Other
TMJ Disorders
About TMJ Disorders
Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders are conditions affecting the jaw joints and the muscles and ligaments that control jaw movement. These joints act like a sliding hinge, connecting your jawbone to your skull.
Common Symptoms
- Jaw pain or tenderness
- Pain in one or both temporomandibular joints
- Aching facial pain
- Difficulty chewing or pain while chewing
- Locking of the joint, making it difficult to open or close your mouth
- Clicking, popping, or grating sounds when opening or closing the mouth
- Earache or pain around the ear
- Headache
- Neck pain
- Tinnitus
Diagnosis
Diagnosis typically involves a physical examination of the jaw, including listening to and feeling the jaw as you open and close your mouth, and checking for tenderness or problems with jaw movement. Imaging tests, such as X-rays, CT scans, or MRI, may be used to provide more detailed images of the jaw joint and surrounding tissues.
Causes
The exact cause of TMJ disorders is often unclear, but they may result from a combination of factors. These can include injury to the jaw, joint, or muscles of the head and neck, arthritis in the TMJ, or teeth grinding or clenching (bruxism), which places stress on the joint.
Treatment Overview
Treatment approaches for TMJ disorders range from conservative options to more invasive procedures, depending on the severity and underlying cause. These may include pain relievers, muscle relaxants, oral splints or mouthguards, and physical therapy sessions focused on jaw exercises. Some individuals explore complementary approaches such as acupuncture or biofeedback, while surgical interventions are typically considered as a last resort for severe cases.
Prognosis & Outlook
The prognosis for TMJ disorders is generally favorable, with many people finding relief from symptoms through conservative treatments. For some individuals, symptoms may improve over time even without treatment. However, the condition can be chronic and debilitating for others, potentially requiring ongoing management.
Types & Variants
Myofascial Pain
This is the most common form of TMJ disorder, involving discomfort or pain in the muscles that control jaw function.
Internal Derangement of the Joint
This refers to a displaced disc, dislocated jaw, or injury to the condyle (the rounded end of the jaw bone).
Degenerative Joint Disease
This includes osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis in the jaw joint.
What 1 Contributor Has Shared
Contributors described struggling with musculoskeletal pain, including hip, back, pelvic, and shoulder pain, along with a range of other symptoms such as foot and wrist pain, tinnitus, dry eye, ocular migraine, and anxiety. They reported receiving Western medical diagnoses like arthritis, degenerative disc disease, and spinal stenosis, which they later discovered were incidental findings and not the true cause of their symptoms. They ultimately self-diagnosed with Tension Myoneural Syndrome (TMS) / Neuroplastic symptoms after ruling out pathological findings.
Contributors found relief by exploring an approach centered on understanding neuroplastic pain. This included studying the work of various doctors, engaging in pain neuroscience education, journaling, and practicing pain reprocessing therapy and somatic tracking. They reported that addressing beliefs and doubt, learning to feel safe with sensations, graded exposure, visualization, and regulating the nervous system were crucial steps in their healing journey.
“Approaches that were part of my recovery”
As described by story contributors
discovering the work of Dr. Sarno, Dr. Schubiner, Dr. Hanscom, Dr. Clarke, Dr. Stracks, and Dr. Schechter and reading their books
pain neuroscience education
journaling via Nicole Sachs
pain reprocessing therapy and somatic tracking via Alan Gordon
addressing belief and doubt
learning to feel safe with sensations, thoughts, and emotions
graded exposure teaching the brain the pain is not dangerous
visualization & graded motor imagery
leaning into positive sensations
regulating the nervous system & Polyvagal theory
indifference & outcome independence
self compassion
“Approaches I tried that didn't help me”
As described by story contributors
supplements
changing diet to anti-inflammatory or keto
Japanese healer
castor oil
icing & heat
PT
chiro
osteopath
massage
acupuncture
sports medicine doctor with rehabilitation classes
correcting posture
Common Turning Points
Pivotal moments described by story contributors
discovering what neuroplastic pain was
self-diagnosing with Tension Myoneural Syndrome (TMS) / Neuroplastic symptoms with reassurance from TMS practitioners after ruling out legitimate pathological findings
Key Realizations & “Aha” Moments
Perspectives shared by story contributors
structural findings were incidental and not the cause of symptoms
most chronic pain is neuroplastic in nature, meaning that, even though the pain is very real and physically felt, it doesn’t mean that it is being caused by the structures of the body
the brain and nervous system can cause debilitating symptoms without tissue damage or disease
neuroplastic pain refers to pain that is created and maintained not by physical injury, but by changes and misfirings in the brain’s neural circuits
the brain can "learn" pain through repeated stress or emotional suppression, creating maladaptive neural pathways—essentially false alarms
misfiring pain circuits, shaped by emotional states and life stress, cause the brain to perceive pain even when there is no physical cause
mindbody symptoms—including chronic pain—often result from stress and nervous system dysregulation, suppressed or unprocessed emotions, learned neural pathways in the brain, and an overactive fear response
Support Systems Contributors Mentioned
Types of support described by story contributors
reassurance from TMS practitioners
Advice from Those Who've Been There
Suggestions shared by story contributors
- “most chronic pain is neuroplastic in nature”
- “the brain and nervous system can cause debilitating symptoms without tissue damage or disease”
- “neuroplastic pain is created and maintained by changes and misfirings in the brain’s neural circuits”
- “the brain can "learn" pain through repeated stress or emotional suppression”
- “mindbody symptoms often result from stress and nervous system dysregulation, suppressed or unprocessed emotions, learned neural pathways in the brain, and an overactive fear response”
These insights reflect what individual contributors reported about their own experiences. Results vary — what helps one person may not help another. This is not medical advice.
Stories (1)
Real journeys shared by contributors
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