| When people first learn that the pain they have been | | | | decrease stress placed on the Temporo Mandibular |
| feeling in their jaw, neck and shoulders is caused by a | | | | joint. If this does not help with your pain, then |
| condition called TMJ they often ask, "What is TMJ"? | | | | injections of anesthetics or steroids may also be |
| TMJ is Temporo Mandibular joint syndrome. It is | | | | tried. Reducing your daily psychological stress may |
| caused by one of a combination of factors can lead | | | | also help a patient to decrease TMJ joint pain. |
| to chronic pain in the area of the Tempro Mandibular | | | | If this conservative treatment does not provide |
| joint and can even lead to neck and head pain, | | | | sufficient relief, then you doctor may refer you to a |
| difficulty eating and even pain in the shoulders. | | | | surgeon who has experience with TMJ surgeries. A |
| Causes can include problem in the alignment of the | | | | variety of surgical procedures exist which may |
| joint itself, pain caused by overexertion of the | | | | involve removing material from the joint space, to |
| muscles that move the joint such as that caused by | | | | trying to reconstruct the joint. Surgery should only be |
| grinding the teeth, and destruction of the joint | | | | considered as a last option after conservative |
| caused by a disease such as arthritis. | | | | treatment has failed because the joint surgery may |
| If you suspect that you have Temporo Mandibular | | | | fail to provide relief or cause serious complications. |
| joint syndrome, then you should see your doctor as | | | | In addition to traditional medicine many TMJ sufferers |
| a serious underlying medical condition could also be | | | | find relief through a combination of massage, physical |
| the cause. | | | | therapy, and exercises designed to strengthen the |
| Immediate treatment of Temporo Mandibular joint | | | | jaw and the surrounding joints and muscles. Many |
| syndrome pain may include aspirin, muscle relaxants, | | | | times relief can be found through these alternative |
| and warming of the jaw muscles. Your doctor may | | | | treatments which can eliminate the cost and risk of |
| recommend that you eat soft foods, don't grind your | | | | drugs, surgeries, or other conventional treatments. |
| teeth or clench your jaw, and don't chew gum to | | | | |