What Causes the Symptoms of TMJ?

Temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMJ) is a common disorder in Melville, although it is not yet completely understood. TMJ is probably a cluster of related disorders, rather than one unified condition. The causes of the symptoms of TMJ are not fully known; the underlying problems might be musculoskeletal, neuromuscular, inflammatory, or even psychogenic. The symptoms of TMJ can affect the jaw joints, the muscles of the jaw, or both. Commonly occurring symptoms of TMJ in Melville include:

·         Pain and tenderness on palpation in the joint, muscles, or both. This dull, aching pain is often made worse by chewing, yawning, or clenching the jaw.

·         Limited range of jaw movement

·         Clicking, popping, or grating (crepitus) noises sometimes when moving the jaw

TMJ is also associated with secondary symptoms, often including headaches and a sensation that the teeth don’t quite fit together right. There are several sets of causes related to various TMJ symptoms that are commonly found in Melville. 

Causes of Joint Noises as Symptoms of TMJ

One of the common symptoms of TMJ in Melville is the emission of noises when the jaw is moved. These can include clicking sounds, popping noises, or a grating sound referred to as “crepitus”. Because the jaw is so close to the ear canal, these sounds are often much louder to the person experiencing them than to the people around them. In most cases, these kinds of joint noises result from an internal derangement of the joint itself. When clicking occurs as one of the symptoms of TMJ, it usually occurs when the jaw is opened or closed. This generally indicates that the disc has become temporarily displaced, and then gone back into place again. Sometimes this occurs independently of any TMJ in people who don’t have any pain. Crepitus, or grinding sounds, can also occur as symptoms of TMJ. Crepitus is usually a sign of arthritic changes in the joint. 

Causes of Joint and Muscle Pain as Symptoms of TMJ

The symptoms of TMJ in Melville almost always include some degree of pain and tenderness in the joint, muscles, or both. Joint pain in TMJ is usually more painful than the muscle tenderness. Pain in the muscles is probably caused by muscle hyperactivity or abnormal muscle function. In many cases, muscle pain occurs among the symptoms of TMJ in conjunction with accompanying jaw clenching (bruxism). In some cases, ear pain also occurs with TMJ. This is not because of any problem with the ears themselves. Because the jaw is so close to the ears, the pain can be referred to the ear area even though the problem is in the jaw. 

Causes of Jaw Movement Issues as Symptoms of TMJ

Many people experience problems moving the jaw as part of the symptoms of TMJ. Often it is difficult to open the mouth all the way, and the jaw tends to deviate toward one side when opened. In some cases, the jaw even locks entirely. The difficulty opening the jaw can further contribute to degenerative joint changes, muscle weakness, and other problems, which further exacerbate the jaw motility problems. This class of symptoms of TMJ often indicates underlying osteoarthritis or other joint-related problems.

ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE: NEW YORK NEUROFEEDBACK FOR MANAGING TMJ