“We have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak.”
Epictetus
Treatment Options/What Helps:
As should be expected the best treatment is going to depend on what the underlying cause(s) are. Some possibilities are massage, chiropractic, surgery, dental corrections, and stress reduction.
One of the truly wonderful things about chronic TMD issues is how well it responds to work on the soft tissues (muscles). This became very obvious in my own clinical practice but is also backed up by a lot of scientific research. For example…
In the same study noted on the previous page 91% of people suffering from chronic jaw pain found that hot or cold compresses on the jaw area were effective. Whereas surgery had very mixed results, with only 32% reporting improvement and 46% who considered themselves WORSE after surgery.*
*Of the remaining percent 28% reported no change and 6% reported significant improvement
What Are My Options?
In my experience regardless of the underlying cause(s) of your specific TMD issues I am astounded at how effective massage and manual therapy to the jaw are in significantly reducing pain.
This approach has a huge benefit compared to other options because it is both highly effective and affordable.
There are some great self-massage videos available online such as this one, but nothing beats professional therapeutic massage. In my experience most people with TMD find relief in even 30 minutes of work and significant lasting results within a few appointments. It is by far the quickest muscle-related issue I am aware of to respond to manual therapy.
When More Than Massage Is Needed:
As effective as massage is for this particular dis-ease it is not the only answer or the most beneficial one for every person.
Often when there are underlying issues as well such as dental issues or other related dis-eases such as fibromyalgia these issues need to be treated as well to get the best and longest lasting results.
I will delve into many aspects of TMJ/TMD in future posts with a special emphasize on:
- Different causes and their common signs and symptoms so you can get a clearer picture of where you fit.
- When a dentist is needed and when to save your money.
- Specific options if you are suffering from TMD issues AND other related health issues such as fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, IBS, rheumatoid arthritis, chronic headaches, depression, and insomnia.
- Treatment options for each with a focus on what you can do at home starting today and where you might find help from a healthcare professional most beneficial
- Interviews with other specialists in their field and what suggestions they have to share for coping with and overcoming your chronic jaw pain/TMD.
- Interviews with others who are either currently suffering with or have overcome their TMJ/TMD issues. What worked and didn’t work for them and their stories.
Wishing you a life of unparalleled joy and acceptance!
David
Where To Next?
Build on your understanding of chronic jaw pain/TMD in the following post:
Pick a new topic for specific practices/opportunities to heal for your specific challenges in the Pick Your Struggle Tab:
Get personalized 1 on 1 attention by scheduling a private session:
- Schedule a therapeutic massage/manual therapy session for TMD at our Colorado Springs Office.
- Schedule a 1 on 1 session in person or via zoom for custom guidance/coaching/emotional digestion/de-storying
- Schedule a 1 on 1 session in person at our Colorado Springs office for Traditional Chinese Herbal medicine.
