TMJ, Facial Pain, Ear Ringing (Tinnitus)
The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) or "jaw bone joint" is a major source of discomfort, pain and impairment for many people. This is actually an orthopedic problem more than a tooth problem.
TMJ symptoms may include headaches, tinnitus (ringing in the ears), dizziness, pain or pressure at the back or base of the skull, pressure or pain around the eyes, cheeks or face, at the jaw joint(s), upper shoulders or upper neck. Patients may experience popping or clicking when opening or closing the mouth, inability to open the mouth fully, ringing in the ears (tinnitus), stuffy ears or ear pain, tender neck and upper back muscles, fatigue, clenching and grinding the teeth at night or when stressed.
Symptoms may begin after a motor vehicle accident (whiplash) or fall, or after wisdom teeth or back molars are pulled,. They may also follow years of thumb sucking, breathing through the mouth (rather than nose breathing) or an overbite.
The pain can be disabling, affecting nutrition and interpersonal relationships. Many people experience chronic pain that originates both in and around these joints. This can become the site of arthritis and other degenerative problems as well as actual joint dysfunction. The pain can also come from compensating for the neck or pelvis being out of alignment.
Since the head rests at the top of the spine, tensions at the head may be affected by poor biomechanics below the head. For this reason, a major contributory factor to headaches is thought to be biomechanical and soft tissue dysfunction of the sacral joint (in the pelvis) and surrounding musculature and fascia (connective tissue).
Balance of the Pelvic BonesCan Affect the Head and Neck
The head must adapt its position in space according to the position of the pelvis and the spinal postural adaptations. Pain experienced in the head or TMs may be the result of sustained muscle contraction and joint restriction secondary to postural imbalances. Imbalances may occur due to biomechanical dysfunction of the pelvis, the sacrum, the lumbosacral junction or the base of the skull.
The sacrum acts somewhat like a universal joint in a car. It is the center of gravity and, therefore, a center of stability, while simultaneously negotiating forces transferred from above and below it. The sacrum’s "L" shaped surfaces join the two pelvic bones, forming the sacroiliac joints. The sacrum also forms a joint with the fifth lumbar vertebra, the lumbosacral junction. These joints represent significant structural and functional units during bending, lifting, twisting, walking and other activities of daily living.
The sacroiliac joints appear to contribute significantly to the stability of the low back. The lumbosacral junction appears to contribute greatly to low back mobility. Manual therapists have found a very high correlation of headaches with dysfunctions of the sacroiliac joints and the lumbosacral junction. The headaches often subside after treatment of the low back dysfunction.
Several treatment modalities may be employed to address TMJ and facial pain symptoms, including splint therapy, traditional physical therapy, exercise, manipulation and medications. Unfortunately, many people do not obtain satisfactory pain relief and return of TMJ function after these treatment options have been completed. This may cause ongoing pain and loss of income.
Therapy for Tinnitus, TMJ and Facial Pain
For several years, Clear Passage therapists have instructed physicians, doctors and dentists of the prestigious American Academy of Head, Neck, Facial Pain and TMJ Orthopaedics. Many of these physicians feel that the "missing link" in TMJ therapy is the structural, full body component. We recognize that the alignment of delicate TM joints is dependent on the body structure that supports it. If the pelvis, spine, neck and fascial support structures of the head and jaw are under stress and out of balanced alignment, the TMJs will compensate in response.
Our treatment is unique, and designed to complement your dentist’s care. We use a "hands-on" approach to treat your symptoms and to discover and treat the causes of your pain. We work to create a stable foundation at your pelvis and low back, which supports the rest of your spine up to your TM joints. We work to restore alignment, balance and mobility to the head, jaws, neck and shoulder girdle (including connections to the upper rib cage and thoracic spine), muscles, connective tissues, and organs. We provide a gentle stretch for a sustained period of time to areas of the body where we feel abnormal tension. This generally reduces or resolves pain symptoms . Goals of treatment include decreasing pain, increasing range of motion, improving function and tolerance for physical activity with return to productive lifestyles.
Treatment methods vary significantly. Many people do not obtain pain resolution after conservative treatment such as traditional physical therapy and medications. While most physicians agree that surgery is a treatment of last resort, a percentage of people do not obtain pain relief even after one or more surgeries.
