Is TMJ Pain Affecting Your Life?

Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pain can be debilitating. The facial nerve is very near the TMJ. We now know that much of the pain felt in the facial nerve in TMJ cases is caused by trigger points in the muscles of mastication referring to the facial nerve. TMJ pain may also be exacerbated by cranial and atlas/axis distortions, as well as structural imbalances in your back, hips, and legs.

Atlas distortions tilting left, for example, will cause the muscles of mastication to draw the jaw to the right in order to chew and speak. This unusual strain on the jaw muscles may cause trigger point referrals into the facial nerve and TMJ.

If your hips are tilting left, your jaw and neck muscles must pull harder to the right in order to keep your eyes and ears level with the horizon and to correct the occlusion of the teeth while eating and speaking.

This excessive and prolonged strain on your neck and jaw muscles may develop trigger points which refer pain into the facial nerve and the TMJ.