The Grind: TMJ, Jaw Pain and Holistic Medicine
Author: Blake Estape L.Ac.
Have you ever woken up with an aching pain in your jaw that seems to linger? Maybe it fades as the day goes on, but the next morning there it is to greet you. These are typical symptoms of temporomandibular joint pain, typically called TMJ or TMD. While pain is definitely the main symptom, TMJ encapsulates a number of issues that can really have a negative impact on your day-to-day.
What is TMD?
Dysfunction of the joint can have many causes. Common factors are grinding your teeth (from stress or anxiety), misaligned jaw, arthritis or joint erosion. In addition to jaw pain there may be trouble moving the jaw, pain on chewing, fullness in the ear on the effected side, headaches, etc. Sometimes these symptoms can get bad enough to warrant a visit to the doctor.
How is TMD usually treated?
Lately in my clinic there has been a spate of TMD cases. An estimated 10 million people in the United States suffer from this condition and I suspect that number has risen significantly with the arrival of Covid-19. Ordinarily, sufferers first seek the help of a dentist or orthodontist. In cases of jaw misalignment this may help tremendously, however in other cases they are referred to medical doctors. There patients are prescribed medication or given injections, and again this may be helpful to some.
How does traditional Chinese Medicine differ in treatment?
Very often patients arrive in my clinic once they’ve tried the standard methods of care and have failed to find relief. Why? For many the physical symptoms are a manifestation of an emotional battle that dentistry and medications are ill-equipped to treat. The Chinese believe that all physical pain has a mental-emotional component. In this case the jaw pain is the ‘branch’ of this illness while anxiety is the ‘root.’ You can trim branches all day, but unless you address the root the symptoms will continue sprouting.
There are often lifestyle aspects that need to be adjusted as well. Diet, improper joint use, stress levels – these can all contribute to reaching the tipping point, what I call the symptomatic threshold. Addressing each of these and making consistent changes can eliminate causative factors, getting us beneath the symptomatic threshold and back to health.
Does it work?
An article was recently published examining the findings of a hospital in Fujian, China, where they reported an 86% total effective rate in the treatment of TMD using acupuncture. Furthermore, symptom-relief was sustained over a 6 month period for the majority of patients without any follow-up.
Acupuncture helps to reduce inflammatory proteins in the body and it widely used in the treatment of pain. The main component of discomfort from TMD is caused by inflammation, whether from muscle fatigue or arthritis. Furthermore, acupuncture is helpful in reducing the negative effects of stress and anxiety through its effect on the autonomic nervous system. Thus, acupuncture is well suited to treating TMD because it treats both the root (stress, anxiety) and the branch (inflammation).
Visits with a traditional medicine practitioner also involve close investigation of lifestyle. Certain pro-inflammatory diets can contribute to chronic pain, for instance, and alternatives should be considered. Exploration of stretches, exercises and preventative tools can interrupt the processes causing pain. Formulating a mindfulness strategy can strengthen the body against stress and anxiety.
How to get started.
When ordinary treatments fail to see results it’s time to explore new concepts. That’s what traditional Chinese medicine provides. During consultation, the practitioner will perform a comprehensive intake and explain the process. From there a treatment plan is crafted and the work can begin.
Understand that chronic cases of TMD develop over time. It will similarly require time to reverse (though some relief can be expected quickly). Working with a holistic physician is a partnership, superior treatment is not limited to just the treatment room but in all avenues of life.
If you or someone you know is experiencing symptoms of TMD, call to set up your free consultation and learn how acupuncture and herbal medicine can help, (786) 514-3942.
