TMJ Massage in Vancouver Relieve Jaw Pain and Tension

How Can TMJ Massage in Vancouver Help Relieve Jaw Pain?

Living with TMJ pain can be exhausting. You might wake up with a sore jaw, struggle to eat comfortably or experience frequent headaches. The constant discomfort can affect your mood and quality of life.

TMJ massage offers a natural, non-invasive solution to these issues. Our specialized techniques target the muscles around your jaw, face, and neck, helping to release tension and improve mobility. This can reduce pain, decrease headaches, and improve your jaw's range of motion.

By addressing both the symptoms and the underlying muscle tension, TMJ massage can provide significant relief, helping you get back to enjoying life without constant jaw discomfort.

What Is Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ)

The Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is where the lower jaw connects with the temporal bone, which lies in front of the ears on either side. These parts are surrounded by muscles and tendons, which help with the movement of the jaw and allow us to do daily tasks like talking, eating, chewing, and yawning. 

When the Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is impacted, it can cause discomfort or locking of the jaw. The disorder can also be referred to as Temporomandibular joint Dysfunction (TMD). Manual therapy sessions are an excellent remedy and can be beneficial in relieving and often eliminating the cause and symptoms related to TMJ.

What Causes TMJ Issues?

When it comes to TMJ dysfunction is commonly associated with pain in and around your jaw as and when you eat. There is also known pain coming from your face or around your ears. The pain can be mild or severe and can range from gradual to sudden serve pain, commonly known as lockjaw.

Other known symptoms may include:

• Grinding, clicking or popping sound when you eat

• Pain in the neck and shoulders

• Constant headaches (seen in whiplash injuries)

• Trouble opening and closing mouth (Jaw Locking)

• Tinnitus - Noise in the ear

• Fullness and muffling in the ear

• Dizziness

• Instability of the body

• Hearing loss

Causes And Symptoms Of TMJ Syndrome

TMJ syndrome can result from various factors. Overworked muscles from habitual teeth grinding or jaw clenching can lead to stiffness and fatigue. Trauma to the face, arthritis, or even genetic and psychological factors can also contribute to the condition.

These causes can damage the jaw joint, leading to a range of symptoms.

Common Symptoms Include:

• Jaw pain or stiffness

• Popping or clicking sounds in the jaw

• Pain spreading to the face, neck, or shoulders

• Headaches or dizziness

• Tooth sensitivity or tingling in fingers

• Difficulty opening or closing the mouth (lockjaw)

• Ringing in the ears (tinnitus)

The signs and symptoms fall into several categories depending on which structures are affected.

Muscles

The most common symptom is tenderness or even excruciating pain in the jaw muscles. Pain is frequently accompanied by a sense of exhaustion and stiffness of the muscles. Another prominent sign of masticatory muscle dysfunction is a reduction in the scope of mandibular motion: the patient restricts mouth movements due to pain; in particular, medically, an inability to open the mouth ultimately is seen.

The chronicity of muscle involvement can be avoided if the problem is addressed early on.

Temporo-Mandibular Joints

Symptoms of this structure can be seen in the following ways:

• Accompanying sounds or suffering, such as sub-dislocation, mandibular clicks, and dislocation of the TMJ, which are caused by a structural mismatch of the articular surfaces;

• Mandibular arthrosis, retro-discitis, synovitis, arthritis, and capsulitis are all examples of joint inflammatory disorders.

Teeth

Dentofacial functional problems like dental abrasion and pulpitis are linked to tooth movement. Another dysfunction is acute malocclusion, which is the disturbance in the maxillary (upper arch) and the mandibular (lower arch) when they become misaligned.

Dealing With Jaw Pain? Find Relief For TMJ Dysfunction.

There is a good likelihood that you have TMJ dysfunction if you have pain in your jaw. You should seek immediate medical attention if you suffer from any of the symptoms mentioned above or a combination.

TMJ dysfunction can be treated with Massage Therapy or Acupuncture. After an evaluation, the experts at West End Wellness will determine your treatment options. 

What Can I Do To Help Relieve TMJ Pain?

With the correct treatment, you can alleviate the pain in your jaw. After seeing a therapist, they will want you to keep up a routine of exercises to help you feel better more quickly, as your recovery is essential. 

Types of exercises you can do:

• Wear a mouthguard (ask your dentist to prescribe you one)

• Avoid eating foods that are hard to chew

• Do not chew gum

• Cut up food to avoid opening your mouth too wide

• Apply a warm compression over the jaw for 10 minutes

• Sleeping on your back may help with the pain