TMJ disorder causes trying symptoms that can make it hard for people to meet their daily responsibilities. To deal with their debilitating symptoms, sufferers often try all sorts of remedies, from yoga to acupuncture to pain medications and more. Recently, a Brazilian study sought to test the efficacy of a combination therapy for temporomandibular joint disorder, and the results were somewhat positive.
Anesthesia and Physical Therapy
New research indicates that TMD sufferers may be able to enjoy some relief when they receive a combination of anesthesia injections and physical therapy. To reach their findings, the researchers separated 20 TMD patients into a pair of groups. Subjects in the first group received a two-month cycle of bupivacaine injections aimed at blocking pain; while participants in the second group received physical therapy in addition to injections.
In the end, although subjects in both groups reported some relief; participants in the second group demonstrated better results, indicating that this combination strategy could be an interesting option for treating TMJ disorder.
Is it Realistic?
While compelling, this new research doesn’t provide a realistic solution for treating symptoms associated with temporomandibular joint disorder. In the real world, TMD sufferers aren’t likely to ask their physicians for regular bupivacaine injections, and they probably won’t have the time or money for repeated physical therapy sessions.
Contrarily, countless TMD patients have found lasting relief when they receive a treatment that works by addressing the root cause of TMD: a misaligned bite.
Each year, researchers conduct numerous studies which focus on finding new ways to treat TMD. While this type of research may yield interesting results; it isn’t really necessary for patients who have received effective TMJ treatments aimed at correcting bad bites. To learn more about this reliable treatment strategy for TMJ disorder, Contact Us or call the TMJ Therapy & Sleep Center of Colorado at (303) 691-0267 to schedule your consultation..
Related article: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23229236
