TEMPOROMANDIBULAR JOINT DYSFUNCTION (TMJ)
Our innovative and highly specialized TMJ treatment protocol brings relief from the debilitating effects of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pain syndrome in 1-3 treatments. Our vision impaired founder Glenn Cameron uses his keen sense of touch developed from reading Braille for many years, to locate the various dysfunctions within the jaw, head, and neck, all of which are involved regions for TMJ syndrome. He then uses extracorporeal shockwave therapy to break apart the various identified bands of dysfunctional tissue, in a highly focused application of the technology with ultimate precision.
Shockwaves are the same powerful acoustic waves used to break apart kidney stones. The technology is a virtual necessity to break apart extremely tough adhesions from the strongest muscles in the body, ones with a byte pressure of 200 pounds per square inch (PSI). We employ state-of-the-art Swiss Dolorclast Shockwave units, the most powerful in the world today, to provide successful treatments.
The result is an instant release of irritating myofascial adhesions that have caused so much pain and life-altering dysfunction to the region.
Shockwaves reach deep into the joint capsule addressing that infamous “clicking” sound when chewing, and the “S or C” wobble characteristic to more severe cases of TMJ pain syndrome.
We require 2 treatments to resolve minor to moderate cases of TMJ pain, but up to 4 treatments for severe cases. The most we have ever needed was 5 treatments because of the widespread affliction of the jaw and neck region, but we got the job done.
TMJ is the acronym used to denote a condition where the temporomandibular joint (jaw) and its muscles have become dysfunctional. The jaw (mandible) bone narrows to form a rotational joint with the Temporal bone of the skull.
Here are the symptoms he experienced:
Muffled hearing / Ear popping / Earaches / Brain fog / Sinus pressure / Facial pain / Headaches / Achy teeth / Jaw & neck pain / Swollen glands / Irritability / Concentration issues
A hearing specialist confirmed no hearing loss. A medical specialist confirmed no sinus or inner ear problems. A medical specialist confirmed no anxiety or depression. A dentist confirmed the presence of TMJ. The dentist confirmed that all teeth were fine.
TMJ Treatment Begins
First Treatment
Within seconds of starting treatment, the man’s ear felt like it was going to explode. The pain and pressure was enormous, but slowly began to diminish, but the popping was significant for most of the treatment
His sinuses instantly began flowing so much that he was about to choke on the secretions, so got up and had to spit and blow his nose
Pain and pressure was felt into his teeth, jaw, face, and temple regions which began to subside as the minutes passed
He felt an odd taste in his mouth as if eating something bad, which quickly diminished
He felt twinges of pain into his neck and around the ear
All symptoms experienced were completely gone by the end of this first treatment. He felt a tremendous relief that he had trouble explaining. All the regions affected by this first treatment were the regions which gave him so much discomfort over the years, and now felt a sense of enormous relief.
Second Treatment
Instant pain once again hit his ear but subsided quickly, not prolonged as in the first treatment
Some pain and pressure was still felt in the temporal and sinus regions of the face, but also quickly dissipated
His sinuses instantly drained once again but with less flow and less popping
Once again there was pain into his teeth but from one small region only on the jaw when treated. No widespread regional pain
The overall pain of the treatment was dramatically less than in the first treatment
No weird tastes sensations were present during this treatment
The jaw could move so much easier opening and closing smoothly with no crackling or popping sound.
Third Treatment
Only slight ear pain was experienced
The final adhesions were removed from the muscles which eliminated the s-wobble in the jaw
All other symptoms experienced in the previous treatments were gone.
Conclusion
His jaw is now opening and closing freely with no wobble. All the pressures on the ear have been eliminated with the return of normal alignment to the jaw. His TMJ is now gone but more importantly, so are all the symptoms that he has experienced for the past 5 years.
Symptoms of TMJ Syndrome
There are numerous symptoms associated with TMJ due to the high concentration of nerve fibres in the region, complexity of the jaw joint with its connective tissues, and the overall proximity to the ear, throat, sinus cavities, teeth and the muscles of the head and neck. Here are the symptoms of TMJ.
- Jaw pain
- Restricted jaw motion
- Achy teeth
- Sharp pains in the jaw and side of the face
- Temporal headaches
- Orbital (eye) pains
- Sinus pressure
- Earaches/muffled hearing/ear popping
- Neck pain
- Jaw cracking when chewing
Causes:
Despite their small size, the muscle fibres in the jaw muscles are the strongest in the body. Four muscles work in unison to open and close the jaw. Dysfunction in any or all of these muscles results in an uneven pull on the jaw. Symptoms arise if problems develop within the muscles or the mandibular joint.
Stress is the number one cause for TMJ to develop. Some people tend to cope with emotional stress by grinding their teeth or clenching their jaw.
A second possible cause is due to dental work that required the jaw to be manipulated close to its end of the range for a period of time. Although this alone is unlikely to cause the condition, it may be the final incident to create the condition.
In depth: What Really Happens?
There are two major muscles on the outside and two on the inside of the jaw responsible for providing the power to close the jaw when eating and speaking. Each of these four muscles must be healthy providing a normal range of elasticity and contraction ability to the jaw joint. Furthermore, the four muscles on one side of the jaw must be of equal health as those on the opposite side, working in unison to close the jaw perfectly in symmetry.
Muscles exposed to prolonged stresses, whether they be due to overuse or emotional stress will become tight, develop myofascial adhesions and lose elasticity. All it takes is one of these eight muscles to become dysfunctional to cause an alignment issue.
The cracking sound heard when a person is eating comes from the jaw bone briefly jumping out of its cartilage socket that holds it in place over the joint. Ligaments keep the jaw bone from completely dislocating.
The ear popping symptom is due to the misalignment of the jaw.
All of the other symptoms come from trigger points within the myofascial adhesions