Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) or Jaw Pain
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The TMJ, or jaw joint, is one of the most under-diagnosed problem areas in the body, in my experience. It has a massive impact on the function of the neck, shoulders and head; but very few people ever consider it as a contributor to their headaches, neck pain, or shoulder issues.
When you think about it, it makes sense: The jaw has to be massively mobile, in order to let us carry out the complicated business of mastication, or chewing our food. It also needs to be both extremely mobile, and superlatively well controlled, to allow us to speak! Combining these requirements (lots of different types of movement, big forces generated by chewing, and lots of nerves necessary for all the feedback and control) is why the jaw can be such a common factor in regional issues. |
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The neck, jaw and shoulder are also very close, both structurally (i.e. where things are) and functionally (that is, how they work).
A large number of muscles are shared; and will do different things depending on which area they are meant to be acting.
The trouble is, that your 'genius four year-old' of a nervous system thinks (with some justification) that eating is an evolutionary imperative. Simply put, stuffing food into your cakehole and swallowing it successfully is important to continued existence, so your body will prioritise things it thinks are related to eating/chewing/swallowing.
A large number of muscles are shared; and will do different things depending on which area they are meant to be acting.
The trouble is, that your 'genius four year-old' of a nervous system thinks (with some justification) that eating is an evolutionary imperative. Simply put, stuffing food into your cakehole and swallowing it successfully is important to continued existence, so your body will prioritise things it thinks are related to eating/chewing/swallowing.
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This can make small changes in the efficiency of your TMJ complexes - and remember! You have two, and they both need to be working well and playing nicely together -have big knock-on impacts in other areas of the body. When the TMJ is a primary cause of pain or dysfunction, it can make your life a misery. It is more than capable of referring symptoms elsewhere in the face and head, neck, or beyond. It is easily mistaken for dental (or tooth) pain, or headaches or even migraines. |
Osteopathy may help with your jaw pain by treating as part of a complex involving, well, the rest of the body, really! You generally need treatment of the spine, particularly the upper neck, and shoulders at the very least to help resolve an angry TMJ.
Conversely, if you have a chronic (or pesky-recurrent-for-no-real-reason) neck, upper back or shoulder problem, your TMJ may be the key to long-term resolution.
Conversely, if you have a chronic (or pesky-recurrent-for-no-real-reason) neck, upper back or shoulder problem, your TMJ may be the key to long-term resolution.
