TMJ
Explained
TMJ is an abbreviation for
"temporomandibular joint". This is the combination hinge (up & down) and planar (side to side)
joint for moving your jaw. Pain in this joint is called TMJ Disorder. Only two muscles close
the jaw, the temporalis and the massiter. The massiter is the strongest muscle in your body and the
temporalis isn't far behind. An alligator's massiter is so strong, they can bite through wood, so
bones are pretty easy. The reason TMJ Disorder is so painful is that both of these
muscles are innervated (triggered) by the trigeminal nerve, which is a cranial nerve straight into the
upper brain, where higher order reasoning occurs. Quite a few facial muscles are innervated by the
trigeminal nerve, which is why face-related pain hurts so much. It's not running through the spinal
cord and brain stem. It's a main line into the cognizant portion of your
brain.
My experience has been that TMJ Disorder is usually caused by injuries to the temporalis
and/or massiter muscles, but it can also be the medial and lateral pterygoids, the muscles that move your
jaw side to side. Working out injuries in the massiter and temporalis is difficult, but I've
had a lot of success at it. If you grind your teeth or have cracked a tooth, there's a good chance
you have TMJ Disorder.
Please Note: If you know of anyone diagnosed with Trigeminal Neuralgia,
please have them contact me. I believe I can help them.
|