It is estimated that 30% of the population suffer from TMJ dysfunction or from one of the many symptoms that a problem with the jaw can create. The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is where the jaw bone joins the skull. Problems or dysfunction of this joint can result in jaw pain, jaw clicking, headaches, sinus problems and even loss of hearing! Many people suffer needlessly for years, seeking opinion after opinion, not knowing how to address this painful and problematic condition.
Jessie’s story started just that way. When she came to our office, she had been suffering with jaw pain and neck stiffness for many years. She told me it was terrible to wake up not knowing if her jaw would lock up and cause a migraine all day long again. You see, she had stopped taking the various pain killers her doctor had prescribed. They never really worked and she was tired of the years of “fogginess” her medications had caused.
What were her doctors missing? Why does the TMJ pose such a problem for so many? The causes of a TMJ dysfunction are almost always physical. What does that mean? Well, a comprehensive approach to TMJ must include a look at the tracking of the jaw, the muscles that act upon the jaw, the disc that helps the jaw glide against the skull, and the nerves that control the muscles of the jaw. Lifestyle changes are often in order as well.
What causes tracking disorders? One way is with direct trauma to the jaw, knocking it out of alignment and causing all kinds of trouble. Auto accidents, sports injuries, and blows to the face are common ways the jaw can be knocked out of alignment. Left untreated, the misaligned jaw can literally start to carve a new, misaligned path for itself.
An imbalance in the muscles that act on the jaw is another way to cause TMJ dysfunction. The jaw, like all joints in the body, is moved and stabilized by muscles. When these muscles aren’t functioning properly, the jaw will not move properly, and the joint will start a degenerative process that will not just go away. Arthritic changes and problems with the disc often result from such imbalances.
The most common, and often over-looked, cause of TMJ is a problem with the neck. When the top bones of the neck go out of alignment, they place pressure on the nerves that go to the head and face, causing problems such as: headaches, ringing in the ears, dizzy spells, sinus trouble, and TMJ.
The problem with Jessie’s jaw was a combination of all these things. She was treated with manipulation of her jaw, to help align it for proper tracking, myofascial release to the muscles that act on her jaw, relaxation techniques to help her stop clenching, a splint to help her relax her jaw at night, and most importantly, she was given chiropractic care to address the problems in her neck that were affecting her jaw.
Your chiropractor will take a health history, do an examination of the nerves that most commonly cause TMJ and examine your spine to see if those nerves are impinged by misaligned vertebrae. When indicated, spinal x-rays will be taken to see exactly where the spinal bones are misaligned and how to re-align the spine to correct the problem.
Chiropractic adjustments can correct the cause by re-aligning the vertebrae to their normal position with gentle exercises to strengthen to new and proper positioning. If you would like to leave the pain and the drugs behind, chiropractic offers a promising solution by dealing with the cause of TMJ.
By Dr. Paul Early, a Seattle Chiropractor at Sound Chiropractic Center.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Monday, January 12, 2009
Chiropractic for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Twenty-five years ago the most common on-the-job injury was a low back strain sprain. However, a shift in work habits and equipment has changed all that. Today it seems that everyone spends most of the workday tied to a computer. Even the plumber and other the other trades access work orders and complete paper work on finished jobs by typing away on a laptop. Enter the new most common on the job injury: tendonitis.
Tendonitis is an inflammation of a tendon and tendon sheath, most often due to over use. Frequently the cause is too many keystrokes with neck, shoulder and arm muscles locked in a rigid position. Since the tendon sheath is responsible for redirecting the pulling force of muscles around and through joints they are susceptible to wear. Over use depletes the natural lubricant and tendonitis can occur. The resultant symptoms are pain, weakness on muscle contraction, loss of co-ordination, numbness and tingling.
In the past, tennis elbow was the best known tendonitis condition, but today, with virtually everyone using a computer keyboard, carpal tunnel syndrome has taken over first place. What actually causes carpal tunnel syndrome?
