Any Experience with Chiropractic Adjustments for TMJ?

[oceanofsound26]

I have been a silent reader of the TinnitusTalk forums since my tinnitus suddenly started about 2 months ago after two nights of wearing a newly issued night guard for grinding/bruxism I got from my dentist. There was the first time is 6+ years I had seen dentist so I have probably been suffering from bruxism for a long time. I am still not sure what caused my tinnitus, but a jaw and/or neck issue seem to be likely candidates. Having read about people's experiences with TMJ and related neck problems causing or worsening their tinnitus, this prompted to schedule consultations with both a neuromuscular dentist and a chiropractor. Both confirmed I have TMJ, but outlined completely different treatment plans for it.

The neuromuscular dentist wants to try oral splint therapy with day and night occlusal splints which is quite a lengthy and costly process, while the chiropractor just wants to try a couple of TMJ-specific chiropractic adjustments to try to treat and manage my TMJ. I have no jaw pain or swelling around the TM joints, but my jaw clicks when I eat something chewy or hard. Also, when I open my jaw, it goes left and then right. Doing my research on this, it seems like there are a few things the chiropractor could try which involve guiding the joints back into their natural place (see video below) and for much cheaper than what the neuromuscular dentist proposed.



There are quite a few threads that discuss TMJ and many treatments people have tried, but I have not yet come across one related to chiropractic adjustments for TMJ. In my case, I am rather concerned getting chiropractic for my jaw may make it worse which could worsen my tinnitus.

Just wanted to know if anyone had any experience with chiropractic adjustments for TMJ (negative or positive), and any other useful tips or advice are welcome as well.

Many thanks to everyone who makes TinnitusTalk so helpful as the collective wisdom on here is better than anything I have gotten from any doctor or specialist on my tinnitus journey thus far. Thanks in advance.

 

[Lane]

I am still not sure what caused my tinnitus, but a jaw and/or neck issue seem to be likely candidates. ...... any other useful tips or advice are welcome as well.

Hi @oceanofsound26 -- I've had serious head, back, and neck injuries in my past, which has given me some ongoing TMJ issues. So much so, that I've massaged my TMJ areas daily for many years now. During this time I've noticed that the tenderness and tightness fluctuates, usually for reasons I'm unable to determine.

I recently began doing two different exercises that seem to have helped my TMJ area and tinnitus somewhat (links below). These two techniques address the pelvis area, and the upper back (thoracic) area. They're both pretty simple, and one or both just may possibly help your tinnitus.

Here's a link to a 5-min. video: -- The Simplest and Most Effective Exercise For Thoracic Extension
Another 5-Min. video: -- Natural Pelvis Reset

You may wonder how these exercises would affect the TMJ area, but I noticed after doing the above techniques for just a few short days, that my body went through some pretty amazing transformations. One of those that really surprised me is that the tenderness/tightness in my TMJ areas lessened quite noticeably. It's still too early to tell, but it may have lessened my tinnitus as well.

I am rather concerned getting chiropractic for my jaw may make it worse which could worsen my tinnitus.

I would be cautious about this as well. If you were to do chiropractic, I'd choose one who does gentle upper cervical work, as opposed to the more bone crunching type. I've explored a lot of different things over the years because of my previous injuries, and unless the therapy I get is gentle, I can easily end up in worse shape.

One gentle technique that worked really well for me was a unique atlas repositioning technique called atlasprofilax. THIS POST has three separate short videos by women who've done this technique, and had their tinnitus noticably improved. I think one had it go away completely. -- BTW, I also do self-acupuncture, and have discovered that putting two needles in my brainstem area has given me significantly better flexibility in my who neck area.

Oceano... since you know how your tinnitus started, I think there's a good chance you can reverse what happened. I certainly hope so anyway. -- All the Best...

 

[oceanofsound26]

Hi @Lane - Thank you for the information. I have had some previous head and back injuries myself but never had problems at the follow-up appointments with my doctors who always cleared me and indicated I had recovered from whatever injury I sustained. What massages do you perform for your TM joints? I will also check the two videos about the thoracic and pelvic exercises as well. The more I read, the more I am surprised how everything in the human body is connected.

I came across the post about the AtlasProfilax chiropractic technique early on in my time spent exploring the forum since July 2019 when my T first started. I met with an Upper Cervical Chiropractor last week who specializes in the Atlas Orthogonal adjustment which seems similar to the AtlasProfilax. It looks like the closest AtlasProfilax chiro to me would be up in Canada in BC somewhere. I am going to give the Atlas Orthogonal adjustment a try here shortly. After seeing GPs, ENTs, and Neurologists, I got the best diagnosis from a Neuromuscular Dentist who took a postural photo for the TMJ consultation; after which, he pointed out my shoulders were uneven with the right (dominant side) being lower than the left. Going to graduate school and working in academia, I travel a lot between field sites and sit at a desk to read, write, and type for extended periods of time, so after hearing this, I was not surprised. This then led me into neck misalignment, TMJ, and to see a chiropractor. I am just very surprised how the other doctors were unable to notice this.

