TMJ/TMD and Craniofacial Pain Therapy
Imagine a life free of pain. We are here to help. Dr. Lynn Lipskis and her team have been helping patients for over 10 years who are struggling with TMJ/TMD, headaches, and facial pain. Although ‘TMJ’ is the most common condition identified by patients, it is a component of craniofacial pain which also includes chronic head and facial pain, recurrent headaches, migraines and neck pain. At the TMJ & Sleep Therapy Centre of Chicago, we understand these conditions are usually a symptom of a greater underlying problem. Successful treatment is based on identifying that underlying core problem. We have developed a proven process for the diagnosis and treatment of craniofacial pain (TMJ, headaches, facial pain) and treatment of sleep disorders (sleep apnea, snoring) without surgery.
What is TMJ/TMD?
TMJ refers to your jaw joint. TMJ actually stands for the TemporoMandibular Joint. TMJ can be used as generic term for pain or functional issues related to that general area of your body. TMD is the dysfunction or disease of the TMJ(s). It can present in many different forms which makes it complicated to treat.
What causes TMD?
These conditions are usually the result of a series of injuries which cause strain upon the joint such as: trauma (a blow to the face); car accidents; bad bite; clenching or bruxing. Often we do not concern ourselves with the actual “cause” which may be impossible to localize. The only time the cause is clear is if you have an acute injury. In other words, you experienced an obvious trauma to the head or neck and notice symptoms very soon after the incident.
Chronic pain or TMJ usually builds up over years, the body is able to compensate, and then another injury occurs which pushes the system over the edge, and the situation becomes intolerable.
What is TMJ/TMD and Craniofacial Pain Therapy?
At the TMJ & Sleep Therapy Centre of Chicago we recommend reversible, noninvasive therapy as the first line of treatment. In our office, this includes oral orthotic therapy usually lasting 12-16 weeks. We have a 95% success rate of addressing reported symptoms and successful weaning off the daytime orthotic. If weaning is unsuccessful, we will explore and recommend non-reversible Phase II therapy options to stabilize your condition.
Symptoms of TMD
- Pain in the face or jaw region
- Inability to chew comfortably
- Inability to open mouth fully /comfortably
- Clicking or popping noises in jaw
- Neck or upper back pain
- Ear stuffiness
- Ear ringing
- “Something stuck in my throat”
- Undiagnosed dental pain
- Headaches
- Forward head posture
- Migraines
- Pain at the base of your skull
- Dizziness
- Numbness or tingling of hands/fingers
- Feeling on restlessness or unrest.
- Anxiety which often accompanies chronic pain
Consequences of TMJ/TMD
- Increased or continued pain of jaw or face
- Loss of ability to chew effectively
- Inability to open your mouth
- Increased noise, or no noise (full dislocation)
- Increased or spreading of back pain
- Loss of hearing
- Choking
- Unnecessary tooth extraction
- Increased frequency and intensity of headaches
- Loss of balance
- Permanent loss of function of hands/fingers
- Anxiety, depression
- TMJ is closely related to Obstructive Sleep Apnea and other sleep breathing disorders.
Services for Adults
Facial pain, headaches and jaw problems are frequently only a symptom secondary to a greater problem affecting the body, much like a fever is secondary to the common flu.
Craniofacial Pain services for Adults – may include 1 or more of the following:
- Comprehensive diagnostics
- Non-surgical treatment plan for rehabilitation
- Decompression appliance therapy (short term wear of custom orthopedic oral orthotics – not splints)
- Nutritional counseling
- Medication and supplement regimens
- Physical medicine treatment (Laser therapy, trigger points, prolo therapy, phonophoresis)
- Multi-discipline Referral Coordination
Proper diagnosis and emphasis on origin rather than symptoms alone is key to successful, long term treatment results. After proper diagnosis, a specific non-surgical, treatment plan for rehabilitation is developed for the unique needs of each individual patient.
Services for Children
The good news with children is that they are still in developmental stage and the earlier the problem is diagnosed and treated the better the results!
Craniofacial Pain services for Children – may include 1 or more of the following:
- Comprehensive diagnostics
- Non-surgical treatment plan for rehabilitation
- Orthopedic orthodontic development
- Nutritional counseling
- Supplement regimens
- Physical medicine treatment (Laser therapy, phonophoresis)
- Multi-discipline Referral Coordination
Craniofacial pain, although most commonly thought of as a disorder affecting only adults, can present in children at an early age. It may be milder or it may simply seem milder because unlike adult onset conditions, these young children have always had symptoms of jaw pain and headaches or difficulty in normal functions of opening, chewing, swallowing, speaking and communications. As sad as it sounds, they know no difference and assume pain and/or difficulties with function are normal and what everyone experiences. Unfortunately, if undiagnosed and left untreated, the symptoms and condition increase with age.
What is a sympathetic state? Have your heard of fight or flight?
