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August, 2002, Vol. 03, Issue 08

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A Different Approach to TMJ Treatment
Current Issue By Alejandro Katz, MD, OMD, LAc, QME
Previous Issues
TMJ or temporomandibular joint disease is a common problem with a complex treatmen
Author Guidelines
symptoms are: numbness of the jaw and temporal area, and dull and/or sharp pain of p
Editorial Calendar mentioned areas (temporal headache).
Columnists
Some of the causes of TMJ include stress (grinding the teeth), direct trauma, or bad
Acupuncture Links
FAQs The majority of these patients use dental appliances or pain medication: 800 milligrams
Herbs & Botanicals (Motrin) three times a day or 500 milligrams of naproxen two times a day, with no avail
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Examination of the affected areas (temporalis muscle and the mandibular
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joint) begins with light to moderate digital palpation of the TW and GB
Previous Webinar Events meridians around the ear. A series of trigger points will be discovered that,
when palpated, will produce local and/or referred pain (referred
Services pain/numbness toward DU20 or the jaw). Other trigger areas involved
Acupuncture Calendar coincide with acupuncture points, primarily SI18 and 19; GB2; TW2; and tae
yang (extra point), and secondarily TW16 and 17 and GB12 and 31.
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Technique used: Chinese acupuncture needles (# 38 gauge), one inch long.

Newsletters Microcurrent device used: Acutron Mentor, polarized 75 microamp pads. Microamp st
To Your Health for 20 minutes (the microamp stimulation is not noticeable for the majority of the patien
AT News Update
AT Deals & Events Treatment points: the selection of points switches between the temporalis muscle trig
SI19, GB2 and TW21. These points are connected to 2-4 trigger areas in the iliotibial tra
superficial insertion, slant direction, in general contralateral, with pads on top of the nee
acupuncture needles are inserted with the stimulation pads on top of the needles for GB
trigger areas close to it (the pads used are Zimmer, single use). The technique used wit
points is to attach the Acutron terminals to the needles with alligator clips.

Treatment duration: The treatment frequency is once a week for 4-6 weeks. Within 6
the patient should be able to feel some improvement: pain and/or burning is reduced, t
motion of the jaw is increased, and pain medication is reduced or discontinued.

As with almost all muscles disorders, the indication of the app

Figure 2: The illiotibial tract
and location of GB31 and
adjacent trigger points.
stretching exercises for the muscles involved will assist in a sp
recovery. A course of daily stretching exercises is recommend
the protocol to reduce stress of the temporomandibular joint.
exercises are done three times a day, five times each session,
the stretch for five seconds. It is convenient to apply heat for
minutes before the stretching exercises are done to increase t
the muscles, and ice (five minutes, if needed) afterward to red
inflammation produced by the stretching exercises. A bland di

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A Different Approach to TMJ Treatment http://acupuncturetoday.com/mpacms/at/article.php?id=28026

way to reduce the stress to the joint.

Other treatments: Local taping (stretching tape) is used to reduce the tension of the mu
(myofascial release). Some patients respond to a single cortisone injection (administere
reduce the inflammation and edema of the muscle/joint). Surgery is another approach t
needed in some patients.

If you have any questions about the treatment described in this article, please contact m
address below.

Click here for previous articles by Alejandro Katz, MD, OMD, LAc, QME.

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