What is TMJ?
"TMJ" stands for "Temporomandibular Joint Syndrome." Another term commonly used is "TMD", which stands for "Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction."
The temporomandibular joints are complex hinge joints that connect the lower jaw to the skull. If you've been told, "You have TMJ", that means you have a problem with your jaw (which could be for a number of reasons) and the surrounding muscles in your head, face, and jaw. Your professional practitioner will desrcibe your specific issues with you. We are here to help you learn how to deal with the muscle pain and spasm that is often associated with any craniofacial pain of the head, face and/or jaw.
TMJ causes pain that ranges from mild to severe. The pain is usually felt around the jaw joint and associated muscles. Frequently, pain is also felt in the face, head, teeth, eyes, ears, sinuses, neck and shoulders. Left untreated, mild functional problems may result in permanent changes such as arthritis and tissue damage.
Approximately 20% of the overall population suffers from TMJ. About 90% are women although experts do not know why. TMJ has proven to be difficult to diagnose and treat; there is no single discipline associated with TMJ. Often, patients will visit multiple clinicians during the diagnosis phase alone. Millions of dollars are spent each year on tests and treatments, frequently out of the patient's own pocket.
The most common symptoms of TMJ include:
- Pain in and around the jaw, face, ears, eyes, teeth, head, neck, and shoulders
- Muscle pain, spasms, and/or tenderness in the face, ears, eyes, teeth, neck, head, and shoulders
- Many types of headaches
- Pain in the sinuses and behind the eyes
- Painful pressure in the ears that may cause earaches and/or ringing in the ears
- Clicking and popping in the jaw joints
- Clenching the jaw and grinding the teeth
- Jaw locking in open and closed positions
- Difficulty opening or closing the mouth
- Difficulty chewing or swallowing
Some, if not most of the problems listed above are related specifically to the shortening of the muscle which causes decreased range of motion and the ability to open properly. And, the compression of nerves and blood vessels caused by trigger points is responsible for both direct and referred pain. Statistics also indicate that 80% of ALL headaches originate in the chewing muscles.
If you'd like to learn more about TMJ, we recommend you read: Taking Control of TMJ: Your Total Wellness Program for Recovery from Temporomandibular Joint Pain, Whiplash, Fibromyalgia, and Related Disorders by Robert O. Uppgaard, D.D.S. You may find information about his book in our Recommended TMJ Resources section.
