chiropractic treatment for TMJ Posted: 06-23-08 12:25pm
OK - I've now been to the chiro twice -
only one real adjustment - I am making a
CONCERTED effort to not touch my face,
crack my jaw, create the crepitus. I'm a
teacher, and I think the talking also
irritated the tmj.. not sure, and maybe
wishful thinking, but I think I'm doing
better - I do think a lot of this is
muscle-related. I'd like your take on this
- he really didn't examine my jaw per say,
but took x-rays which showed a very
forward head posture. He wants to
stabilize me first and then will do some
jaw work. Intraoral, etc... He is into
kinesiology and cranio/sacral (spelling?)
work, and he tells me tmj is one of his
expertise areas. What do you think? He is
reserving judgement about a splint - I
don't grind, altho I think I did
initially. Thanks, as always...........
P.S. Still have the popping/crepitus on
closing and jaw deviation....
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Meowmix001
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 18 Jun 2008 Posts: 8
I tired chiropractic and massage for TMD...No help Posted: 06-23-08 12:52pm
I tried this route last year. It didn't
work for me. I'm trying neuromuscualr
dentistry next. The saga for relief
continues....
The massage and chiropractic actually
seemed to aggravate my problem so please
be careful; it took a week for my pain to
subside to a med-free manageable level
after my experience.
I'm also a teacher. My TMD didn't start
until my first year teaching (I don't
grind my teeth but I probably clench in my
sleep). I think it has something to do
with the stress of dealing with all those
kids. Occupational hazard lol.
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pstuart
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 16 Apr 2008 Posts: 58
Posted: 06-23-08 13:29pm
Did you find that talking exacerbates the
tmj?
Do you feel it's muscular in nature?
I found that massage of the chest and
anterior neck muscles helps, which I do
once a week...
Where is your pain? Mine is in front of
the ears and behind the ears and down into
the lower jaw and neck... Thanks for the
reply.........
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Tmddyan
Moderator
Joined: 13 Jun 2006 Posts: 4346 Location: post falls, id usa
Thanks: 93
Thanked:63
Posted: 06-23-08 15:35pm
the reason that the massage and chiro
seemed to agrivat is because you either
didnt have someone that was good and knew
about it ---or you didnt give it a fair
enough chance. these things take time and
tend to get worse before they get better.
--been there---- try to reduce stress as
much as possible. perhaps take up some
meditation or something of the sort
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Meowmix001
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 18 Jun 2008 Posts: 8
Posted: 06-23-08 17:26pm
Hi Pstuart,
Talking doesn't seem to bother me, but I'm
not big on lecturing, or talking much for
that matter. I never really thought about
it until now, but I suppose I'm kind of
quiet. Has that been a consequence of the
TMD or have I always been quiet. I was
definitely more chatty, so perhaps the TMD
has affected me more deeply than I first
figured.
I have a scrip for muscle relaxers that
don't do anything for the TMD; I suppose
that if it was muscular in nature the meds
would work. But I'll use your suggestion
to get my husband to rub my shoulders and
neck more often ---I had an MRI
that revealed dislocated discs in the left
and right joints and a lot of fluid in the
air cells (?)
My pain is primarily in the right side of
my jaw radiating into my right ear which
pops and feels stuffy all the time and up
into my temple and the orbit of my right
eye. I get dizzy a lot and have weird
ringing noises in my right ear too.
Chiropractic and massage have helped me I
the past with pinched nerves, so I do
believe in their efficacy, it just didn't
help my TMD issue.
I think tmddyan may be right about the
chiro and massage therapist not really
knowing what they were doing; it was awful
afterwards, I had to take a couple of days
off work because I was seriously in pain
afterward. There was no way I could deal
with those kids in that state (or doped up
on pain meds).
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Meowmix001
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 18 Jun 2008 Posts: 8
Therapy and meditation! Posted: 06-23-08 17:38pm
I did see a couple therapists to try to
reduce stress (as I thought this was the
culprit causing the TMD) and one of them
put me on Lexapro. I also take yoga
classes. The Lexapro actually helps quite
a bit, but I gained 30 lbs on it without
any changes in my activity levels or
eating. Maybe I'm just sensitive to
SSRIs? I'm really flexible as a result of
the yoga, but alas, the TMD has gotten
worse so I'm seeking a more
(hopefully)permanent solution.
I'm trying neuromuscualr dentistry now
(fingers crossed) I hope it works. I'll
update you if it helps. Keep your
experiences with the chiro up to date pls,
I really hope it helps you.
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Tmddyan
Moderator
Joined: 13 Jun 2006 Posts: 4346 Location: post falls, id usa
Thanks: 93
Thanked:63
Posted: 06-23-08 17:40pm
Yeah ---i have to go to a certain massage
therapist as the other one messed me up
really bad. you have to be very
careful---some "specialists" make
themselves look good and say they can take
care of this---but havnt a clue.
---I had an MRI
that revealed dislocated discs in the left
and right joints and a lot of fluid in the
air cells (?)