We have helped many head, neck and facial pain patients who have been unable to find pain relief with other methods. We treat difficult, persistent back pain with unique treatment methods. From your first visit, we use a "hands-on" approach to treat your symptoms and discover the cause of your back pain. We begin by treating tight and dysfunctional areas in your body. When back patients try to avoid pain, they can complicate the original back injury with compensatory movement patterns.
Our directors spent years studying techniques and developing protocols to restore patients’ bodies to a state of balance, harmony and increased function. Our treatment sessions are individualized and last approximately one hour based on individual needs. Treatment is one-on-one, and is in private treatment rooms. From your first visit, we use a "hands-on" approach to treat your symptoms and discover the causes of your pain. We begin by treating tight and dysfunctional areas in your body.
A few minutes into your first treatment, our therapists will be providing a gentle stretch for a sustained period of time to areas of your body where we feel abnormal tensions. This has been very effective in decreasing and frequently resolving pain symptoms. Our goals of treatment are to restore alignment, balance and mobility to the pelvis, sacrum, thoracic and lumbar spines, the back and hip muscles, connective tissues, and abdominopelvic organs. Other treatment goals include decreasing pain and restoring range of motion. We work with you to improve your function, your tolerance for physical activity and return you to an active, productive lifestyle.
Patients generally discover within three treatments if our work will be effective in decreasing symptoms of the head, neck and TM joints. As pain decreases and function begins to return, we educate in a lifelong preventive and restorative exercise program to improve flexibility, strength, lifting ability and endurance levels. Enhancement of personal and professional life generally follows as a result. We work hand in hand with your physician, although physician referral is not required in the state of Florida for our work.
What should I expect from treatment?
The best way to determine if this work will help you is to schedule two or three visits. After three visits, most patients find their pain level noticeably improved. After six visits, they begin to notice significant structural and functional improvement in their bodies. Our goal is to help you achieve a pain free, more functional and productive life, with all your goals met.
If you have questions, we can schedule a personal consultation in one of our clinics or over the telephone. If treatment appears indicated, we will send you all necessary paperwork including a medical history questionnaire and release of medical records. We may request clearance from your physician for the very few conditions which would prevent us from treating you. These include diseases such as HIV and active cancer which could possibly worsen with treatment. Other contraindications are hemophilia, abnormal cysts and active infection.
Your treatment is always conducted in a lovely, private room. The first treatment includes an initial evaluation, and lasts up to 1½ hours. Thereafter, treatment sessions are generally 45 minutes of uninterrupted manual therapy. As manual therapists who often work on delicate areas, we are sensitive to your physical and emotional comfort level. We feel you should be fully informed in every step of treatment. We take the time to explain our theories and techniques while we are working with you. Your personal privacy is respected. Patient gowns are available each session for those who would like to use them.
Treatment feels similar to massage but calling our work massage is like calling the space shuttle an airplane. Our work is a very "site specific" slow and deep body work to the soft tissues of your body. We use our hands to locate abnormal tensions in and around the organs, muscles, connective tissues and support structures of the body. We then apply gentle, specific sustained manual forces designed to reduce adhesions and encourage normal mobility, tone and function. Most patients say they find treatment sessions interesting, informative and relaxing. Most patients with pain complaints usually begin to notice pain reduction or relief after the first two or three sessions.
Therapist Qualification
Therapist qualifications are a significant part of your comfort level. We invite you to visit our "About Us" page. Belinda Wurn is a physical therapist with more than 20 years experience. Larry Wurn is a massage therapist with more than 10 years experience. Both are nationally certified body workers who have performed literally thousands of manual therapy treatments. They are therapists trained and licensed to practice manual ("hands-on") therapy in Florida in their respective fields of physical therapy and massage therapy.
Following licensure, they both attended extensive continuing education courses, as well as many courses on manual pelvic, urogenital and abdominal therapy treatment in America. They furthered their education by studying manual urogenital therapy at an osteopathic medical school in France. Their goal is to provide a quality and level of service which is unavailable anywhere in our area. Clear Passage Therapies’ staff is committed to give our patients the finest one-on-one treatment available, in a relaxed and healing setting.
