Facts About TMJ Symptoms and Treatment

There are many reasons you may be suffering from facial and jaw pain, ranging from sinus infections, decaying teeth, wisdom teeth, or even simple headaches. However, over ten million people in the United States alone are currently suffering from TMJ dysfunction. Are you?

What is TMJ? TMJ is an acronym for Temporomandibular Joint, which in simpler terms is the jaw joint. This is the joint that attaches your jaw to your skull, allowing for normal chewing and use of your mouth, including talking and making facial expressions. Use of your TMJ is something that is taken for granted, making TMJ dysfunction even more disruptive. Anyone, male or female, can be affected by TMJ problems; however, most patients seeking treatment tend to be women in their childbearing years. The causes for TMJ problems are varied and not always known. TMJ dysfunction can be a form of arthritis or a dental procedure gone awry. Genetics may be to blame, while autoimmune diseases may also be the cause.

Symptoms of TMJ Dysfunction No matter the cause of your TMJ dysfunction, the number one symptom is pain. The pain caused by TMJ problems can often be dull and aching. Some jaw joint pain can be normal from time to time and should not be cause for concern. However if you experience pain that lasts more than a few weeks, this can be TMJ dysfunction, which is best diagnosed by your physician. Other symptoms to consider are chronic headaches, neck, shoulder or back pain, facial pain, worn, chipping or cracked teeth, your jaw "locking" if attempting to be opened, and even numbness in your fingers and arms. These are just a few examples of how TMJ symptoms may manifest. If you are experiencing any of these discomforts, it may be related to TMJ dysfunction. Many cosmetic dentists are experienced in assessing TMJ Disorder and can best advise and provide treatment.

Treatment of TMJ Disorder Through a series of diagnostic tests, your dental specialist can help determine the cause of your TMJ discomfort, leading to the proper treatment. Often treatment can be achieved through a neuromuscular approach that does not involve surgery or braces. With advanced studies and latest technology, dentists are able to assess your particular needs in regards to your disorder. Treatment can sometimes be as simple as corrective bite treatment with an orthotic that extends your teeth, alleviating your symptoms. Sometimes a more permanent solution may be needed, such as full mouth reconstruction. Treatments vary case by case, and these are only two examples of what a specialist can do to help. Having a dentist that is experienced and able to best advise you is key to your recovery.

Get Rid of Chronic Back Pain Now

Chronic back pain is one of the most universal medical problems today. Low back pain is such a common nuisance it affects up to 90% of Americans at some point in their life. Half will have more than one episode. Chronic back pain is not a specific disease. Rather, it is a symptom that may occur from a variety of different processes. These include degenerated discs and joints in the spine, spinal stenosis, and chronic muscle strain.

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  Chronic muscular strain: Chronic muscular strain is perhaps the most common cause of back pain. There may or may not be an initial event or accident. The result is a back ache that may come and go or be present all the time. The pain is not explained by another cause, such as those discussed below.


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  Degenerative disc disease and sciatica: Degenerative or traumatic processes in the discs of the back can lead to rupture or disc herniation. The disc protrudes and places pressure on the adjacent spinal nerves. When this condition occurs in the low back, it is called sciatica, and classically presents as leg pain and difficulty walking. Frequently, pain is felt radiating into the buttock, leg and/or foot.


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  Spinal stenosis: Spinal stenosis is a narrowing of the spinal cord causing nerve compression in the back. When this condition occurs in the low back, it leads to persistent pain in the buttocks, limping, a lack of feeling in the lower extremities, and inhibited physical activity.


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  Arthritis/Degenerative joint disease: Arthritis pain in the back is the result of degenerative processes in the spine, and has been described as aching, stabbing, sharp, radiating, or hot. Degenerative processes in the spine can lead to slippage of one vertebrate on another or even fracture. Vertebral displacement can pinch nerves and create muscle tension.

To achieve relief from chronic back pain and sciatica one must understand:

• Back pain is not prevented by the strengthening of the muscles of the back.


• The stability of the back rather than the strength of the back prevents your back from harm.


• Therapy for stability is quite different from strength training.

Any approach to back pain treatment and sciatica should begin with a thorough evaluation of your spinal core and understands:

• The stability of the back is dependent on a properly functioning spinal core


• The spinal core is a complicated series of discs and vertebra, each with a slightly different function


• Faulty interactions between vertebrae create excessive strain in the back


• Optimizing interactions between vertebrae stabilizes the back, providing back pain relief and alleviating the pain of sciatica.

