Temporomandibular lockjaw is a condition of the jaw joint or its surrounding muscles whereby the person's jaw gets locked in an open and shut condition, often with various degrees of pain and swelling in the area.
This condition is not threatening to life (and should not be confused with tetanus lockjaw which is very often lethal if untreated) but it can result in a great deal of pain and inconvenience to the person concerned.
In fact, the pain can spread to the neck and shoulders as well. Since there are usually multiple causes for temporomandibular lockjaw, it is not possible (or advisable) to restrict the treatment method to a single one. The most popular treatment methods for TMJ lockjaw are as follows:
1. Changes in lifestyle to avoid putting pressure on the joint
- Eating soft food and completely avoiding hard food and chewing gum.
- Avoiding clenching the jaws. If the problem happens at night, as is very often the case, then custom made mouth guards will be very helpful.
- Improving posture in order to hold the chin, head, shoulders and neck correctly
2. Physical therapy in order to reduce tension and inflammation in the joint. This includes massage which helps to improve blood circulation and reduce pain in the jaw joint.
It is best to hold a warm pack to the affected area since this helps to relax the muscles for massage.
3. Physiotherapy sessions including manual therapy, ultrasound and TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation) treatment.
4. Consumption of over the counter painkilling medications containing paracetamol and codeine if the pain becomes difficult to handle and immediate relief is required.
5. Steroids injected into the jaw joint. This is only effective if the lockjaw is caused because of arthritis which is an inflammatory condition that affects the joints.
6. Surgery, when other treatment methods are not effective. The various surgical options range from arthrocentesis (the flushing out of tiny foreign particles from the jaw cavity) to arthroscopy (the surgical removal of any diseased tissue or even realignment of the jaw.
Open joint surgery is done in case the damage is extensive. Joint replacement surgery is called for in case the area is damaged beyond repair.
Since surgical treatments for temporomandibular lockjaw are costly and also involve lengthy recovery periods, it is best to use this option only if you have fully explored all other treatment methods including a dental visit to rule out dental misalignment as a cause.
TMJ lockjaw is not just painful but can also restrict your ability to eat or talk. Find out about different treatment methods for TMJ disc displacement.
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