Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders are characterized by inflammation or irritation of muscles, ligaments, or nerves around the jaw. This can cause severe pain when the mouth is wide open. Effective TMJ treatment in Irvine, CA is available from chiropractic doctors who help patients experiencing this problem for the first time or dealing with it intermittently.
TMJ Disorder Symptoms
TMJ disorder episodes typically cause sudden pain when the individual yawns, laughs, or opens the mouth wider than usual to eat something. There may be shooting pain around the jaw and into the neck. Usually, the discomfort does not last long, but it is severe enough to make the person feel anxious about it occurring again.
Unfortunately, some people experience symptoms that last for hours. Chronic symptoms may even linger for days. These individuals may develop chronic neck stiffness and frequent headaches.
The Chiropractic Approach
Chiropractic TMJ treatment in Irvine, CA helps patients find relief from this disorder.
First, spinal adjustments resolve subluxations, which are misaligned vertebral bones. Subluxations can result in an unbalanced musculoskeletal system that causes backaches and pain elsewhere in the body.
Second, misalignments in the cervical spine, or the vertebral bones in the neck, can be associated with TMJ dysfunction. This part of the spinal column is connected to the jawbone. Early research indicates that chiropractic care is beneficial for individuals in managing TMJ disorder symptoms. In addition to adjustments, the chiropractor may show patients therapeutic exercises they can do at home to help keep their musculoskeletal system balanced.
