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TMJ & CTS

TMJ

If you place your fingers in front of either ear and wiggle your jaw, you'll feel an opening that changes shape.  This is the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) where the temporal bone of the skull attaches to your jaw, or mandible.

According to the American Dental Association, nearly 30 percent of Americans have TMJ problems, called TMJ Dysfunction or TMJ Syndrome.  Among the symptoms are severe headache; loss of hearing; tinnitus (ringing in the ears); shoulder, cheek, jaw, or tooth pain; and nausea and dizziness.  TMJ affects more women than men.

The Chiropractic Approach to TMJ

Spinal problems and TMJ Syndrome are often related.  In fact, chiropractic care may help you avoid TMJ surgery: Surgery should not be done until chiropractic and proper dental support is provided, with the exception of a tumor, fracture or serious joint pathology.

In the interest of better patient care, chiropractors and dentists are beginning to work together to ensure jaw/skull/spinal health.  Chiropractic should be explored by all TMJ sufferers. If you place your fingers in front of either ear and wiggle your jaw, you'll feel an opening that changes shape.  This is the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) where the temporal bone of the skull attaches to your jaw or mandible.

CTS

CTS is carpal tunnel syndrome. Composed of the carpal bones, the wrist forms a tunnel-like structure called the carpal tunnel through which nine tendons and one median nerve pass.

Symptoms include pain, tingling, numbness and weakness of the fingers, hands and wrist sometimes so intense that they awaken the sufferer at night.  One out of 10 people suffers from CTS. It usually affects domestic workers, secretaries, computer users, meat cutters, assembly line workers, carpenters, musicians and others who do repetitive tasks with their hands.

Traditional medical treatment for CTS includes application of splints, ice, drugs, cortisone injections and even surgery.  Medicine's poor success in treating this painful condition led Robert Mendelsohn, M.D. to conclude:  "Since the medical treatment for this condition is so often unsatisfactory, I have for years been recommending that my patients consult muscle and joint therapy specialists."

Additionally, an unhealthy spine, or even unbalanced hips could lead to problems with the jaw, head and neck.

Your Spine and CTS

The relationship between spinal health and carpal tunnel has been documented by a number of individuals who found spinal nerve root irritation in patients who had carpal tunnel or ulnar neuropathy.  Others have found that nerve compression in the neck can block the flow of nutrients of the nerves in the wrist, making it more susceptible to injury (this is called the double crush syndrome).

In light of what's known about CTS, anyone suffering from it should see a chiropractor to have their spine tested for spinal subluxations.  A chiropractic spinal adjustment may make the difference between a pain-free wrist or spinal surgery!

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