If you are living with TMJ, ear pain, or other issues with your jaw and hearing, you may wonder if the problems are connected. In reality, jaw pain and ear pain often present together. Why? What can you do about it if you have a TMJ condition and are also dealing with things like tinnitus (ringing in the ears) and hearing loss? We are going to address the answers to these questions in our article. At the end of the discussion, be sure to check out the natural therapy that may be able to provide side-effect-free relief for jaw and ear issues.
Table of Contents
The ear and the jaw joint are in proximity to one another. So it makes sense that there could be many underlying issues that affect both. Researchers have discovered that a person who is dealing with TMJ dysfunction is more likely to have ringing in the ears. This is also true for people who have experienced head or neck trauma.
The links make sense because the upper cervical spine runs right between the jaw joints and the ears. Even the slightest of misalignments that get caused by head or neck trauma can affect ligaments in the ears and jaw. This helps direct us toward a natural way to find relief, but before we get to that, let’s look at some self-care you can do to experience less TMJ and ear pain.
There are a number of ways that you can deal with this situation at home to see if you can find some short-term relief from your pain and other symptoms. Here are a few tips.
Stress can be a trigger for most health conditions, and this is the case with jaw and ear problems as well. The fact is that many of these issues find their genesis in the neck. Since tension gets stored in the muscles of the neck, a high-stress life can make ear and jaw issues worse. While you need to work to get rid of undue stress, you also want positive ways to cope with good stress.
Ear and jaw problems may come and go. If you can identify the triggers that cause a flare-up, then you know what to avoid in order to reduce how often your symptoms arise. This doesn’t fix the underlying problem, but it can help make things more bearable while you work to discover what is at the root of your ailment.
This is primarily for your ear problems. Alcohol dries a person out, and dehydration can be a trigger for things like tinnitus and vertigo. Of course, alcohol consumption can cause many problems if it gets out of control, so this could also lead to tightness in the jaw as well.
You may be able to find exercises or massage points to release the pressure from your jaw. While you can discover some of these exercises online, you could also make this a question for your healthcare provider on your next visit to see if he or she has any suggestions.
One thing that can increase stress or anxiety and make your health condition more difficult to deal with is if you think that no one understands what you are going through. The good news is that there are online support groups for just about every health condition, especially for common problems like TMJ pain and ear conditions.
There are times when ear and jaw issues can be signals that there is a cardiovascular problem. While this is uncommon, it is worth mentioning. Additionally, good circulation is always positive for your health because it promotes healing when all parts of the body are receiving sufficient blood supply.
While you can’t trust everything that you read on the Internet, it is an excellent place to perform research. Study allows you to educate yourself on any health problems that you may experience. It can be scary not to know what is happening to you or why. Getting a better understanding of your symptoms, possible causes, and even ways to improve your health can relieve some of the stress and anxiety.
From ear pain to difficulty sleeping, there are many ways that TMJ dysfunction can impact your life. If you are looking for natural help, upper cervical specific chiropractic may be right for you. We have already discussed the apparent link between the neck, ears, and jaw. In fact, many of these issues arise after head or neck trauma. Therefore, it makes sense to consult an upper cervical chiropractor to see if a misalignment may be at the heart of your health concerns.
Upper cervical chiropractic care involves exact adjustments based on diagnostic imaging. Then, extremely gentle methods are employed to restore proper alignment. This makes upper cervical chiropractic care safe for the whole family and people of just about any health level. To learn more, contact a practitioner of this specific form of chiropractic in your area. You may find that it is just what you need to conquer stubborn jaw and ear pain.
to schedule a consultation today.
TV show host Montel Williams describes how specific chiropractic care has helped his body.
The content and materials provided in this web site are for informational and educational purposes only and are not intended to supplement or comprise a medical diagnosis or other professional opinion, or to be used in lieu of a consultation with a physician or competent health care professional for medical diagnosis and/or treatment. All content and materials including research papers, case studies and testimonials summarizing patients' responses to care are intended for educational purposes only and do not imply a guarantee of benefit. Individual results may vary, depending upon several factors including age of the patient, severity of the condition, severity of the spinal injury, and duration of time the condition has been present.