The nine small bones that connect your forearms to your hands are called carpals. On the palm side of your hands there is a tunnel through the carpal bones that allows the transport of tendons and nerves. The ligaments that hold everything in place form the roof to this passage way and form the carpal tunnel. With overuse the tendon sheath swells, causes pressure on the adjacent nerves and carpal tunnel syndrome occurs.
Common carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms are pain, weakness and lack of co-ordination on grasping objects or attempting keystrokes. Numbness, tingling in the hands is also common and in severe cases wasting of the muscles of hand. In some cases surgery to release the pressure in the tunnel is required to alleviate symptoms.
However, the best experts estimate that 90% of carpal tunnel syndrome diagnosis is incorrect. What happens instead is called double-crush syndrome. The nerves that are affected by carpal tunnel syndrome actually start in the neck and pass through the arms before they reach the carpal tunnel. In a vast majority of hand and wrist pain sufferers the damage is done before the nerves reach the carpal tunnel.
Here’s what actually happens: misalignment of the small neck bones called vertebra put pressure on the nerves that supply the arms and hands. That pressure in the neck can cause symptoms in any or every part of the arm. This is the first crush. The second crush in double-crush syndrome happens in the muscles of the forearm when adhesions form in the muscles of the forearm from holding a rigid tense position like the one required for typing.
Before undergoing drug therapy and surgery, check with your chiropractor to see if your neck and forearm are the source of your symptoms. Chiropractors can quickly and accurately assess the problem and frequently just a few chiropractic adjustments and some physical therapy can reduce or eliminate the symptoms.
By Noel G. Lloyd, DC of Sound Chiropractic Center of Northgate, Seattle, WA
Tendonitis is an inflammation of a tendon and tendon sheath, most often due to over use. Frequently the cause is too many keystrokes with neck, shoulder and arm muscles locked in a rigid position. Since the tendon sheath is responsible for redirecting the pulling force of muscles around and through joints they are susceptible to wear. Over use depletes the natural lubricant and tendonitis can occur. The resultant symptoms are pain, weakness on muscle contraction, loss of co-ordination, numbness and tingling.
In the past, tennis elbow was the best known tendonitis condition, but today, with virtually everyone using a computer keyboard, carpal tunnel syndrome has taken over first place. What actually causes carpal tunnel syndrome?
The nine small bones that connect your forearms to your hands are called carpals. On the palm side of your hands there is a tunnel through the carpal bones that allows the transport of tendons and nerves. The ligaments that hold everything in place form the roof to this passage way and form the carpal tunnel. With overuse the tendon sheath swells, causes pressure on the adjacent nerves and carpal tunnel syndrome occurs.
Common carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms are pain, weakness and lack of co-ordination on grasping objects or attempting keystrokes. Numbness, tingling in the hands is also common and in severe cases wasting of the muscles of hand. In some cases surgery to release the pressure in the tunnel is required to alleviate symptoms.
However, the best experts estimate that 90% of carpal tunnel syndrome diagnosis is incorrect. What happens instead is called double-crush syndrome. The nerves that are affected by carpal tunnel syndrome actually start in the neck and pass through the arms before they reach the carpal tunnel. In a vast majority of hand and wrist pain sufferers the damage is done before the nerves reach the carpal tunnel.
Here’s what actually happens: misalignment of the small neck bones called vertebra put pressure on the nerves that supply the arms and hands. That pressure in the neck can cause symptoms in any or every part of the arm. This is the first crush. The second crush in double-crush syndrome happens in the muscles of the forearm when adhesions form in the muscles of the forearm from holding a rigid tense position like the one required for typing.
Before undergoing drug therapy and surgery, check with your chiropractor to see if your neck and forearm are the source of your symptoms. Chiropractors can quickly and accurately assess the problem and frequently just a few chiropractic adjustments and some physical therapy can reduce or eliminate the symptoms.
By Noel G. Lloyd, DC of Sound Chiropractic Center of Northgate, Seattle, WA
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