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Writer's pictureAna Maria Conneely

Jaw Pain and How to Relieve It with TMJ massage in Haywards Heath

Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction (TMJD) is more common than you might imagine, and some studies show that it has been on the increase. With one in four people now presenting with this disorder.

And when we take a moment to think about it, it's not that surprising, think about how often you use your jaw muscles...talking, chewing, singing, laughing and yawning. And if you happen to grind your teeth (like me) that means you are working your jaw muscles even in your sleep!


In this blog post we be exploring how TMJ massage can help alleviate symptoms through specialised myofascial trigger point work and identifying the key muscles involved.


There are a variety of symptoms linked to TMJ disorder (TMD), some of which may sound obvious and others which may surprise you. These symptoms can also range from quite mild to rather significant ultimately impacting a persons quality of life.




Symptoms


  1. Pain

    This is pain or discomfort in the jaw muscles (those used for chewing) or in the joint, which may worsen during or after chewing, speaking, or even yawning.

  2. Radiating pain in the face, neck, behind the eye, or into the teeth

    TMJ pain may refer beyond the jaw area, causing discomfort in surrounding areas, including the neck, cheeks, eyes, and teeth, due to the interconnected nerves.

  3. Tenderness in the joint

    The TMJ can become tender to the touch, and moving the jaw (such as opening the mouth or chewing) may cause more pain.

  4. Bruxism (Grinding)Clenching or grinding of the teeth, particularly during sleep, is often a symptom. This can unfortunately wear down your teeth (as I well know) and cause achy tension in your jaw in the morning.

  5. Crepitus (clicking/popping/crunching sounds coming from the joint)

    You might notice sounds, like clicking, popping, or crunching, when opening or closing your mouth, which can signal joint dysfunction or misalignment of the cartilage.

  6. Trismus TMD can make it difficult to fully open or close your mouth, leading to restricted jaw movement. This may also make speaking and eating challenging.

  7. Lockjaw

    The jaw may "lock," or get stuck, in a position where it can’t open fully or moves to one side. This can make dental appointments tricky, or any activity which requires your mouth to be open.

  8. Malocclusion

    Misaligned teeth or bite issues, such as overbite or underbite, this may be as a result of tight jaw muscles, causing discomfort and strain on the jaw.

  9. Headaches/Migraines

    Tension headaches or migraines, arising in the temples or behind the eyes, or near the ear might occur.

  10. Tinnitus/Ear pain

    TMJ can cause pain in the ears, and may also lead to tinnitus (ringing in one or both ears)

  11. Visual disturbances

    Some people may experience blurred vision or other visual disturbances, potentially due to tension or nerve interference associated with the jaw muscles.

  12. Unexplained toothache

    Trigger points in the muscles of the jaw can refer pain directly into the teeth. A dentist may have told you there is nothing wrong with the tooth but the pain persists.

  13. Tight neck and shoulders

    Tension from the jaw muscles can refer to the neck and shoulders, the muscles and nerves are interconnected.


These symptoms can vary in intensity and may overlap with other conditions. Your dentist will most likely diagnose you. And give you some valuable advice around eating soft foods, perhaps over-the-counter medication. Other treatments include acupuncture, saline solution injections. A dentist may also recommend a bite guard or a splint, bite adjustments and orthodontic restoration. This is really useful and helpful for achieving improvements, and preventing further damage it is only treating the symptoms.

I have ground my way through two mouth guards, while of course it is preferable to grind through the guard and not my teeth, I for one would like to address the underlying cause.


You might have just become accustomed to jaw pain or like me maybe have been treating the symptoms with a mouth guard for many years. However, what many people don't always realise is that there is a soft tissue treatment that can be an effective, non-invasive solution to TMD.


As a clinical massage therapist who specialises in TMJ massage, I have seen some really positive results! Reduced pain, decrease in symptoms and increased range of movement, a decrease in headaches and migraine pain.


The Treatment -Each treatment is as unique as you are. 


Effective and successful treatment requires an in-depth understanding of your history, including genetics, trauma, changes over time and stress levels.

Alongside consultation, the first session will also include postural assessment and joint assessment.

I believe it is always important to re-test after treatment. And, if you are having a block of treatments (which is advisable for long-standing issues), a re-assessment after your 3rd or 4th treatment.


The treatment itself uses a range of tools from my clinical massage tool-box including myofascial release (a gentle yet deeply effective massage technique to work with the fascial layers) and trigger point therapy (which targets hyper-irritable spots within tight bands of muscle) trigger points often cause referred pain to other parts of the body.


Aftercare is always provided, and I will always provide you with tools to help you manage your symptoms between treatments. These might include gentle exercises or stress relieving techniques to address underlying reasons for your jaw tension.


It is always my intention to create a safe and relaxing environment for your treatment.


Please feel free to get in touch with any questions or you can Book your treatment today in the wonderful Winslow skincare located in the heart of Haywards Heath.


Watch this video for a behind-the-scenes look at a TMJ massage.












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