Living with TMJ disorder can be a heavy burden to carry. Persistent headaches, joint pain, stiff muscles, limited mobility, and other symptoms can leave you feeling tired, defeated, and frustrated. While there are a variety of treatment options available, it can be overwhelming deciding what to pursue next on your quest for less pain. In this article, we explore acupuncture for TMJ healing.
Acupuncture is minimally invasive and steeped in centuries of rich cultural history. It’s a practice that is trusted by both homeopathic and medical communities alike. For that reason, it’s worth exploring as an addition to a comprehensive TMJ treatment plan.
Acupuncture As A Healing Practice
Acupuncture is a form of alternative or Traditional Chinese medicine that was developed over 3,000 years ago. A licensed acupuncturist will insert long needles into your skin at strategic spots of the body, often around organs or channels of energy.
There are over 100 acupuncture points along the 14 energy-carrying channels or meridians in the body. The needles used are sterile, disposable, and very thin. They are inserted around 2mm to 4cm into the body and may stay in place for a few minutes or up to an hour, depending on your treatment plan. The needles stimulate nerves and release pain-reducing hormones.
It is believed that acupuncture balances our vital life energy (Qi) that flows through certain pathways of the body. This energy, according to traditional Chinese medicine, is vital to our health and overall quality of life. Acupuncture is also known to have a restorative, meditative neurological effect; just one session can help people reach a temporary level of peaceful consciousness.
Other benefits of acupuncture include pain relief, stress reduction, and long-term management of health conditions.
Although highly effective, acupuncture is often just one part of a larger, holistic treatment plan. Let’s explore how acupuncture for TMJ can promote healing and reduce chronic pain.
The Impact Of Tight Muscles On The TMJ
When your masseter muscles become tight, it can set off a range of TMJ symptoms like clicking, popping, and headaches. Chronic tension in your jaw muscles can limit movement and cause pain and inflammation throughout the muscles and tissue of your jaw, face, ears, neck, and shoulders. Unaddressed muscle tension will rarely resolve itself. Jaw muscle tension can occur for several reasons.
Stress, anxiety, distorted anatomy, overuse, injury, and nerve problems could all make your TMJ muscles tight and cause orofacial pain. Acupuncture for TMJ can promote muscle relaxation, pain relief, and healing.
The Role Of Acupuncture For TMJ
The long-term benefits of acupuncture for TMJ will vary from person to person. You may see a reduction of tension which can improve your range of motion. An increase in blood flow can work to calm inflammation and lessen pain. Acupuncture works to restore natural balance to the body in a few different ways:
Hormonal Release
Studies show that when an acupuncturist inserts needles into the skin, they release endogenous opioids (hormones) such as β-endorphin, endomorphin, enkephalin, and dynorphin from the brain into the bloodstream. This naturally induces the feeling of a euphoric high and also relieves pain. These hormones can be anywhere from 10 to 200 times more powerful than morphine.
Vasodilation
Acupuncture increases blood flow to targeted muscles. Blood carries nutrients and oxygen, which all muscles require to perform at their best. Through healthier, more oxygenated muscles, acupuncture may improve the range of motion of the jaw joint and overall joint health.
Stress Reduction
Acupuncture for TMJ has a positive systemic effect on your mind and body due to the hormones released. The release of serotonin, cortisol, and noradrenaline promotes stress reduction and relaxation throughout the entire body. Because stress is one of the main contributing factors to TMJ symptoms, acupuncture is an effective and healthy treatment all around.
Other Benefits Of Acupuncture
The exciting thing about acupuncture is that it provides targeted benefits (like for the TMJ), and also improves overall health. These benefits include:
- Improved mental health and clarity
- Better immune function
- Increased physical energy
- Improved sleep
- Prevention of injuries
- Effective meditation
- And more
Will Insurance Cover Acupuncture For TMJ?
Whether or not insurance will cover acupuncture for your TMJ will depend on your plan and the insurance company. Schedule a call to consult with your carrier to find out. Insurance companies that cover acupuncture may have coverage limits for the total number of treatments you can seek annually.
You may need to get a referral from your GP or healthcare provider in order for insurance to offer coverage. Luckily, many acupuncturists offer sliding scale payment options so you only pay out of pocket an amount that’s relatively reasonable based on your income.
What To Expect At Your First Few Visits
Of course, each practitioner will have their own approach to providing care. In general, you can expect a consultation followed by a month or two of routine visits. You’ll want to confirm that your practitioner is educated, licensed, and experienced.
Each state has different laws that govern the amount of training needed to become an acupuncturist. In most states, practitioners must have achieved their master’s degree and be certified by a board. You can always ask a trusted dentist or doctor for a referral.
- First appointment: On your first visit, you will talk to your acupuncturist about your TMJ and your goals for treatment. They may keep this visit contained to a consultation so they can get a general idea of your health and medical history before proceeding.
- Weekly visits: Depending on the severity of your symptoms, you might be encouraged to commit to once- or twice-weekly visits for the first few weeks. This is a standard as it allows your acupuncturist enough dedicated time to offset the imbalance that’s causing your symptoms.
- Follow-up visits: As you begin to see results and feel better, you can start to extend the amount of time between visits. You might discover that you only need routine follow-up visits once a month or simply as needed. Your practitioner can help you determine a plan that’s best for you.
Preparation, Results & Side Effects
You’ll want to wear loose-fitting clothes to make yourself comfortable and accessible to your acupuncturist. Do not take medications, eat heavy meals, or drink alcohol beforehand as they might all interfere with your treatment.
When the needles are first placed in your skin, you will feel a small prick or likely a tingling sensation. Your practitioner will ask you how you’re doing so they can readjust any needles that might be uncomfortable. Overall, the experience is often quite relaxing and includes little to no side effects.
Some people might see dramatic improvements in their symptoms immediately after their first visit. Others might need to pay a few more visits to the acupuncturist to see the same level of progress.
By the fifth treatment, most people can reap the full benefits of acupuncture. One way to maximize the benefits of acupuncture is by incorporating it into a sustainable wellness and self-care routine, like correcting posture and ditching unhealthy habits.
Final Thoughts
Acupuncture for TMJ may be explored alone or constitute a larger part of a comprehensive treatment plan. It has proven to carry minimal side effects when carried out by a trained, licensed professional.
Have you seen an acupuncturist for your TMJ? Leave us a comment and let us know about your experience.
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Disclaimer: This content is meant to be informational and educational only and is not medical advice. This content does not substitute consulting with a medical or dental professional. Living With TMJ makes no claims to diagnose illness or injury. If you have a medical concern, you should consult with your healthcare provider or seek treatment immediately. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking treatment because of something you read in this blog, on this website, or in linked resources.