TMJ / Massage / Chiro

[Nonerz]

I've been dealing with a irritating clicking jaw and an on again/off again sore neck for the past 2 years or so. I've given up chewing gum (which was veeerrrry hard for me) and am mindful of my chewing habits (i.e. prodominantly chewing on the left/right side of my mouth).

The left side of my jaw chronically clicks (no pain, just a nuisance) and most of the tightness in my neck is on the right side. I work at a computer all day long and am constantly looking down at paperwork, etcetera.

I lift heavy by most chicks standards and feel that training contributes to the stiffness and tightening up of my neck muscles. I've been to a chiropractor who attempted to adjust my jaw, but only made the clicking worse!

Just wondering if anyone else has had success in treating similar symptoms?

 

[PolishHammer1977]

I empathize with you bc mine does the same. I have migraine headaches as a result. I have seen professionals that perscirbe me medicine. Stretching is supposed to alleviate the pain but it does not work for me. Only pills do and I am tired of taking them so now I deal with the pain.

Bump for any other ideas.

 

[bignate73]

as a side note, her jaw doesnt track straight either. when she opens her mouth, her jaw goes to her right. i can manipulate it passively and it will open straight, if i slide it slightly forward in the tm joint as i open. we have sporadically (hint) tried trigger point massage in the masseter and the pterygoid as well.

im thinking chiro who also can specialize in trigger point therapy.

 

[SouthernBell]

Is it any possibility that it is TMJ?

 

[SouthernBell]

oops I see you put this in your title.... My bad

here is a website about a book.. it is very informative.
http://www.drshankland.com/book.html

I suffer with this same thing. Have since I was young. If you clench your teeth when you train (I Do this) this may be making it worse. You may be able to get some type of mouth piece to make it less painful..

 

[Nonerz]

I don't clench my teeth...at least I don't think so.

 

[ffknight84]

You may be able to get some type of mouth piece to make it less painful..

i have on and off jaw pain, caused by swelling. I grind my teeth in my sleep which i think might have been the ause, so i got a mouth guard ( custom molded ) to sleep in. I dont use it alot but it did help, havent had jaw pain since the summer.

My mom has the clicking and pain in her jaw, she uses a mouth guard as well, i would look into that if i were you.

 

[Lord_Suston]

Could be lateral pterygoids or medial ones. also their could be an imbvalance in the masseters. The neck ache might not be the jaw though, most of the time it is the scalene muscles or the Sternocleidomastoid muscle that are referred to the head. Have nate massage the back of youur neck right where the skull seems to have a bump, Nuchal LIne, this mighit help alleviate some pain.

Discailemer; just some friendly advice

 

[from zero]

I'm interested in this as well. For a few years now, my jaw has been semi-problematic. I could manually make it click (sometimes it would be as loud as a popping noise) for a while. It would do it by itself while chewing as well. After some time, it had gone away. I would try to make it click by moving it about, but to no avail. I thought I was cured. But, recently, it's been erratically doing it again. Not as loud or as painful as it has been before, but once in a long while, I'll go through a few minutes where I cannot open my mouth all the way without pain (forgot to mention this earlier). Hasn't happened in a little while though. It's weird. Last time something like it happened was after a dental appointment. Perhaps from keeping my mouth open for an extended period of time?

 

[Nonerz]

getting worse...I'm getting a warm sensation all the way up my neck to my ear...not good

took some pain meds and put some icy hot type stuff on it

 

[bignate73]

getting worse...I'm getting a warm sensation all the way up my neck to my ear...not good

took some pain meds and put some icy hot type stuff on it

in the top (red)

 

[bigstve12]

i have had same exact probelm...huge trigger points in my temporalis m. which is also a muscle of mastication. and my jaw also opens further on one side compared to the other...i think its called an S curve. I had tremendous improvement with chiropractic..they only adjusted it twice, mostly trigger point therapy

 

[Nonerz]

I woke up this morning even MORE stiff than before! Driving to work was really fun. I practically had to turn my whole body to look around!

Anyhow, I'm looking into another Chiropractor, as well as a Massage Therapist & Acupuncturist. I'm willing to try anything at this point.

 

[Nonerz]

Anyone know of any good meds to take? The Vicodin I have only dulls the pain and wears off relatively quickly (2-3 hours).

 

[flexdogg]

jaw clicking

i have the exact same problem with my jaw, the only difference is mine clicks on the right side.

it never fully goes away, but during the weeks when im able to wrestle alot and get neck cranked or choked alot my jaw gets much worse.

meaning i cant open it more than and inch or so without it poping damn hard, it never really hurts but it is a big distraction.

 

[Nonerz]

I scheduled an appointment with a Chiropractor for Friday morning...it's his first available. I'd like to get a massage tonight, if possible...do you think that is a bad idea if I'm going to see the Chrio on Friday?

 

[PolishHammer1977]

Anyone know of any good meds to take? The Vicodin I have only dulls the pain and wears off relatively quickly (2-3 hours).

I have been punching 2X4's in my backyard. Now my hands hurt instead of my jaw.

Something to think about.

 

[Nonerz]

Too funny PH. Hey, do you have any sporadic twitching as well. I read that twitching was another symptom, which I do have. Only recently have I had the pain in my ear, but so far it hasn't started to ring!

 

[PolishHammer1977]

Too funny PH. Hey, do you have any sporadic twitching as well. I read that twitching was another symptom, which I do have. Only recently have I had the pain in my ear, but so far it hasn't started to ring!

I have twitches all over my body!!!!

I have seen numerous doctors and they all want to perscibe pills. It has given me 2 viewpoints;

1 - most doctors are pill writers
2 - I am a walking mystery

One or both could be possible lolol

 

[Nonerz]

Here are a few websites that Nate sent me...

http://www.stricklandpt.com/tmj.htm

http://www.rad.washington.edu/anatomy/modules/TMJ/TMJAnatomy.html

http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/8462/TMJ01.HTM#Top%20of%20the%20page