Wouldn't it be nice to have a therapy method that could relieve your back and sciatic pain completely and stabilize your back in anywhere from one hour to one week? The Feldenkrais Method can show you how to rid yourself of back pain for good, without drugs, surgery or machines. Feldenkrais has been used to treat hundreds of people suffering from back pain, the goal of therapy being to relieve pain and prevent your back from being injured again. The Feldenkrais Method uses simple, gentle movements to reorganize posture, flexibility, strength and coordination. And in doing so, it provides an environment within which your back pain can heal. Discover what Feldenkrais can do for your sore back or sciatica.

Hip Dysplasia - Is Your Dog Predisposed?

Hip Dysplasia is frequently a painful crippling genetic developmental orthopedic disease. The sloppy breeding of two dysplastic parents is mainly the cause for the disease to be so rampant. Most often found in larger breeds, smaller breed dogs are also susceptible of receiving the defective genes.

What is Hip Dysplasia?

Hip dysplasia occurs in the "ball and socket" joint of the dog. When the "ball" does not fit tight in the "socket," it causes friction, inflammation, cartilage damage, and pain. It can and does often lead to arthritis so crippling, surgery or euthanasia are the only options.

There are two types of hip dysplasia: acute and chronic. Acute (early) is usually observed in young dogs, noted by severe pain in the hips and lameness. In the acute stage, symptoms can last from a few weeks to months.

Chronic (late) commonly appears in older dogs. However, it can appear in dogs less than a year old. The dog appears in pain, has less range of motion of their hips, plus, arthritis has usually set in, and is progressing.

What Signs Should I Watch For?

Lameness or limping after exercise or walks, waddling/swaying gait, difficulty standing up, stiffness especially on cold, damp days, moodiness, unenthusiastic to move, protective of hip area, and decreased range of motion around hips are a few signs to watch for.

How is Hip Dysplasia Diagnosed?

Your veterinarian can diagnose it through a physical examination, PennHIP x-ray, CT scans, and/or ultrasound.

The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) recommends the hip-extended ventro-dorsal view x-ray. With that, your veterinarian can get a frontal view of the hip joints and pelvis. This procedure is most widely used by veterinarians as the view also allows for an judgment of if there is arthritis and the amount of present.

How Will My Dog Be Treated for Hip Dysplasia?

Depending on the degree of damage, there are a number of options. They include: weight loss, change of diet, physical therapy, limited exercise, anti-inflammatory medications, pain medication and surgery.

In severe cases, where the animal is severely crippled beyond hope, euthanasia is at times recommended.

How Do I Prevent My Dog From Hip Dysplasia?

Before purchasing a dog, make sure the breeder is reputable! Ask for a copy of all documentation that the parents are PennHIP x-rayed and OFA certified.

Feed large breed puppies, food customized to their needs. Feeding high protein, over supplemented food, can invite problems later on.

Do not over feed your dog.

Do not let them jump in and out of your vehicle, especially SUVs and trucks. Provide a ramp.

Limit excessive weight bearing exercise. Swimming is a great way to exercise any dog, especially at risk breeds.

Do not allow at risk breeds to jump on and off furniture, decks, porches, etc.

Do not allow at risk breeds to jump for balls, toys or Frisbees.

Have your puppy x-rayed when they are around six months old.

Breeds Genetically Predisposed to Hip Dysplasia include but are not limited to:

Afghan Hound
Airdale
Akita
Alaskan Malamute
American Eskimo Dog
American Staffordshire Terrier
Australian Cattle Dog
Australian Shepherd
Beagle
Bearded Collie
Belgian Malinois
Belgian Sheepdog
Belgian Tervuren
Bernese Mountain Dog
Black and Tan Coonhound
Bloodhound
Border Collie
Bouvier des Flandres
Briard
Bullmastiff
Cardigan Welsh Corgi
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
Chinook
Clumberland Spaniel
Chesapeake Bay Retriever
Curley Coated Retriever
Chow Chow
Doberman Pincher
Dalmatian
English Setter
English Springer Spaniel
English Shepherd
Finish Spitz
Flat Coated Retriever
Field Spaniel
German Shorthaired Pointer
German Wirehaired Pointer
Golden Retriever
Gordon Setter
Giant Schnauzer
Great Dane
Great Pyrenees
German Shepherd
Greater Swiss Mountain Dog
Irish Setter
Irish Water Spaniel
Irish Wolfhound
Keeshond
Komondor
Labrador Retriever
Mastiff
Newfoundland
Norwegian Elkhound
Norwegian Buhund
Norwegian Elkhound
Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever
Old English Mastiff
Old English Sheepdog
Otterhound
Pembroke Welsh Corgi
Pointer
Portuguese Water Dog
Puli
Rhodesian Ridgeback
Rottweiler
Saint Bernard
Samoyed
Shiba Inu
Siberian Husky
Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier
Standard Poodle
Standard Schnauzer
Tibetian Terrier
Vizsla
Weimaraner
Wirehaired Pointing Griffon

Bottom line: Hip Dysplasia is a painful, debilitating, disease. Do your homework, educate yourself on what to look for, take necessary precautions, use common sense but, most importantly; enjoy your dog!

