How Acupuncture Can Reduce Pain From TMJ
For those suffering from TMJ – the abbreviation for pain and unevenness associated with the Temporomandibular Joint – the effects of the problem can be multi-dimensional. From searing pain to horrific cracking of the jaw when chewing, this has become a widespread problem across a multitude of generational platforms. Indeed, those enduring what has become simply known as TMJ know how far-reaching this condition can be and how limited many of the so-called solutions to it are.
Lately, there have been advancements in utilizing acupuncture to treat TMJ for those seeking an effective, all-natural, and, best of all, virtually pain-free approach. To first understand the tactics involved in combating the problem, one must first get up close and personal with it: The Temporomandibular Joint is located on each side of the jaw and has been deemed “highly specialized” and “unlike any other in the body” by oral surgery experts, its existence giving our jaws the wide capability of movements it possesses: Sliding, pivoting, hinging and more. Most people suffering with TMJ are looking to understand the root causes of their affliction, often times a result of disc erosion, arthritic damage, impact/trauma damage, and sometimes the complete unknown.
Many scientific studies have suggested that acupuncture can, in fact, treat TMJ-specific dysfunctions, affirming not only significant pain reduction but showing how the approach can provide long-term pain relief in TMJ sufferers. Important to note during this entire analysis is that even in cases of severe impact trauma, acupuncture treatments for TMJ have proven to be of great value…so much so that a good number of health insurance policies are now covering acupuncture treatments for TMJ.
What are the exact symptoms of TMJ that acupuncture attempts to treat? How do professional acupuncturists determine if a patient is indeed suffering from it? The symptoms most often associated with TMJ disorders are:
- Tenderness or pain in the face, ear, neck, or shoulders affected by movements of the jaw
- Seemingly mysterious symptoms like sudden earaches, toothaches, dizziness, or ringing in the ears
- A sudden awkward sensation of a misaligned bite or teeth refusing to line up properly
- Discomfort or difficulty with talking or chewing
- Clicking or popping sounds as experienced or heard during use of the jaw
- Swelling of one or both sides of the face
- Jawlines getting “locked up” and stuck in either the open or closed position
- A fatigued, tired feeling in the face, ear, neck, or shoulders
- A noticeably limited opening ability or range of motion of the mouth
TMJ acupuncture treatments are comprised of a series of specific techniques to tap into certain “energetic points” around the body; these points can often show a significant effect on the Temporomandibular Joint, its condition, and overall function. In a traditional acupuncture TMJ treatment session, Chinese needles at number 38 gauge and one-inch long are used, taking into account the kind of microcurrent device used, treatment points, and treatment duration, amongst other factors.
A licensed Manhattan Acupuncturist will typically suggest a treatment frequency of once a week for four to six weeks. Within the six to eight treatments, the patient should be able to sense some kind of improvement. It’s often reported that pain and/or burning are reduced, the range of motion the jaw exhibits is increased, and pain medication is reduced or discontinued. As with nearly all muscle disorders, the indication of the appropriate stretching exercises for the muscles involved here will assist in a faster recovery.
With regard to acupuncture pain remedies, a course of daily stretching exercises is indeed recommended by many acupuncturists – and oral surgeons for that matter – as part of a larger protocol to reduce stress of the Temporomandibular Joint. These are performed, on average, three times a day, five times in each session, maintaining the stretch for five seconds. Additionally, it is advised that heat be applied for the first 15 to 20 minutes before the stretching exercises begin to increase elasticity of the muscles, while ice is applied afterward – five minutes if needed – to reduce inflammation resulting from the movements. Interestingly, many acupuncturists recommend a bland diet to reduce stress to the joint.
Acupuncture treatments for TMJ is a procedure performed in a relaxing environment that is ideal for encouraging healing, with many patients even falling into a deep sleep during their sessions. These centuries-old, time-proven methods have reportedly helped countless sufferers break through the confining walls of their condition.
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