems in the past, I was generally skeptical that anything would help my jaw. However, I had heard good praises from my dad who also received care from Dr. Alex. I decided to come in for a consultation and was impressed with the expertise and explanation that I received, so I was pretty excited to get started!
I would absolutely recommend chiropractic care to others. My jaw unlocked after only 3-4 weeks of care! Pretty much all aspects of my life from eating, sleeping, sitting, standing, and playing my instrument to yawning, talking, exercising, and so on have been positively impacted! In my opinion, being a practice member at Connect Chiropractic is an overall better and less painful way of life!”
- Angela
At Connect Chiropractic our team is here to help answer your questions. Please feel free to contact us today.
