If you’ve ever experienced a headache caused by TMJ dysfunction, you know how disruptive it can be to a person’s daily activities. Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders is a term used to encompass the disorders that cause pain, discomfort and sensitivity of the joint in the jaw. The TMJ joint is the hinge that connects the bottom jaw to the skull. When it becomes inflamed, it can cause significant discomfort in the jaw and neck and can even cause headaches.
If you're someone who experiences headaches from TMJ dysfunction, you're probably looking for ways to find relief. Perhaps you're hoping for methods that don't involve surgery. Fortunately, there are several nonsurgical treatments that can provide relief to those who have TMJ headaches.
What are some nonsurgical treatments that may provide relief for TMJ headaches?
If you're dealing with TMJ headaches and need relief, fortunately, you may not need surgery to get that relief. Several nonsurgical treatments can provide relief to those who experience headaches caused by TMJ dysfunction:
- Physical therapy — One nonsurgical treatment that could give relief to someone who has TMJ headaches is physical therapy. Physical therapy can treat a variety of conditions including temporomandibular joint dysfunction. If you're experiencing headaches that are directly caused by your TMJ dysfunction, physical therapy can help you. It's useful for relieving pain, reducing tension, building strength, protecting the joints and more. Physical therapy can provide relief in a gentle yet effective manner. It can even help reduce the need for surgical treatment altogether. If you’re hoping to avoid needing surgery for your jaw pain and headaches, physical therapy is a great option.
- Mindfulness — Nonsurgical treatment for TMJ headaches can include mindfulness. Mindfulness can look like being more aware of the bad habits you might have that could be contributing to your headaches. For example, if you grind your teeth or clench your jaw, you might be building tension in your TMJ and developing headaches that way. By creating more awareness around your habits that might be contributing to your headaches, you may be able to reduce the occurrence of your headaches down the line.
- Meditation and yoga — Another nonsurgical treatment option for someone who wants relief from their TMJ headaches is meditation and yoga. Meditation and yoga are great ways to increase mindfulness and reduce tension throughout the body. They may be able to help release some of the tension building up in your TMJ and ultimately prevent headaches in the future.
- Stress reduction — If you're looking for relief from TMJ headaches, reducing your stress might be one way to do it. We know this is always easier said than done. However, realistically identifying the factors that cause your stress and then minimizing exposure to them can work wonders for TMJ-related headaches. If you're looking for relief, try reducing or relieving some of that stress that’s contributing to it.
How can physical therapy specifically provide relief for TMJ headaches?
Physical therapy can specifically provide relief to those who have TMJ headaches. During a PT session, a patient with TMJ dysfunction will likely undergo a series of stretching, strengthening, relaxing and correcting exercises. Stretching exercises can be used to release tension in the jaw and in the head. Strengthening exercises can increase the ability of the muscles in the jaw to bear tension and protect the joint. Relaxing exercises can help release tension in the jaw muscles, much like stretching can. And lastly, posture-correcting exercises have the potential to also provide relief from TMJ headaches.
Ready to take the next step toward finding relief? Alliance PTP can be the one to guide you
Caring. Effective. Convenient. These are words that you may not think about when you think of physical therapy, but Alliance Physical Therapy Partners is here to change that.
Our partner network is staffed by caring physical therapists who are ready to provide you with effective, personalized care for your TMJ pain and headaches related to it. And we offer both in-person and virtual PT sessions, so you’ll be able to choose the care that’s most convenient for you.
Get in touch with our team today to learn more about our caring, effective and convenient PT.
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