|
[ TMJ Archive ] [ Main Archives Page ] [ Glossary/Index ] [ FAQ ] [ Recommended Books ] [ Bulletin Board ] |
Search this site! | |
Dear Dr. Stoll
i've been under a lot of stress recently, and i must have been clenching my teeth and holding a lot of tension because i started noticing pain and enlargement in the muscles of my shoulder, neck and face.. after going to physiotherapist, chiropractors and various other people i figured out that it was probably tmj
so i've been chilling out a lot since then, and the pain has got a lot better.. it's still there though, i'm thinking of getting a brace or something as my dentist said that might help. One thing that really bothers me (and this probably seems vain) is how much my appearance has changed. i look a lot more square jawed than i used to... i really want to know if the masseter muscles will always stay this size, or if they will go back to normal when stuff gets less stressful. i know there are surgical procedures you can go through but that seems scary. worrying about it is stressing me out in itself.
Thanks
In Reply to: TMJ and enlarged cheek muscles posted by Amy on August 04, 2000 at 11:57:06:
I used to clench my teeth, even grind them, at night. This caused me to have lots of dental problems, including eventually three root canals from loss of blood nutrients to my mouth and teeth and gums. After I started doing skilled relaxation techniques for JUST TWO WEEKS I no longer had to wear a mouthpiece to keep my teeth from grinding at night. I haven't been to a dentist since, and that was two years ago! SR really pays off.
In Reply to: TMJ and enlarged cheek muscles posted by Amy on August 04, 2000 at 11:57:06:
Amy,
Your dilemma is based upon the fact that your TMJ is STILL only the tip of your iceberg. The base is BRACING. Until you deal with THAT, the hypertrophy of the muscles will continue as will any symptoms you might now have attributed to the TMJ. Surgery would a disaster! Shame on anyone who would sugest such a thing!
Remember, these same sages who are now telling you about your TMJ are the ones who 30 years ago were revoking the licenses of dentists and docs who dared to make that diagnosis. They are STILL at least 30 years behind the progress that has been made in these areas. Are you going to wait for them to catch up???
SR is your only long term solution and Rolfing is your most reliable short term solution. See the glossary for any unfamiliar terms.
Walt
In Reply to: Re: TMJ and enlarged cheek muscles (Archive in TMJ.) posted by Walt Stoll on August 05, 2000 at 09:28:34:
dear walt
thanks for replying so soon - i'm v. impressed w/ this whole site..
i'm taking your advice - i'm going to go and get rolfed as soon as possible.
one last thing...w/ rolfing etc. and when i have totally relaxed, will my muscles and face go back to how it was before, or is this stuff permanent? i know this is prob v. difficult for you to answer, but is it likely i'm causing long-term structural changes? or can this be sorted out?
thanks
amy
In Reply to: Re: TMJ and enlarged cheek muscles (Archive in TMJ.) posted by Amy on August 07, 2000 at 07:23:01:
Hi, Amy.
Just like body builders who have to continue lifting weights to stay "bulked up", as soon as you stop the facial bracing, the muscle build up will start to disappear.
As part of my medical school training we were taken to amental hospital to se a patient who was convinced that "If he allowed his head to touch the pillow, he would die." SO, for the past 20 years he had held his head up off the pillow 24 hours a day. He had the most incredible muscular development of his neck I have ever seen.
Later, in my practice I had the privilege if seeing a most unusual family who ALL had incredible hypertrophy of the platysma muscle. They all thought it was genetic. It turned out that the mother had developed the habit of holding the platysma rigid all the time and her children had learned to emulate her. When I explained this to them they all got indignant and never came back. I had even showed them that I could do it too, for a few seconds.
Walt
|
[ TMJ Archive ] [ Main Archives Page ] [ Glossary/Index ] [ FAQ ] [ Recommended Books ] [ Bulletin Board ] |
Search this site! | |