What is TMJ disorder?
TMJ – temporomandibular joint – disorder can be broadly defined as pain in your jaw. More specifically it occurs when there is dysfunction in the joint, which can lead to a clicking sound or grating sensation every time you open your mouth or chew. Severe cases may even prevent you from opening your mouth all the way.
While there are several causes of TMJ, grinding or clenching your teeth at night is usually the main culprit. Often during periods of high stress in our lives, we will unknowingly grind or clench our teeth as we sleep, and don’t realize it until our jaw starts to ache during the day.
If you have ever experienced TMJ – or know someone who has – you know just how painful it can be and just how long it can take to resolve itself. Even wearing a mouthguard at night doesn’t help much because the muscles of the jaw, and therefore the joint, are still being aggravated all night long. Everything from chewing to yawning can cause you pain, and the aching can be pronounced enough to make it hard to fall asleep.
What are treatment options for TMJ?
So what are the treatment options? Heat pads and ice packs can help for short periods of time. You can take over-the-counter pain relievers, but prolonged use of those can be bad for your kidneys and liver. And research has shown that Botox injections can help relax the masseters – your main chewing muscle. However, all of those come with some sort of a downside: everything from ineffectiveness in the longterm to cost.
Which is why at Joy Wellness Partners, we offer Shockwave Therapy as a treatment option for musculoskeletal injuries such as TMJ.
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What is Shockwave Therapy?
Widely recognized as a treatment for musculoskeletal disorders – with a success rate of up to 91% – it has the additional benefits of being non-invasive and requiring no recovery time.
In Shockwave Therapy, a handheld device generates mechanical waves, which turn into pressure waves when applied to the body. These waves stimulate the body’s natural healing processes in the soft tissues of the body.
From improving blood flow and lymphatic drainage to releasing growth factors and signaling molecules, Shockwave Therapy can be the perfect solution to your TMJ.
Shockwave Therapy for TMJ
A study was done in 2020 of 80 patients with TMJ. Half of them received Shockwave Therapy once a week for 4 weeks, and the other half received a different treatment during the same span of time. The researchers concluded at the end of the 4 weeks that Shockwave Therapy was, “more effective, with fewer treatment sessions and requiring less time and cost for patients.” The patients who received Shockwave Therapy also reported a bigger improvement in their pain levels (Li, 2020).
Shockwave Therapy & Botox for TMJ
Another treatment option at Joy Wellness Partners and Enliven Aesthetics is a combination of Shockwave Therapy and botox injections into the masseters. While botox is known as an aesthetics service, it has also shown value as a medical treatment.
In a 2016 study looking specifically at botox treatment for TMJ, it was found that, “intramuscular botulinum toxin type A injections have been an efficient method of treatment for masseter muscle pain in patients with temporomandibular joint dysfunction and tension-type headache” (Pihut).
At Joy Wellness Partners and Enliven Aesthetics, we have found that the combination of 1 Shockwave Therapy session and 1 Botox treatment together are an affordable and effective solution for TMJ.
How do I book an appointment for my TMJ?
Whether you are interested in a series of Shockwave Therapy sessions or would like to try a Shockwave Therapy session and a botox treatment, please give us a call at 858-609-0866 for a complimentary consultation today!
References:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/tmj/symptoms-causes/syc-20350941
Li, W., & Wu, J. (2020). Treatment of temporomandibular joint disorders by ultrashort wave and extracorporeal shock wave: A comparative study. Medical Science Monitor, 26. https://doi.org/10.12659/msm.923461
Pihut, M., Ferendiuk, E., Szewczyk, M., Kasprzyk, K., & Wieckiewicz, M. (2016). The efficiency of botulinum toxin type A for the treatment of masseter muscle pain in patients with temporomandibular joint dysfunction and tension-type headache. The Journal of Headache and Pain, 17(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s10194-016-0621-1
AUTHOR: Carol Joy Bender, NP
