Corey Katz

TMJ/Orofacial Structural Bodywork Specialist

It is estimated that over 10 million people suffer from TMJ (Temporo-Mandibular Joint Syndrome)

A structural bodywork approach can significantly reduce, if not eliminate those TMJ Syndrome symptoms. We look at it from a whole body approach.

Do you have jaw tightness or pain?

Do you hear clicking or popping?

Do you grind your teeth at night or clench them together during the day?

Do you get TMJ-related headaches?

Treating it now, keeps it from progressing into an articular (bone on bone) problem

What Does TMJ Stand For?

It is the Temporomandibular Joint, the joint where the lower jaw joins the bone of the skull.

A small disc of cartilage separates the bones, similar to the knee joint, so that the lower jaw (mandible) may open and close easily. You use your TMJ every time you chew, talk and each time you swallow. This occurs approximately every three minutes. It is one of the most frequently used and most complex joints of the body.

You can locate this joint by putting your hands on either side of your face (palms by the corner of your mouth and fingers up to ears). Open and close your mouth and feel (closer to the ears) the raised area that allows for your mouth to open and close. The motion you feel is the TMJ. You can also feel the joint motion in your ear, neck, forehead and scalp.

These maneuvers can cause considerable discomfort to a patient who is having TMJ disorders.

What Is TMJ Disorder?

TMJ Disorder is a general term used to describe a dysfunction of the jaw joints and the muscle groups that surround the joints.

Some patients live with TMJ Disorder for years before it becomes painful enough to cause them to seek help. Others contract the problem suddenly -- usually by some trauma or blow to the head, face and/or neck region. But both types of patient can have very similar symptoms.

What Are Signs of Having TMJ Disorder?

• Clicking or popping of the jaw joints

• Pain in or around the neck, face and jaw area

• Locking or limited opening of your mouth (dislocated)

What Are Symptoms of TMJ Disorder?

• Jaw fatigue

• Unexplained Headaches/Migraines

• Pain behind the eyes

• Pain in or above your ears

• Unexplained Dizziness

• Deviation of jaw movement when opening the mouth

• Earaches or ringing of the ears

• Clenching or grinding of the teeth

• Neck, shoulder, or back pain

• Numbness, or tingling of the fingers

How Did I Get TMJ Disorder?

The nerves and muscles are so complex in this area, when these muscles are in spasm the jaw joint becomes misplaced.

The jaw joint is a ball and socket joint. When functioning properly, the ball and socket do not actually touch because of a thin disc of cartilage that sits between them. The disc acts as a cushion and allows the joint to move smoothly. Each disc is held in place and then guided by muscle. If the surrounding muscle groups are in spasm they are pulling your bite out of alignment. The joint becomes irritated and the disk of cartilage is being pulled forward. Since it no longer serves as a cushion, the joint becomes irritated. Mild displacements cause a clicking or popping sound in the jaw joint; more severe displacements can be very painful and eventually can cause permanent damage to the joint. This clicking and popping sound is the cartilage moving back and forth.

Because the symptoms can be so severe, many people travel from doctor to doctor in search of treatment options. It is estimated that as many as 44 million Americans suffer from one or more of these symptoms.

How Many Treatments Will I Need?

Treatment can take time and even the amount of time varies from patient to patient. Time depends on how many years you have had TMJ Disorder, reasons for having TMJ Disorder, how diligent you are with your home care routine and your willingness to change habitual behavior that is causing your TMJ Disorder.

How Does Corey Treat Your TMJ Disorder?

Methods for successful diagnosis and treatment of TMJ Disorder or Orofacial Pain will vary from patient to patient and from office to office. Corey's first goal is to relieve the muscle spasm and get you out of pain! The next step is to get you into a good home care routine so that you can begin learning about how to relax, unwind and let-go of familiar holding patterns in your jaw, neck and shoulder area, we call this part of your body the upper shoulder girdle. Some problems may require a "team-approach" which means several different health care practitioners may be working with you concurrently to help alleviate your problem such as physical therapist, chiropractor, acupuncturist, etc… 

 

Corey comes from a structural bodywork background and is able to see a connection from head to toe. She will bring you awareness of how a seemingly unrelated part of the body is actually wreaking all that havoc in your jaw.