TMJ Pain Management

What is this type of Pain?

Have you ever experienced pain in your Jaw? Pain located on the side of your face, almost at the level of your ear lobe, is often called Temporomandibular Joint pain. That is essentially where your “Jaw” opens and closes from. As you can imagine, over time that area can become worn for many reasons as we shall talk about. A joint is the area where two bones need to move from. Joints often are complex, bones have smooth surfaces known as cartilage that can wear down, and there is also structures known in medical terms as “soft tissue” or structures that help support joints that are not necessary bone, ligaments, or hard substances. Think of them as shock absorbers.

The TMJ joint moves in three directions (up and down, side to side, and forward and backward). Because of the multiple directions of movement, there are increased chances of having problems with this joint. There are many causes that can contribute to that problem including autoimmune diseases (diseases that occur because your body launches and attack against its own joints), infections, injuries to jaw area, dental procedures, and various forms of arthritis.

The symptoms that patients can experience are variable in each case, but the most common are:

• Pain in the jaw muscles
• Chronic headaches
• Any clicking, popping, or grating associated with chewing
• Pain in neck and shoulders
• Limited moving or locking of the jaw
• Uneven bites
• Tinnitus (ringing in the ears)
• Dizziness

Symptoms should be occurring on a daily basis or regular schedule.
 

What should you do?

If you are experiencing any of these problems, you should consult an expert for further evaluation. There are also other medical problems that can mimic this, which a doctor would want to “rule out.” For instance, pain radiating to the jaw is also associated with heart attacks.

There is no one way to treat TMJ problems because the medical community has failed to establish a standard of care. It may take a long time and more research before this may happen. The good news is that there are physicians and dentists who have more experience than others in this field. These are the health care providers you should seek.

Treatment options may include:
Pain medications, anti-inflammatories (both steroids and non steroidal composition) muscle relaxants, and sometimes anti-depressants. Some physicians will perform massage, injections, manipulation in the area. There are also splints available, dental treatments, surgery, and TMJ implants.

The bottom line is if you suffer from tempormandibular disorders why not learn all that you can about the condition. Sometimes a consultation with an experienced physician who has treated this problem and has had success may save you time, money, and added suffering from pain.

Dr. Jayshree Adenwala is available on Tuesdays for consultation. She has experience with understanding musculoskeletal disorders (affecting muscle, bone, and joints) and has experience in TMJ treatments.