Are You Living With Jaw Pain? TMJ Could Be The Culprit
Do you suffer from headaches, grinding of your teeth, clicking of your jaw, or even ear pain? You’re not alone! These can all be signs of a condition known as Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMJ). This is a disorder of the jaw muscles and nerves caused by injury to the TMJ (the temporomandibular joint), which is the joint between your jaw and skull. AN physical therapist can take a look at your symptoms and help to diagnose you if this is what has been causing your discomfort!
If you’re living with this condition, don’t fret! The skilled physical therapists at Achieve Therapy are here to help you find true pain relief once and for all. Call our clinic today and cut the cord tying you to your pain!
While you’re here, don’t forget to check out our Fitness Centers, supporting your health in more ways than one!
Common Causes of TMJ Disorder
According to ChoosePT, TMJ disorder is so common that it currently affects more than 10 million people in the United States. That’s a lot! There are several reasons you may be experiencing symptoms of temporomandibular joint disorder. Multiple factors contribute to the muscle tightness and dysfunction that characterize this condition. Most often, poor posture and neck alignment change the pull of the muscles that make your jaw move. This causes painful grinding and irritation of the temporomandibular joint.
Other causes may include:
- Poor alignment of or trauma to the teeth or jaw (malocclusion)
- Clenching of the jaw (bruxism)
- Lockjaw (trismus)
- Teeth grinding
- Poor posture
- Stress
- Arthritis or other inflammatory musculoskeletal disorders
- Excessive gum chewing
When you see a physical therapist for pain relief for TMJ disorder, they may ask you questions about your daily life, including stressors and chronic conditions that could be causing your pain.
Congratulations Kacee!
We’re excited to share a few special moments from our PT Kacee’s wedding! It was a beautiful day filled with love, laughter, and celebration. Please join us in wishing Kacee and her new spouse a lifetime of happiness! 💍✨
Symptoms of TMJ
There are several ways to know if you may be dealing with TMJ, although the best way to find out for sure is to visit an Achieve Therapy physical therapist! When a person has TMJ, the injured joint leads to pain with chewing, clicking, and popping of the jaw; swelling on the sides of the face; nerve inflammation; headaches; tooth grinding; and sometimes dislocation of the temporomandibular joint. The bad news is that this condition can make everyday things such as talking and eating pretty uncomfortable. The good news is that a lot can be done to help TMJ disorder, first starting with a thorough evaluation of your problem with our expert physical therapists!
Welcome, Kendra – Our Newest Fitness Instructor!
We’re excited to introduce Kendra, the newest face on our fitness team! Kendra brings a welcoming energy and a love for healthy living that shines through in everything she does. Outside the gym, she loves playing volleyball, taking spin classes, and spending quality time with her friends and family.
A true sports fan at heart, Kendra is always cheering for her favorite Minnesota teams, and she of course loves a UND hockey game! When she’s ready to wind down, you’ll find her curled up with a good thriller or mystery novel.
Whether you’re new to the studio or a familiar face, Kendra is looking forward to getting to know you and helping you reach your goals. Be sure to say hello and help us give her a warm welcome!
How Can a Physical Therapist Help with TMJ?
Dentists and orthodontists aren’t the only ones who can treat TMJ disorder. Physical therapists can as well. At your first appointment with Achieve Therapy, a thorough examination of your neck, shoulders, and thoracic spine will be performed to determine whether those structures are causing your symptoms. Once the root cause of your problem has been discovered, a comprehensive plan can be developed to quickly relieve your pain and restore natural movement to your temporomandibular joint. Furthermore, our physical therapists will teach you techniques for regaining normal jaw movement for long-lasting results. The focus of physical therapy for TMJ is relaxation, stretching, and releasing tight muscles and scar tissue. In most cases, physical therapy can resolve TMJ and prevent the need for surgery. However, in cases where surgery is absolutely necessary, physical therapy is a vital part of the recovery process, as it helps minimize scar tissue formation, muscle tightness and allows for a complete recovery. Your recovery plan may involve a range of procedures and modalities, such as jaw exercises, soft tissue massage, joint mobilization, myofascial methods, electrical stimulation, and ultrasound. Your PT will also work with you on improving your posture as well since this can contribute to TMJ-related pain.