Low Level Laser Therapy For Pain - LLLT

Low Level Laser Therapy or LLLT is a medical treatment commonly used to treat pain, joint disorders and some wound healing. It is most often used over joints and nerves. It uses lighted diodes to change the cellular function. There have been many clinical testings that show that LLLT is effective in providing pain relief for all types of problems.

There are several conditions that can cause pain that Low-Level Laser Therapy can help to relieve or treat. Some of the most common problems it has been used in treating are:

• Tendonitis


• Painful joints


• Neck and back pain


• Carpal tunnel


• Fibromyalgia


• Rheumatoid arthritis


• Osteoarthritis


• Sinusitis


• Tonsillitis


• Vertigo


• TMJ


• Chronic back pain


• Pain and injury from trauma


• Reduces Inflammation


• Migraines and headaches

There are many different things that low-level laser therapy is used for but it is most effective in the treatment of all types of pain. From a slight nagging pain to the more chronic pain that never leaves you. It has also been approved for treatment of helping to heal wounds and ulcers.

LLLT has also been proven to reduce inflammation. It is useful in the treatments of inflammation of skin conditions such as acne and eczema. Low-Level Laser Therapy has also been used in the treatment of migraines, hearing loss and even the treatment of some scars.

This type of therapy is also being used for the treatment of hair loss. While it does seem to help some other types of skin inflammation and wounds it is primarily used for the treatment of acute and chronic pain in the body.

While the theory of exactly how low-level laser therapy works has not been officially stated, the light given off by the lasers during light therapy causes photochemical reactions within the cells that have been targeted. It also has been suggested that it helps to control and reduce pain due to increasing the blood flow to the area and lowering the levels of several types of prostaglandin that cause stress and pain in the cells. It also increases adenosine triphosphate in the mitochondria which produces more oxygen. It also produces ATP which promotes relief of painful sensations in the cells.

The great thing about the use of low-level laser therapy is that it is painless. It can be used at any time. It also provides fast relief for these painful symptoms. It greatly reduces your healing time by providing cell stimulation to increase and promote the healing of cells. It is also 100% safe as the level of the laser is low so that it can not damage any of the cells that are being treated. It is not toxic, non-invasive and has virtually no long-term side effects to the patient. Application is very easy and very quick.

Treatment with these lasers will depend on your condition. Some people have relief in as little as one time, while others have to be treated 8 to 10 times for the pain to go away or decrease.

Temporomandibular Joint Disorder Or TMJ

If it hurts when you chew or use or jaw or when you yawn, there can be a problem. If you feel pain in your cheek, teeth in front of the ear or in the temples, then you need to think seriously. If you find it difficult to open your mouth wide or if your jaws get stuck when you open it or if you experience soreness in your teeth or if your jaws make a lot of noise, then you need to be alert. If you are noticing these symptoms, then you can be sure that you have a problem of temporomandibular joint disorder or TMJ. TMJ is a problematic condition which proves to be painful and attacks your jaws.

The signs and symptoms of TMJ can be limited movement of the jaw of locking of the jaw, dizziness, hearing problems, headaches, earaches and problem in swallowing, pain in the shoulders, face or neck, the improper fitting of upper and lower teeth and painful grating when opening or closing of the mouth.

Your chiropractor will help you with the treatment of TMJ like chiropractic manipulation, exercises, massage and ice or heart therapy. The first step in chiropractic treatment is to reduce the pain and soreness. In case your chiropractor thinks that you might need more assistance, he or she will refer you to the appropriate specialist.

You can also learn a few things from your chiropractor so that you can avoid things that can be harmful. You should avoid joint movements that can prove to be harmful for you like having a big apple or a big sandwich can cause you to open your mouth too wide and hence project a harmful effect on the jaw. Use of ice or heat can also prove to be helpful and reduce the pain. Just after the injury or start of the pain, ice is a good help. At a later point of time, if you are still experiencing pain and discomfort, you should switch over to heat. You should also perform exercises that are specifically meant for TMJ. There are certain stretching and strengthening exercises that help to reduce the pain and help to treat TMJ. Your chiropractor will give you more advice on that. Chiropractic treatment is the best method of treatment for TMJ as it is completely natural and helps to reduce pain and soreness and can prove to be very effective.

Osteoarthritis Causes, Symptoms and Remedies That You Ought to Know

Osteoarthritis is not related with single disease but it is the result of variety of disorders. Finally it results in structural and functional failure of one or more joints. This condition includes the pain in entire joint, nearby muscles, underlying bone, ligament and joint lining. In osteoarthritis there is an advance loss of cartilage. Initially the cartilage tries to repair itself. It is related with degenerative joint disease which typically affects joints in the knees, hand, hip, feet, and spine. Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis.

