Anyone tried physical therapy for TMJ? Does it really help?

[Du_deleted]

Hi,
I have right lower jaw pain under the ear and jaw pain for more than 2 months. I went to different doctors and finally to a tmj specialist. He said I have tmd.
I have pain in my side of the neck, top side of the head, inside the ear, under the ear. It hurts to touch under the ear where the lower jaw ends.

Tmj specialist took a pan xray and told me that there was no space between the bones and he spotted a place in the xray. I have circled it and I am not sure of he pointed out the same spot.
He said bones are scratching each other and that gives the pain in my head and neck. I hear some soft sound or music in my right ear whenever I lie down at night. This sound hearing is new and it's been there for a week.

Tmj specialist told me to try physical therapy for my tmd. I am planning to try that. Anyone tried PT for tmjd? Does it really helps? How long does it take for PT to work? How many sessions of PT? Any inputs anyone?

 

[Du_deleted]

Tagging @Dr M ,@MattKW .

 

[Du_deleted]

Attaching another pan xray which I have taken in the month of June. Before and after extraction of my upper right wisdom tooth.

 

[Dr M]

Good day

Usually the treatment for TMD can consist of various methods. We usually try to start with the least invasive therapies first, such as bite plates, or physiotherapy or medication. Sometimes it can be a combination of these. The TMJ specialist will most likely give you examples of exercises that you have to do, in order to focus on certain muscles groups, in order to relieve the pain. I am speaking under correction, but if you don't see any improvements in 2-3 months, or at least a reduction in pain symptoms, then alternative therapies needs to be considered

 

[Du_deleted]

Good day

Usually the treatment for TMD can consist of various methods. We usually try to start with the least invasive therapies first, such as bite plates, or physiotherapy or medication. Sometimes it can be a combination of these. The TMJ specialist will most likely give you examples of exercises that you have to do, in order to focus on certain muscles groups, in order to relieve the pain. I am speaking under correction, but if you don't see any improvements in 2-3 months, or at least a reduction in pain symptoms, then alternative therapies needs to be considered

Thank you so much @Dr M. Appreciate it.
I did see a PT who specializes in TMJ. He did say that PT will help in TMJ pain and swelling. I do have swelling in the jaw and neck. It's kind of continuous sore pain in the neck jaw and head.
Tmj specialist didn't say about any exercises and just referred PT.

I tried medications and taken muscle relaxers NSAIDs. Nothing helps. So, I would like to try another treatment. So, going with PT.
Does tmd diagnosis require imaging? The tmj specialist did only the pan xray and nothing else. Does the pan xray show the tmd issues? How the diagnosis done? My pan xray shows anything?
PT did some evaluation hands on and said I have tmd. My PT said that it will take one or 2 months to see improvement.

Apart from trying PT, does night guard helps tmd? Not the mouth appliance which tmj specialist gives,the custom night guard which the regular dentist gives.

 

[Dr M]

Good day

Usually a panoramic radiograph can be used to visualise the bony components of the TMJ. Sometimes additional imaging such as an open-and closed TMJ radiograph can also be used or advanced imagery such as MRI's or CB-CT scans.
A night guard can give some relief, it just has to have an adequate thickness in order to relax the involved muscles. If too thin, it is of no use to TMD. The appliance given by the TMJ specialist would be more helpful in this regard I would think, since it is made for TMD.