Discomfort in the Jaw

At BodyWork Associates, we are dedicated to addressing issues of muscular pain and discomfort that often fall through the cracks in our health care system. In many cases, our Precision Neuromuscular Therapy is extremely effective and efficient, both from a time and financial standpoint.

One of the prime examples of this is pain about the jaw and face, something that most people do not think about until it happens to them. When muscles of the face are compromised, the typical symptoms are:

• Limitations in opening the mouth
• Pain while chewing
• Headaches 
• Deep aching pain in the jaw
• Unexplained ear pain
• Diffuse pain in the neck, not help by more direct treatment to the neck

There are two common reasons for the onset of jaw pain: stress and extended dental appointments. In cases of high stress, it is common to reflexively tighten the muscles of the face. There are complicated neurological reasons for this, mostly centered around the fact that the face is directly connected to the emotional centers of the brain in a way that no other body part can match. (Good poker players know this well!) With regard to dental appointments, having to hold your mouth open for an extended time places quite a bit of stress on the closers of the jaw. It is analogous to having someone maximally stretch your hamstring for up to an hour. It is an unfortunate byproduct of the dental procedure. As a result, many dentists throughout Champaign-Urbana refer patients to us after extended procedures.  

 

If you suffer from tension or pain in the jaw and face, consider coming in for two or three sessions. Brenda Nielsen and Kim Moore at the Windsor Road office specialize in this area; you will be amazed at the difference just two sessions can make. Plan on an hour for the first session.