The nature of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is rather complex, and, prior to the detection of the symptoms that hail TMJ-related disorders, the physiological factors of this joint should be understood properly. It also is worth noting that the characteristics of this joint undergo a sea-change, when the area gets affected adversely, from its initial healthy condition. A hinge is what comes to mind while trying to describe the functions of the temporomandibular joint, which, incidentally, is placed at the meeting-point of the bones of the lower jaw (mandible), and a region of the skull. This joint is instrumental in helping humans open and close their mouths with ease.
Unlike what many individuals' trend of thoughts, one-way hinge-like functioning is not the sole utility that this joint has to offer (as in windows' and doors' opening/closing mechanisms). Indeed, the TMJ allows the jaw to slide in the forward slightly, so that a person can open his/her mouth to the fullest extent possible. Researches show that, while 66.67 per cent of the task of opening the mouth is accomplished by this sliding facilities that this joint offers, only the remaining 33.33 per cent of the job is actually done by the features of the joint that make it function like a hinge.
The various muscles and cartilages that are located at or near the TMJ also help this bone-filled joint of the jaw a great deal in the execution of the functions of the latter. In this context, the 'articular disk' cartilage deserves a special mention. Located between the top surface of the joint and the higher parts of the bone in the mandible region, the cartilage offers significant to the TMJ. The rear portion of the 'articular disk' is under the control of the retrodiscal ligament; the pterygoid muscle (arranged laterally) take care of the proper functioning of the anterior end of this cartilage. Thus, problems in either of these two body parts can give rise to severe TMJ disorder problems. There are many other factors as well, that serve as tell-tale symptoms of TMJ problems. Such TMJ symptoms can be studied in the form of the following list.
TMJ Symptoms: The Less Common Signals
The symptoms of the TMJ (temporomandibular) disorders can be of two types: primary and secondary. While the primary symptoms, like acute pains in the TMJ area, irregular incidents of lockjaw, sounds being heard whenever the jaw is opened or closed (snaps, clicks, crunches, etc) are rather easy to perceive, the secondary symptoms are rather more unusual in nature. Let us cast a glance at these latter symptoms now:
Symptoms Observable In The Eyes:
o Blood-red color of the eyes,
o Painful sensations, from the rear portion of the eye, as well as from beneath and above the eye,
o Visibility reduced to a blur,
o Developing an extra sensitiveness to lighted areas,
o Pressure conditions being created on the eyes from the rear, and
o Unnaturally water-filled eyes.
Symptoms Observable In The Ears:
o Not being able to hear clearly,
o Unexplained paining in the ear,
o Heaviness in the ears, and extra-full feeling,
o Sounds of hisses, rings and roars in the ear, similar to what tinnitus patients hear,
o A filled up and jammed sensation in the ear, and
o An acutely dizzy feeling, imbalance issues and vertigo complicacies.
Symptoms Observable In the Face And The Head:
o The forehead area becoming sensitive,
o Migraine, giving rise to headaches,
o Acute cluster pains in the head,
o Sinus problems and the resultant headache, and
o Scalp pain, and difficulties in even touching those areas, and even the hair.
Symptoms Observable In The Chin, Cheek, Face And Mouth Areas:
o One or all of these areas developing problems,
o The cheek as well as the chin hurting a lot,
o Discomfort in the jaw, particularly in the joint area,
o As the jaw is opened, clicks are heard,
o Erratic movements of the tongue,
o The jaws opening up in unequal measures, and
o While biting, one side bites off greater amounts than the other.
Symptoms Observable In The Gums And Teeth
o Teeth starting to hurt,
o Habits to gnash teeth,
o Bruxism habits, viz., frequent teeth-grinding,
o Difficulties in touching the gums, and
o Not being able to brush properly.
Symptoms Observable In The Throat
o Soreness in the throat regions, although no infections are present,
o Variations in the voice emitted, although not willfully,
o Acute problems of laryngitis,
o The throat feeling tightened up, and
o Problems in swallowing anything that is eaten.
Symptoms Observable In The Shoulder And The Neck
o The neck and shoulders hurting a lot,
o Problems in shoulder areas,
o The entire back parts starting to hurt, and
o Development of stiff backs.
Not every TMJ patient gets to experience all the above secondary symptoms, although the latter are, in general, clear indicators of disorders in the temporomandibular joint area. Manifestation of symptoms is unique to each and every TMJ patient, and hinges on his/her sex, age and other personal traits.
A comprehensive descriptions of the symptoms associated with temporomandibular joint problems have been discussed here. However, whether a patient feels them or not cannot be stated for certain. Incidentally, many of the TMJ symptoms are largely similar to the indicators of the tinnitus disease. It is, however, a hardly paradoxical situation, because while rings are audible to a person suffering from TMJ, temporomandibular pains in the heads do affect a tinnitus patient as well. The reason for this is simple: the nature of the tinnitus issue and TMJ disorder is somewhat similar, and mental pressures are not the main causative factor in these cases, as was believed earlier. In fact, these days, physicians point out at certain ligaments, bony areas, and nervous systems (common in both the TMJ as well as in the mid-ear areas) as the starting-point for these health-related problems.
TMJ Disorder: Getting Rid Of The Problem
While it is a fact that fast relief from TMJ disorders is hankered after by one and all, it is never possible to achieve it via the application of medicines sold over the counter and/or other drugs belonging to the conventional school. Since such medications are concerned only about the symptoms of the disease, and not the underlying causes of the problem, the latter remain within the body system. Although the TMJ symptoms might apparently grow weak for sometime, they might return in full vigor soon enough.
The other option that the patients suffering from TMJ disorders have is to opt for the remedial measures from the holistic school. Thankfully, all the causative points of the problems are unearthed in this method, after the body has been examined as one single entity. The problem-creating factors are subsequently eradicated. This ensures automatic vanishing of the TMJ symptoms too, and there exist no chances of their revival over time either.
No comments:
Post a Comment