Your jaw “clicks” when you open it, it hurts to chew, you wake with clenched jaws and headaches? Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder is surprisingly common — and one of the hidden causes of headaches and neck pain.
What is TMJ disorder?
The temporomandibular joint connects your jaw to your skull, just in front of the ear. When the chewing muscles, the joint disc or the joint itself are overloaded (bruxism, stress, imbalances), dysfunction appears: pain, noises and limited movement. It is closely linked to the upper cervical spine — which is why we treat them together.
Common symptoms
Jaw pain and pain in front of the ear, clicking or locking when opening the mouth, difficulty chewing, headaches (especially temporal), neck tension, sometimes ringing in the ear and night-time teeth clenching.
Common causes
Bruxism (grinding/clenching) on a stress background, forward-head posture and neck tension, malocclusion, habits (nail biting, excessive gum chewing) and trauma.
Can it be treated without surgery?
Yes, in the vast majority of cases: TMJ physical therapy has solid evidence — manual therapy, chewing-muscle exercises, treating the cervical component and bruxism management (often with your dentist, for a night guard). TMJ surgery is rare.
How we treat TMJ disorder at Medicine Park
We assess the TMJ, chewing muscles and upper cervical spine (we treat them as one system), then build the plan: intra- and extra-oral manual therapy, dry needling for tight muscles, jaw-control exercises, relaxation and postural correction, plus coordination with your dentist where needed. All in English.
How long does recovery take?
Many cases improve within 4–6 weeks; chronic forms sustained by bruxism and stress need a longer programme with a habit-management component.
When to seek help
If your jaw hurts, clicks or locks, or you have headaches with jaw tension, book an assessment. Your first assessment at Medicine Park is free.
