Treating Jaw Pain with Acupuncture

Acupuncture Can Help With Jaw Pain – Temporomandibular (TMD)

Our case study on treating Jaw Pain with acupuncture gives an insight into how acupuncture can help relieve jaw pain. A client contacted The Riverside Natural Health Centre. She had been told by her GP and Dentist that acupuncture could help to relieve the condition of Temporomandibular Disorder (TMD). The condition was causing constant pain along her jaw, temples and forehead, had worsened in recent weeks. For a better reading experience I’ve called the client Ann.

TMD is a condition that affects the temporomandibular joint. This is a hinge joint which connects your jaw to the temporal bones of your skull. This joint allows your mouth to move up and down and from side to side to enable you to chew and talk.

TMD is when a problem occurs in this joint and the connecting muscles that help to control the jaw. It can bring severe pain and discomfort alongside a cascade of symptoms such as: clicking, popping and grating sounds when you chew. Pain and tenderness in the jaw, face, neck and shoulders in addition to headaches, dizziness and tinnitus can also happen in a number of cases.

Treating Jaw Pain with Acupuncture

The main focus of Anne’s first acupuncture treatment was to relieve jaw pain. Ann was experiencing pain on both sides of her face. She said that it felt like a dull ache and that it was constant. She felt upset and frustrated about the ongoing pain and she was finding it difficult to manage on top of her stressful full-time job.

Ann showed the acupuncturist how her jaw clicked when she opened and closed her mouth. This clicking had always been there ever since she was a child. At that time though, she didn’t remember having any pain associated with the problem.

However, over the years the condition has worsened. On a recent visit to her dentist she was told a splint could be used to possibly rectify the alignment of her jaw. Her dentist advised her to seek acupuncture treatment, and that treating jaw pain with acupuncture may help alleviate the immediate pain.

Ann didn’t want to take painkillers because she knew that they wouldn’t solve the problem. They would only mask the symptoms of her condition.

The Successful Outcome

During the first session of acupuncture, Ann felt some slight discomfort when the fine acupuncture needles were inserted, near to the pain on both sides of her jaw, temples and forehead.

Four acupuncture needles were used on each side of her face and the mild discomfort lasted for just a couple of minutes. After the treatment Ann felt the pain had reduced. She was advised by the acupuncturist to visit for three further weekly treatments. The aim was to eradicate the jaw pain.

Ann returned for her second session of acupuncture the following week. She was surprised how well the acupuncture had worked. She felt a slight dull ache for up to three days after her first acupuncture treatment. Acupuncture was administered again along the areas of pain as well as some additional points that in Traditional Chinese Medicine help to move qi and blood to facilitate healing to the area.

Ann returned for two further treatments. After the third acupuncture treatment, her jaw pain had completely disappeared. Anne was really pleased with the results and said that she no longer felt any of the dull aches or even thought about the jaw pain. She felt less anxious and stressed about her condition. She was no longer worrying and she felt more capable of carrying on with her job without having to worry about the constant jaw pain.

Ann was able to claim back a large proportion of her acupuncture fees through her healthcare scheme from her place of work as Sarah her acupuncture practitioner, is a member of the British Acupuncture Council (BAcC).

Acupuncture in Nottingham

If you require more information about Acupuncture in Nottingham, or advice about treating jaw pain with acupuncture. Please contact The Riverside Natural Health Centre. Sue Hayes will be at hand to answer any questions you may have, and provide you with help & advice.

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