Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) Pain

Excerpts from the entry on Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) Pain in Relieving Pain Naturally by Dr. Sylvia Goldfarb and Roberta W. Waddell. For full entries on all 37 conditions and 27 treatments, order the book.

TMJ is caused by painful muscle spasms around the jaw joint. It is often more bothersome at night when you are trying to sleep because more blood goes to your head when you lie down and that causes pressure. The word temporomandibular is derived from tempero, which refers to the bones in the temple area, and mandible (your jawbone). The pain of TMJ can last from a few seconds to several hours, and comes and goes without warning. Symptoms are usually mild and frequently go away without therapy, but about 5 percent of those with TMJ may have disabling symptoms that are severe enough to warrant surgery. TMJ disorders affect more women than men, usually between the ages of fifteen and forty-five.

Also in this entry:

• Symptoms
• Common Causes
• Diagnosing the Problem
• Conventional Treatments
• Problems with Some Conventional Treatments
• Self-Help Alternative Treatments
• Assisted Alternative Treatments
• Practical Suggestions

See below for full list of all conditions and treatments in the book. Or, download a complete Condition entry or Treatment entry for free.