3 Best Tips For TMJ Pain Relief

Oct 18, 2024

Introduction

Got TMJ? It’s definitely not fun. Do you sometimes catch yourself grinding your teeth? Or maybe you feel that sharp pain in your jaw that radiates up into your head? Worried you might be damaging your pearly whites? You're not alone—millions of people are dealing with TMJ (temporomandibular joint disorder) every day. But I’ve got some fresh insights that might just change the way you think about this condition.

I’m a natural pain relief expert, and while most people focus on the joints when it comes to TMJ, I take a different approach. For me, it’s all about getting the muscles back to their optimal tone. I’m not here to diagnose you, but I can definitely share some tips that will help you see your TMJ in a whole new light.

Tip #1: Get a Fresh Perspective on Your Condition

When it comes to TMJ, the first thing you need to do is change the way you think about it. Ask yourself: Do muscles move bones, or do bones move muscles? It’s a simple question, but it can shift your entire approach to managing TMJ.

Most medical professionals focus on the joints—they’ll take X-rays, look at the bones, and check for any structural issues. That’s great if you’ve got a broken bone, but what if your face just starts hurting out of the blue? Did you suddenly break your jaw? Probably not.

Our bodies are constantly responding to our environment. Every muscle, tendon, bone, and joint is equipped with receptors that are constantly surveying your world. As life happens—whether to us or for us—our brain instructs our muscles to react accordingly. So when the muscles in your face tighten up, and it’s not because you had to box a man in a female boxing match, it’s likely a response to something that scared your muscles, causing them to contract and tighten.

Tip #2: Understand Why Your Facial Muscles Get Tight

Your facial muscles can get tight for a variety of reasons. Maybe you bit down on something hard, causing a shockwave of pain through your jaw. Or perhaps you had to keep your mouth open too long at the dentist—something we’ve all experienced at some point.

Here’s something interesting: the masseter muscle, that big muscle in your jaw, is actually one of the strongest muscles in your entire body. It may be small, but it’s mighty. When it gets contracted and stays that way, it can cause a lot of pain. And trust me, you’ll feel it. When a muscle is in a contracted state, it presses on the nerves running through it, causing neurological sensations like pain, numbness, tingling, or burning.

Tip #3: Don’t Just Focus on Stretching or Reducing Inflammation

A lot of people think they can just stretch their face or try to reduce the inflammation, but here’s the thing—inflammation is a response to an injury, not the root cause of the pain. Stretching might offer temporary relief, but it doesn’t address the underlying issue. In fact, the worst thing about stretching is that it can actually make the muscles tighter and more contracted. This is a natural response from the brain-body connection. When an injury happens, the brain sends a signal to the muscles to stay still. So if you try to stretch, the muscles might stay locked up forever—or at least, for a very long time.

Instead, focus on getting those muscles back to their natural, relaxed state. That’s where true pain relief comes from. Your goal should be to restore the optimal tone of your muscles, so they’re not constantly contracted and causing discomfort. That’s why I developed the Hunter Method, an interactive muscle therapy that changes tight, contracted muscles back to their healthy, neutral state. The best part? You can learn it and apply the technique yourself without ever leaving your home.

Conclusion

TMJ might be common, but that doesn’t mean you have to live with the pain. By changing your perspective, understanding the root causes of muscle tension, and focusing on true muscle relaxation, you can take control of your TMJ and find relief. It’s always wise to start with the least invasive, non-harmful treatment available. And when you’ve tried everything else, it’s valuable to seek out professionals who take a less conventional approach. Remember, it’s not just about managing symptoms—it’s about addressing the underlying issues and empowering yourself to heal naturally.