TMJ is Painful!

TJM Pain

When I have a good result from physical therapy, I like to share it with my friends. You may ask why? My testimony may inspire you to take that first step to get physical therapy or share how physical therapy helped you.

Yesterday, I returned to Atlas Therapy for another round of TMJ therapy and felt like a new person after the session. Smiling was pain-free.

If you have TMJ, you know the excruciating pain it can create in your ears and throughout your face and jaws. Biting into an apple or eating something with less effort (applesauce) can make the pleasure of eating excruciating. Even smiling can agitate your facial muscles when you have TMJ.

For many years, I have suffered from different levels of TMJ. When I was in my 20’s, I had two molars removed in my lower right jaw. Over the years, the teeth above the missing molars had to be shortened and crowned because they extended and pushed into the gum below. I tried to wear a partial plate to replace the missing teeth, but it never seemed to fit, so I gave up trying to wear it. An uneven bite helped me develop TMJ over the years.

Five years ago, my dentist gave me a prescription to visit Atlas Therapy for physical therapy for my TMJ. My first round of sessions lasted about two months of going two times a week.  In early 2015, I returned to go through second round of therapy. Yesterday, I returned for my first visit of a third round of therapy. After the first visit, I felt tremendous relief from the ache in my jaws. It was easier to smile.

Causes of TMJ

An injury or dislocated jaw 

Teeth or jaws that aren’t lined up right

Grinding your teeth

Arthritis, which can damage the cartilage in the joint

These exercises are recommended to help with TMJ pain. Give the video a moment. The exercises go through slow motion to show you how they work.