TMJ Pain Relief by Cher Hunter, MA, CMT, RYT Pain Relief Therapies It is estimated that over 30 million people in the US suffer from TMJ pain and it can be a most frustrating and painful condition.  The TMJ, or temporomandibular joint, is where the jaw bone connects to the skull.  Sometimes referred to as TMJ Syndrome, or TMD – Temporomandibular Disorder, TMJ problems usually begin as discomfort in the jaw muscles and often lead to headaches, hearing problems and pain while chewing and speaking.  Without treatment, surgery may eventually be necessary.  Common Symptoms include: • Headaches or dizziness . Inability to open the mouth comfortably • Clicking, popping or grating in the jaw joint • Painful locking of the jaw when opening the mouth • An uncomfortable bite that feels “off” • Neck and shoulder pain • Tinnitus or ear pain Dentists often use a splint, or mouth guard, to separate the teeth during sleep and relieve pressure on the joint caused by bruxism, the clenching or grinding of the teeth during sleep. Splints produce improvement for many people, but usually don’t eliminate the problem completely. Chiropractoric adjustments of the neck and jaw can also be beneficial. Obviously the best way to eliminate any problem is to eliminate the root cause.  In 90% of the cases the pain is caused by muscle tension.  The key to effective relief is the combination of massage and stress-reduction to banish the damaging effects of stress.   The research is clear—stress reduction and massage work to relieve muscle tension!  Massage Therapists who are trained in techniques for relieving TMJ problems provide remarkable pain relief.  Patients also learn effective relaxation and self-massage techniques to calm the muscles and prevent the jaw clenching and muscle tension that are major contributors to this problem.  Yoga therapy, including yogic breathing techniques, are valuable stress-reduction tools.  Other suggestions include: • Maintain good posture while working at a computer, watching TV or reading. • Pause frequently to change position, rest hands and arms, and relax    stressed muscles.   • Frequently relax the jaw and facial muscles throughout the day. • Avoid chewing gum and eating hard foods. • Eliminate caffeine and other stimulants. • Apply moist heat to increase the circulation around tense jaw muscles. • Practice yoga to reduce stress and muscle tension in the entire body. Maria J. is an attorney who had severe TMJ pain. After just three massage treatments her pain dropped from an eight on a scale of ten to just three. After seven sessions she reported that the pain was completely gone.  The relaxation and stress relief techniques were especially helpful to her because she was in the middle of planning her daughter’s wedding. She was thrilled when she could say, "I was able to get ready for the wedding without grinding my teeth at night and the constant pain is now completely gone.  When things get tense, I’ve learned how to take a relaxing breath and let it go!"