Temporomandibular Joint Pain (TMJ)

Temporomandibular Joint Disorder or TMJ is a condition causing inflammation of the Temporomandibular Joint. The temporomandibular joint connects the mandible (jaw bone) to your skull. TMJ can be a very painful condition and it can make it difficult to move your jaw.

TMJ can impact your ability to speak, sing, eat, chew, swallow, smile, make facial expressions, and even breathe. Because of the wide variety of symptoms associated with TMJ, Temporomandibular Joint Disorder can be easily misdiagnosed and is often misunderstood.

The doctors at Baker Chiropractic and Wellness have been accurately diagnosing and successfully treating TMJ for over 20 years. We know what to look for and how to treat it.

If you or someone you know is suffering from TMJ, give us a call at (513) 561-2273 or Schedule an Appointment here on our website. We have helped many patients and we may be able to help you too!

Causes

The cause of TMJ may be from problems with the muscles of your jaw or with the parts of the temporomandibular joint itself.

These problems could be from injury to your jaw, the temporomandibular joint, or the muscles of your head and neck. Other causes of TMJ may include:

Grinding or clenching teeth. This puts excessive pressure on the temporomandibular joint.
Movement of the soft cushion or disc between the ball and socket of the temporomandibular joint.
Arthritis in the temporomandibular joint.
Too much stress. This causes tightening of facial and jaw muscles.

Symptoms

Reports show over 35 million people in the United States currently suffer from TMJ. While this disorder affects both men and women, statistics reflect TMJ is more common in women.

TMJ symptoms may include the following:

Dull, Aching Jaw Pain
Headache or Migraine Pain
Ear Ache Pain
Hearing Loss
Difficulty or Discomfort Biting and Chewing Food
Popping or Clicking Sound When Opening Mouth
Neck and/or Shoulder Pain

What Patients Say About Coming To Us for TMJ

Here’s a real-life story from a patient who had been dealing with TMJ for a long period of time and decided to come to us:

Heather and Dr. Paul Baker

“I don’t remember when it started. But it’s safe to say that I have had TMJ for a long time… for most of my life.

I had it long before I had a name for it. It was simply that clicky-jaw-thing. And by clicky-jaw-thing, I mean that thing when you yawn or chew or laugh really hard and your jaw pops… loudly. And someone near you says, “What was that?!” And then you say, “Oh… that was my jaw.” Not so much topic of conversation and pretty humiliating.

The clicky-jaw-thing stuck around through all of high school and into college before I knew that there was actually a technical term for it. I finally asked the dentist about it and he said that the clicking was caused by a Temporomandibular Joint disorder, or TMJ. Basically, he said that my jaw was out of line. He suggested a night mouth guard because TMJ can sometimes be caused by nighttime teeth grinding and I was a confirmed teeth grinder.

Over the years, I used a mouth guard from the dentist, bought several from different drug stores, and had another made by a different dentist. They made me talk funny and drool more, but none of them magically aligned my jaw.

At this point, over ten years ago, my dentist was out of options that didn’t require surgery. I had no intention of getting jaw surgery and at some point in the last decade I had simply resigned myself to the fact that I would be stuck with TMJ for the rest of my life. Unfortunately, this acceptance included frequent headaches, many doses of ibuprofen, and the all too familiar clicky-jaw-thing.

About six months ago we started seeing Dr. Paul Baker. My husband stumbled upon his name (and by stumbled, I mean divine intervention) and went in for an issue he was having with his back and within a few weeks, our daughters and I were also patients. After the back x-rays were taken, the consultation, and the adjustments, I was feeling great, but it didn’t even dawn on me to bring up the TMJ. He’s a chiropractor, not a dentist… right?

But then I saw him working on a young woman’s jaw. And then I heard another young woman tell him how much better her TMJ has been. I nearly cried. I asked Dr. Paul if he worked on TMJ… of course he does! It’s been about three months since he started working on my jaw— just a few minutes after each adjustment— and it has already made a remarkable difference!

I used to get headaches every day. Every day. Many of them would start in my jaw and work their way up to my temples. Frequently I would wake up with a searing headache that was lodged primarily in my jaw.

That is a rare occurrence these days. I rarely have headaches and when I do they are slight not severe. My jaw still clicks, but it doesn’t send the jolt of pain that it used to. And I have a larger range of motion… which is to say, I can open my mouth wider without the clicking and the hurting.

The pain lifted steadily. It was a release and an overwhelming relief. As I look back, it is baffling that I had accepted that level of discomfort. But when it started to recede and then go away completely, it was like an entirely new life. Having lived with constant pain and to then watch it disappear, I began to realize just how stressful and all-consuming living with that agony had been. The lightness, relief, and joy that come from its lifting are life changing.

Finding Baker Chiropractic and Wellness, Dr. Paul, and the entire staff has changed the lives of our entire family. We are healthier, happier, and we feel better than ever! Occasionally I imagine how much Advil it would have taken to get through my life with TMJ, or I think about having to endure a painful jaw surgery or wear some contraption on my face every night while I sleep… and each time I send up a silent prayer for Dr. Paul and the path that led us to him.”

– Heather M.

No Expensive Drugs, Surgery or Dental Work

For over 20 years, we have heard story after story from our patients on how they sought answers and treatment for TMJ from a diverse group of healthcare professionals including: Dentists, Neurologists, Endocrinologists, Rheumatologists, Pain Specialists, and Ear, Nose and Throat Specialists.

When those options failed to resolve their pain and discomfort, they became frustrated and turned to us for help. If you are suffering from TMJ, we invite you to call us at (513) 561-2273 or Schedule an Appointment here on our website. We have a long history of success treating TMJ that does not involve expensive drugs, surgery or dental work.

Turn to Baker Chiropractic and Wellness first and save precious time and money.