There are varieties of causes of arthritis. Some of its important risk factors are -

1. Women: Women get often affected by the problem of osteoarthritis in comparison to men.
2. Older age: Usually osteoarthritis affects the people of older age.
3. Obesity: Risk of osteoarthritis increases with the increase in weight. So, obese person are at more risk in developing the problem of osteoarthritis.
4. Joint injuries: Sometimes due to sports injury and repetitive stress, due to some occupation also it results into the problem of osteoarthritis.

Usually the symptoms of osteoarthritis begin gradually, but over the period the condition worsen. Though there are varieties of symptoms of osteoarthritis but some of its main symptoms -

1. Aching or stiffness.
2. Growth of bones on the margins of joints.
3. Occurring intermittently.
4. Pain worsens during activity and the condition improves in the rest condition.
5. When the joint is moved, it causes a great sensation.

Usually, osteoarthritis is diagnosed after proper physical examination and also the results of an x-rays. Sometimes the doctor finds a need to take a sample of synovial fluid from the joint. On the basis of proper diagnosis, the person suffering from the problem of osteoarthritis may go for treatment.

Though there is no permanent cure for osteoarthritis but proper treatment can reduce pain and also help in improving flexibility, joint movement, and quality of life. Some of the options for treatment include:

Modifications in lifestyle and also non drug approaches like weight loss, exercise and physical therapy.

Some pain reliever medications like corticosteroid injections, acetaminophen and hyaluronic acid injections.

For severe conditions of osteoarthritis, surgery is the last option. In this condition, none of the treatments show any improvement. So at last the person suffering from the problem of osteoarthritis has to go for joint surgery with the advice of the doctor.

Proper exercise, yoga, diet etc also works in reducing the pain of the patient suffering from osteoarthritis.

What Are the Qualities of a Good Dentist?

A dentist is a specialized and a qualified medical practitioner who specializes in treatment and general health of the teeth, gum and the mouth as part of human health. Just like in any other medical practice such as heart surgeons, opticians, otolaryngology or skin disorder specialists, dentists also require similar kinds of qualities relating to their line of duty. A dental doctor should exhibit these and more good qualities in his/her practice to attain success and satisfaction.

The dentist should be knowledgeable enough about his/her areas of specialization as the primary requirement. For instance, knowledge about different kinds of diseases that affect teeth, gum and the mouth should be at his/her fingertips. In addition, he /she should have a good idea of the symptoms that such diseases show and different way of treating and curing them. To be able to gather this knowledge, the dental doctor should undertake continuous and extensive research and seminars so as to keep abreast of any advances in medical discoveries regarding dentistry and dental care as a profession. In addition, a good dental doctor should be able to pass the acquired knowledge to his/her patients regarding good care of teeth and any good dental habits that help them maintain their overall health as human beings.

Surgical precision:
A good dentist should be able to perform surgical operations or any other such practices with a clear and sober mind. This is because dental operations just like in any kind of medical operations require maximum concentration, perfect precision, endurance and attention to detail. Any small mistake or error in a surgical operation may lead to a permanent damage to a patient's dental status or further complications may arise. Gentle and flexible handling of the process is necessary to carry on the process with the necessary traffic with causing accidents due to spillage or falling objects.

Excellent communication skills:
When communicating with any person that the dentist comes in contact with such as such a patient, a colleague or an assistant, a good dental doctor should be able to explain complex details in a way that can be easily understood by the recipient of that information. For instance, he should be able to explain to the patient in layman's possible way about different procedures available to assist him/her together with the details that are associated with this. The dentist's recommendations should not be biased, but the decision should be based on the patient's desires and only after considering the well explained facts.

Empathy:
A visit to a dentist is traditionally a dreaded choice to many during dental problems. However, with current developments in research and patient care, it has been discovered that genuine empathy with a patient develops courage in a patients to visit a dental doctor. A good dental practitioner is concerned about the patients feeling and empathizes with him/her during times of pain. This makes it easier for the patient to go though the procedure under reduced stress. A good way of starting to show empathy is by welcoming the patient in a warm way and then take the patient in through his/her interview comfortably without any rushing around about the details. The dental practitioner should handle the patient, not just like a client, but rather like a human to human relationship.

Patient Involvement:
A good dentist will always make the patient feel he/she is in control of all the processes involved in treatment procedures. The patient should be allowed to view all the heath records including x-rays and details be explained to him/her well. This way, the patient is at ease with the dental doctor and his/her confidence in the whole procedure is affirmed and therefore less stressful to both the dentist and the patient.