I have TMJ, looking for advice on how relieve symptoms?

If you suffer from TMJ you can experience severe pain and discomfort that may be temporary or last for many years.

Temporomandibular Disorders or TMJ can begin when there is a problem with the jaw, jaw joint and the facial muscles that surround it. Specifically it affects the facial muscles that control chewing and moving the jaw. The Temporomandibular joint is the hinge joint which affects the lower jaw to the temporal bone in the skull. It is immediately behind each ear on both sides of the head. These joints allow the mandible (or jaw) to move up and down, side to side and enables you to chew, yawn and talk.

The problem lies with the muscles of the jaw or with parts of the joint itself, however the real cause is unknown.

These things below are are the symptoms of TMD (Temporomandibular Disorder) ------

* Grinding or clenching your teeth which puts pressure on the TMJ (joint).

* Dislocation of the soft disc between the ball and socket

* Osteoarthritis or Rheumatoid Arthritis in the TMJ

* Stress which can cause a person to unconsciously tighten facial or jaw muscles and/or clench the teeth

The causes of TMD are -------

* Pain in the face, jaw joint area, in or around the ear when you chew, speak or open your mouth wide (as in your case), neck and shoulders

* Clicking and popping sounds in the jaw joint when opening and closing your mouth

* Limited ability to open your mouth wide (as with you)

* A tired feeling in the face

* Difficulty chewing

* Swelling on the side of the face

and sometimes toothaches, headaches earaches and dizziness

These exercises will help with the pain of TMJ --------

* 1) Alignment

You may do this in front of a mirror. Put your tongue on the roof of the mouth, rested behind your top front teeth. Slowly open your mouth and, take notice in any sideways movement of your teeth. When you've open it as much as you can without straining close it, looking for the same lateral movements.If there are, do the exercise slower. The goal is for both of your jaw joints to have equal control over your mouth, which isn’t the case in TMJ disorders.

* 2) Joint Strength

Using your palm and push on one side of the jaw so that the bottom of your hands are pressuring your chin. Making sure your teeth are aligned, push back with your jaw. Start slowly with a tiny amount of pressure, and slowly push harder. The aim is to strengthen and control of the joint.

*3) More Joint strength

With your fingers push down on your bottom teeth, and push up with your jaw. it helps strengthen the vertical muscles around the TMJ. If one hand isn’t enough, use both hands – just don’t bite down!

*4) More Joint Strength

This is another joint strengthening exercise. Hold your mouth slightly open and aligned. With your palm push your chin straight in so that you can feel a stretching sensation on your jaw joints.

*5) Neck Muscles

This exercise will loosen up the neck muscles. It takes the stress off the muscles in your face. Put your hands in an X shape with your right hand on your left collarbone and your left hand on the right side. After this stretch your neck backwards, then to the right then the left feeling a strain. When doing this put your hands on your chest without grabbing your collarbone. Hold for 10 seconds and swap sides.

*6) More Neck Muscles

This is another way to stretch the neck muscles. Press your chin into your neck without bending your head forwards. 10 seconds at a time is optimal.

If you do these exercises 2-3 times a day except if your jaw is exceptionally sore take a day or 2 off. You will notice that these exercises will help to decrease facial and neck pain. Also TMJ triggered headaches will diminish.

I hope you feel better soon (:

Source(s):

personal experience

It is not "serious" in that nothing typically results from having TMJ. It simply might just cause discomfort for you. There are many internet resources on TMJ - just Google it.

I had TMJ for the longest time. About a year ago I went to the orthodontist and got braces. After about 6 months or so it went away. Moral of the story? Go to your dentist.