For years I have had jaw issues. From having bad root canals to just having a tightness that steamed from my right lower jaw through my neck causing me constant discomfort. I had seen my pcp and he recommended I massage the area when it feels inflamed or I had discomfort.
Honestly, that was no help and I was taking any where from 500 to 2000 mg a day of Aspirin.
When I started working with Dr Kaszer, he required that I become a patient of his first so that I could experience what his patients go through during a treatment. After 2 sessions my jaw pain was completely gone. It’s been about a month and I have had not one problem with pain since.
I came across some information on TMJ and jaw discomfort and wanted to share and educate those of you who may be experiencing the same thing.
Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder—also called Temporomandibular disorder (TMD)—refers not just to one but to a number of conditions that cause pain in the face, head, or jaw area. The TMJs, located just in front of the ears, are the 2 hinged jaw joints that attach the lower jaw (mandible) to the bones at the sides and base of the skull (temporal bones). These joints allow the jaws to open, close, move side-to-side, and rotate in movements such as chewing, swallowing, or speaking.
There can be multiple causes for TMJ/TMD. Trauma to the face, jaw or spine, neurological dysfunction of the 5th Cranial Nerve (this nerve control the jaw muscles), clenching the teeth, bone abnormalities, arthritis of the TMJs are potential causes for the TMJ disorder.
What are the symptoms of TMJ/TMD
The symptoms of TMJ/TMD may include headache, tension in the jaw/face/neck muscles, jaw stiffness, pain or clicking sound when the mouth opens or closes. TMJ, which may be chronic (long-lasting) or temporary, affects more than twice as many women as men and most often appears between the ages of 20 and 50.
NUCCA chiropractic treatment and TMJ/TMD
There are a couple of links between the spine, the nervous system that help us understand why NUCCA chiropractic care is so effective in helping people with TMJ/TMD.
The most likely link between the spine and TMJ/TMD is 5th cranial nerve. The 5th cranial nerve exits the spinal cord and wraps up through the skull to where it controls the muscles of mastication (chewing). This nerve is very susceptible to injury when the bones at the top of the spine misalign (subluxate). If one or both of the 5th cranial nerves (there is one on each side) becomes irritated or impaired, it may begin to send too many or too few neurological impulses to the muscles of the jaw, causing the muscles to tighten and even pull the jaw out of place resulting in TMD. Correcting the spine will help return the nervous system to proper function, the muscles will be rebalanced and the patient can get relief and recover from the TMJ disorder. There have been many patients who have felt there jaw shift back into place during a NUCCA chiropractic correction.
Whether you have a terribly complex case or just some minor tension in the jaw, Dr.Kaszer take these issues seriously and it is highly likely that your jaw will improve under NUCCA chiropractic. The TMJ/TMD has a reputation of being a highly complicated and frustrating problem to fix. Begin the treatment of the TMJ/TMD with us or add NUCCA chiropractic care to what your dentist/surgeon is already doing and begin to find relief from this painful problem.
Shayna Macklin
New Patient Coordinator/ Marketing Director
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