Matt Grasser (PT, DPT)
Matt is a native of Washington State and a 2022 graduate of the University of North Dakota where he earned his Doctorate of Physical Therapy degree. Matt and his wife Amy reside in Grand Forks with their four children and two Australian Shepherds, Hank & Charlie.
In his free time, Matt enjoys hunting, fishing, camping, golfing (occasionally) and spending time with his family. He is very much a domestic engineer in that he likes to garden and then can or cook his harvest. Matt also enjoys baking together with his wife and children. Matt acquired his personal motto from his grandfather who told him many times, “Can’t, never did anything”. His goal in life is to provide a good life for his family.
September Workshops
Hip Pain
Our Patients Are Getting Great Results
Great friendly staff always left feeling encouraged after my back surgery 7 months ago. They have helped me get my life back to normal through a therapy program. Feel extremely blessed to have their knowledge and experience.
– Vicki T.
A year ago, I was recuperating from the removal of a large Desmoid tumor from my left flank area. The surgery had left me in a lot of pain and with almost no ability to use my left arm. Along with the surgery pain, I have fibromyalgia and a torn rotator cuff. Guess one could say I was a hot…
– Violet K.
I was so happy to apply all of the exercises to help my tendon in my shoulder heal. I’ve been struggling with an over use injury off and on for a little over a year. A little over a month here and its reversed the pain by 95% and gave me tools to continue and keep it that way. This…
– William S.
We Are Hiring for PTA and PT positions!
Interested in Joining Our Achieve Therapy & Fitness Team?
The team at Achieve Therapy, LLC takes joy in helping people in our communities Move Better, Feel Better & Play Better. If you are passionate about delivering quality care and making a real difference in people’s lives, we want you at Achieve Therapy! To fulfill our mission of helping people achieve “Performance for Life,” Achieve employs team members that are innovative, independent thinkers who have a willingness to learn and are coachable.
September Staff Anniversaries
Matt Grasser | September 22nd | 3 Years
Thank you for your years of service.
Give Us a Call Today
If you’re experiencing jaw pain and discomfort, it’s highly recommended to contact us and schedule an appointment for a thorough evaluation of your condition. Our team of physical therapists will make every effort to provide you with the pain relief you need and alleviate any discomfort you may feel while speaking, chewing, yawning, and more. Don’t hesitate to reach out and let us help you regain your comfort. What are you waiting for? Relief is just a call away, so reach out today to set up an appointment!
Recipe of the Month: Egg Roll in a Bowl
Ingredients:
- 1 lb ground turkey or chicken
- ¼ cup yellow onion, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 teaspoons fresh ginger, grated or minced
- 1 12-14 oz package coleslaw mix
- ¼ cup low-sodium soy sauce, tamari or coconut aminos
- 2 teaspoons toasted sesame oil
- 1-2 teaspoons sriracha or sambal oelek
- 2 green onions, sliced
- sriracha, for serving (optional)
- sesame seeds and chopped cilantro, for garnish
- cooked cauliflower rice, for serving (optional)
Instructions:
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground meat and cook until no longer pink, about 5-6 minutes. While cooking, break meat into smaller pieces using a wooden spoon or spatula and season liberally with salt and pepper.
- Add onion, garlic, ginger, coleslaw mix, soy sauce, sesame oil and sriracha to the skillet. Cook for another 5 minutes or so, until cabbage is tender. Taste and add more soy sauce or sriracha, if needed.
- Portion mixture into bowls and top with green onions, sesame seeds and cilantro. Serve with additional soy sauce, sriracha or chili crisp, if desired.
Meet Our Team
Darcey Osowski
PCC | Billing Assistant
Greg Paintner
PT, DPT
Your Journey Your Choice
Did you know we can see you for PT with or without a doctor or other healthcare provider’s referral? One of our physical therapists will evaluate you, and customize a treatment plan to reduce your pain and get you moving better. Refer yourself or someone you care about! Get started today!
