TMJ dysfunction can cause pain and numerous other symptoms. The pain is not limited to the jaw and may radiate across the face, up toward the ear, and also down to the neck. The condition may be acute or chronic. Some patients hear sounds when chewing such as a popping or clicking coming from the jaw. Headaches are also common.

How Doctors Treat TMJ Pain

Most doctors will react to TMJ discomfort in the same way they do other pain conditions – with a prescription. Primary care physicians usually have one option when it comes to managing patient pain, and that’s pain pills. However, there is a danger in using such a highly addictive drug, and some doctors prescribe these pills too quickly. In fact, there was a recent article in a Canadian newspaper about a young man who got hooked on codeine pills at age 17. He used a fake claim of TMJ pain to feed his addiction. This scenario is unfortunately all too common.

However, for a person whose TMJ pain is real, something is needed to help with the pain. So isn’t medication your only option? We’d like to introduce you to a natural source of TMJ pain management – upper cervical chiropractic care.

Upper Cervical Alignment and TMJ Pain Relief

There is a good reason that TMJ pain often radiates toward both the ear and the neck. The atlas (C1 vertebra) is the bones that the entire skull is balanced on. It’s close proximity to the ears and jaw, mean that a misalignment can affect both. Headaches, as well as jaw and face pain, are not uncommon when a subluxation exists here.

Upper cervical chiropractors specialize in precisely measuring and gently correcting atlas misalignments. For some, this has led to long-lasting relief from TMJ pain without medication. To learn more, contact an upper cervical practice in your area and schedule a consultation.

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