Recently the Women’s Advocates organization has called for the Institute of Medicine to put money, time, and effort towards confronting and ending the problem of chronic pain for women. Chronic pain is caused by a variety of different conditions that are not the most widely understood or diagnosed, including TMJ disorder. Those who suffer from TMJ, both women and men alike, are prone to experience chronic pain and even though OTC medications and prescription pain pills may provide some relief, the relief experienced is never permanent. This is because pain killers and many other treatment methods do not deal with the main problem at hand. When the source of the pain is not treated, the symptoms will never completely disappear. Sadly, TMJ is a condition that continues to go widely undiagnosed for various reasons.
TMJ can be considered a chronic pain disorder because of the symptoms the condition is known to bring about. The symptoms of TMJ often go unnoticed and diagnosed because they are so common. Let’s face it, rarely do people seek medical advice or help for a problem that isn’t alarming, unordinary, or overly painful. We’ve all suffered from headaches, neck pain, jaw pain, and facial pain; sadly these are all symptoms of TMJ and many times patients suffering from the condition suffer in silence, even though treatment for TMJ is readily available. They wonder if the pain isn’t perhaps as bad as it feels to them and don’t want to “bother the doctor”, so they try to tough it out.
How Can A Jaw Problem Cause Chronic Pain?
What most people don’t know is that the jaw joint is in fact a very important and complex part of the body. While it may seem like a joint that simply allows us to open and close our mouths, the TMJ is connected to many other body parts, especially those within the facial region including the ear, neck, and skull. Because the TMJ is connected to other body parts through shared tendons, nerves, and muscles, a problem within the TMJ can radiate and cause problems with other body parts.
With TMJ disorder, the jaw joint is misaligned or imbalanced. When this occurs the body will naturally try to reposition the jaw into a more ideal position. However this then causes all sorts of pressure and strain on the jaw joint and anything connected to it. Since the skull is connected to the jaw joint, headaches (often of migraine proportions) can occur. A problem with the TMJ can also cause jaw pain, facial pain, neck pain, and other symptoms, even tinnitus.
If you suffer from chronic pain including neck, jaw, and facial pain combined with other problems such as headaches, migraines, bruxism, or a popping/clicking noise when you open and close your mouth, you may suffer from TMD. Remember that TMJ disorder is a common cause of chronic pain that women and men suffer from only a daily basis. End your pain today and come to Dr. Berry’s dental practice to have your jaw joint and bite examined. Using state of the art technology, Dr. Berry will be able to conclude whether or not your TMJ is misaligned of off-balanced, a problem that may be the root cause of your chronic pain. Contact Dr. Berry online or call (303) 691-0267 today for permanent relief from TMJ symptoms.
