Physical Therapy - TMJ Disorder -TemporoMandibular Joint Message Board

paintitbetter · 09-28-2002, 02:30 PM

Hi everyone,

I have been wearing my repositioning splint for about a year, and have had some improvement. But I am not as far along as I had hoped. All my symptoms are ear related. Fullness and Tinnitus. My doctor wants me to try Physical Therapy to get the muscles to stabilize.

Has anyone worked with a physical therapist for TMJD? What kind of exercises did they have you perform? Has PT helped anyone?

Thanks in advance for any replies.

Mark

Elaine · 09-28-2002, 06:26 PM

With me, they did stretching exercises, popsickle sticks in the mouth stacked as wide as you can open and hold for so many minutes. Also ultrasound, heat packs on the neck, massage to loosen up the muscles.
Elaine

pookieiscool · 09-29-2002, 02:20 PM

I have had ultrasound and a lot of stretching exercises. I go three times a week, and although I still have the clicking and popping and the pain, I can actually, if I do it correctly, can get my jaw to open without clicking. I takes a lot of concentration, though, nothing natural about it, that's for sure. My physical therapist says she doesnt have the opportunity to work with that many TMJ sufferers, so she likes trying different things with me.
Good luck to you,
Susie