Acupuncture for Temporomandibular Disorders (TMD)
Temporomandibular disorders (TMD), according to Johns Hopkins Medicine, affect the jaw muscles and temporomandibular joints (TMJ), which are two joints that connect your jaw to your skull, just in front of the ears. When these joints, muscles, and bones stop working together, folks may experience pain, dislocation, or joint disease in these areas.
TMD can manifest in many different symptoms such as headaches, jaw and facial pain or discomfort, dizziness, limited range of motion for the mouth and jaw, numbness in the fingers, and more.
According to an article from Wu et al., these disorders impact an estimated 10% of the population. They go on to discuss the lack of consensus in research for an effective treatment for TMD. However, another article from Rossi Jr. et al. points out that most treatments are done with the goal of minimizing the symptoms of TMD with an emphasis on relieving pain caused by these disorders.
An article from Practical Pain Management points out the use of pharmaceutical treatments, lifestyle changes, oral devices to mitigate clenching of the jaw or teeth grinding, and other such interventions as standard treatment plans for folks with TMD.
Because of the success acupuncture often has in relieving chronic pain, many patients with TMD have turned to acupuncture and other East Asian modalities to treat their disorders. Acupuncture aims to treat conditions mainly by balancing Qi, or energy, in the body and identifying why that Qi may be misplaced or misdirected, causing many of the ailments and pains we experience.
Evidence has been supporting the efficacy of acupuncture in treating chronic pain and the symptoms of TMD specifically. One study states, “This study showed that Acupuncture should not be a simple resource or the patient’s last attempts in temporomandibular disorders control, since it was effective in control of this disorder.” It goes on to state, “The results obtained in this study showed that Acupuncture was effective in controlling and remission of signs and symptoms that characterize temporomandibular dysfunction.”
Another case study reported that, “Acupuncture may be a complementary treatment for TMD, and in this case report, it eliminated the patient’s painful symptomatology.”
Acupuncture’s efficacy in treating chronic pain and other more acute symptoms by encouraging muscle relaxation, combined with practitioners’ dietary and lifestyle recommendations, may provide significant relief for folks with these disorders.
If you are one of the many who experiences these symptoms or has been diagnosed with a temporomandibular disorder, acupuncture offers a safe, effective, and natural part of your treatment plan. Research suggests that it is effective especially for relieving the chronic myofascial pain experienced as a symptom of these disorders. If you would like to learn more or book a treatment to see if acupuncture would be effective for you, email us at info@loveacu.net or call our offices at (503) 343 9851 to learn more.
If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 911. Do not wait for an appointment with us. We are happy to work with you on chronic or ongoing health conditions; however, we are not equipped for or specialized in urgent or emergent care.