By Sandra Carter

We have come a long way from the time when human beings used to fight for food and used to takes large bites of meat so that s/he could finish before anyone else got to it. And chewing of bones in public is looked down as ill-mannered still jaw related and bite related problems still continue to terrify us. In fact many crippling jaw joint ailments also affect the jaws leading to pain, swelling etc. The TMJ syndrome or as it is medically termed the Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction Syndrome leads to various jaw joint related pain in the head, face and neck in people. The basic issue however is associated with the ligaments, tendons, nerves and the muscle linked to the temporomandibular joint rather than the joint itself.

Research shows that TMJ dysfunction mainly occurs due to the misaligned jaws, uneven bite or the displaced mandibular disc, and the treatment procedures follow the same pattern. The treatment options include Arthrocentesis, Arthroplasty & Discectomy. These procedures have been known to have worked successfully for many people in resolving pain and related discomforts. Arthrocentesis is a very risk-less trouble free procedure, which involves the injecting of local anesthesia mixed with a viscous solution into the affected joint under general anesthesia. It helps in draining out the fluids that cause swelling. Excessive severe swelling needs to be treated with steroids. However, if you are suffering from TMJ and planning to opt for this procedure it is best to have a proper consultation with your doctor before going ahead with it.

TMJ Cure Through Surgery

Arthroplasty, however involves open surgery for the TM joint. The procedure involves repositioning of the disc, replacement of the joint and discectomy. Arthroplasty as a surgical procedure comes with its own share of risks. It can involve minimal invasion to a complex multi-part surgical procedure. It is opted for only after other modes of treatment have proved unsuccessful. Arthroplasty is able to cure most of the problems associated with TMJ syndrome, however many complain of post operative recurring pain in the operated area later on.

Discectomy consists of repositioning of the disc and it requires an over the night stay and around two hours of a surgical session. The surgeon needs to open up the joint and reposition the displaced disc. The disc also needs to be stitched so that it does not get displaced again. If the surrounding tendons and ligaments are found to be affected as well then they are also taken care of. The disc needs to be repositioned when the mandibular disc which is actually a cartilage working as a cushion between the two bones slips from its normal position. The risks involved in this surgical procedure are pretty high as injuries caused to the facial nerves remain a possibility and that can lead to some major consequences. Hence, this option is opted for only in rare cases where everything has failed.

TMJ Cure through Other Modes Of Treatment

As against the modes of general surgery described above the neuromuscular mode of treatment is considered to be more effective

Neuromuscular treatment takes place in three stages - providing relief to muscle pain, correcting the uneven bite and providing long term management of the condition. The first stage of the procedure for the pain or spasm relief takes place through a process known as TENS or ULF-TENS. In this procedure the affected person faces Ultra Low-Frequency Transcutaneous Electrical Neural Stimulation that helps in relaxing the affected muscles. It is basically elctro-massing of the aching muscles which genteelly relieve the pain. The procedure works by making the body release endorphin which is basically a natural polypeptide that helps in lessening pain and spasms.

For correcting the uneven bite a device called Orthotic is placed on the person's teeth at night. It helps attain the correct bite by making the TMJ and other associated muscles to coordinate with each other in order to get the desired result. For long term care and management of this jaw joint related problem there are various options available that help in getting rid of the pain and other related issues.

Although so many people in and around US suffer from TMJ syndrome very few get the appropriate treatment, simply because they are unable to make anyone understand or believe what they are going through. Hence, in many cases they end up reaching a psychiatrist's cabin who tries to cure them through counseling. TMJ syndrome goes from bad to worse if it is left unattended for long. A minor click in the ear can become roaring and rushing sounds in the ear with time. Although you can get rid of the pain with the help of NSAIDs and other pain relievers, there are other options available that can help you stop this disorder from progressing further.

TMJ Cure That Works

There are various treatment options available in the market that promises a cure, ranging from conventional medication to over the counter drugs to home remedies. But the problem with all these options is that none of them give a permanent cure, they only provide a temporary relief, the reason being that all these options only treat the symptoms and not the actual cause.

Permanent relief from TMJ syndrome can be attained through holistic remedies as they analyze or the underlying causes leading to the problem and eradicate them completely. Once all the root causes are treated the symptoms of course automatically vanish and never get a chance to come back. This reason definitely makes the holistic remedies the best treatment option for the TMJ syndrome.

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