Do you experience pain in your jaw? Headaches? Hear clicking or popping when you talk or eat? If you have answered yes to any of these, you may be suffering from Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction or TMJD. Other, less obvious, associated symptoms may include: dizziness; pain or ringing in the ears; facial pain; locking of the jaw; and difficulty chewing.
There are many different causes of TMJD, though it is often due to a combination of risk factors. These may include: a history of having suffered a whiplash injury following a motor vehicle accident; poor posture; stress; a history of trauma to the jaw (ie. Sports injury); recent major dental work; or habits such as smoking, nail biting, and teeth grinding.
So what should you do if you think you are suffering from TMJD? Come see us at Avenue Physiotherapy! Although this may be a surprise to you, the temporomandibular joint is just like any other joint in the body, such as the knee, that is made up of bones, muscles, and nerves- and we are experts in treating these! In fact, the Physiotherapists at Avenue Physiotherapy have extensive, specialized education in manual therapy with training in the assessment and treatment of TMJ dysfunction. We provide a comprehensive 1-on-1 consultation with a Registered Physiotherapist and will assess the jaw as well as the neck, as it is often involved. From there, we offer a variety of treatment techniques including dry needling, acupuncture, manual therapy, soft tissue release, postural re-education, ultrasound, and an active home exercise program.
If you are suffering from what seems to be TMJD, don’t delay! Give us a call – we look forward to hearing from you!