I am in full agreement about getting gentle adjustments from a chiro. Overdoing anything to the body in most contexts will simply make things worse. I also recall reading about @Mattv who was adjusted using a technique called a Chrane Lift which really did a number on his T. This is definitely something I will check with the chiro before any adjustments are performed to make sure I avoid it. I have 4 sessions of acupuncture since my T started as it was the only thing my ENT mentioned may help reduce my T moving forward; though, I have never had needles placed near my brain stem. Regardless, another nugget of wisdom that may prove helpful in the future. All the best to you as well and I hope your T improves moving forward.

 

[linearb]

I have had some success with chiropractic cervical work helping make that part of my neck feel better and take pressure off my jaw - but I am also wary of cervical work specifically, because it seems to be the most dangerous kind of chiro, even if adverse events are very rare.

I've had discussions with someone here recently about "upper atlas" work. I think there's a lot of scam around "atlas" but the "atlas complex" does describe a set of related symptoms, which might impact TMJ.

It's regrettable that your tinnitus started after you started using a brace. That sounds like your jaw is being repositioned in a way that's putting pressure on nerve structures, which is I think the opposite of what you want?

In my case, my jaw used to dislocate all the time, and pop, and hurt, and this often correlated with worse tinnitus -- once I started sleeping with a proper guard, that stuff got better. I think it's helped the tinnitus slightly, and my jaw doesn't pop anymore... but if I neglect to sleep with the guard for even 4-5 nights in a row, it all starts to get bad again.

 

[oceanofsound26]

Hi @linearb - Thank you for the information and the advice.

I've had discussions with someone here recently about "upper atlas" work. I think there's a lot of scam around "atlas" but the "atlas complex" does describe a set of related symptoms, which might impact TMJ.

Yep, I have read the C1-C2 vertebrae in the upper cervical spine are intimately linked with the temporomandibular joints so dysfunction with one usually means problems with the other will develop eventually as well. Both the neuromuscular dentist advised me to explore the utility of chiropractic adjustments for neck issues and TMJ and the chiropractor agreed that oral splint therapy with orthotics was a good idea, so the combination of these two treatments hopefully do me some good. I hear you about the being wary of upper cervical chiropractic work. Will probably give it a couple months once I start it and see how it goes. There will come a point when I think my chiropractor will just be padding his wallet at my expense.

It's regrettable that your tinnitus started after you started using a brace. That sounds like your jaw is being repositioned in a way that's putting pressure on nerve structures, which is I think the opposite of what you want?

Having my T start right using a night guard for grinding/bruxism was a bummer, but I have probably lived with this problem undiagnosed for years. Graduate school was extremely stressful, so it all makes sense in hindsight. I am hoping pressure on my nerves from poorly positioned and misaligned jaw is the cause of my T and I can reduce or possibly eliminate it with the TMJ and chiropractic treatments. I have ~3 mm overbite and my bottom teeth slope down to the left slightly, so treating my jaw problems and its downstream effects with the neck is the way forward for me I think.

In my case, my jaw used to dislocate all the time, and pop, and hurt, and this often correlated with worse tinnitus -- once I started sleeping with a proper guard, that stuff got better. I think it's helped the tinnitus slightly, and my jaw doesn't pop anymore... but if I neglect to sleep with the guard for even 4-5 nights in a row, it all starts to get bad again.

The key to treatment is definitely to stick with it. It sounds like I will using a night TMJ splint for the rest of my life once I start the splint therapy for TMJ, but if it eliminates my T and prevents it from coming back, then so be it...I will wear the splint.

All the best to you and I hope with jaw problems and T continue to improve in the future.

 

[oceanofsound26]

t's regrettable that your tinnitus started after you started using a brace. That sounds like your jaw is being repositioned in a way that's putting pressure on nerve structures, which is I think the opposite of what you want?

Hi @linearb - Rereading the thread, I noticed your question about a misaligned jaw putting pressure on nerve structures as a negative outcome of wearing my nightguard for bruxism and possibly causing my tinnitus. I definitely agree this is not what I want. My jaw is definitely misaligned as it slopes downward to the left. I get my bite splints for my jaw issues here in a couple weeks and I have started seeing an upper cervical chiro. Are there other potential treatment options you would recommend exploring? Many thanks in advance for your continued help.