Neck Pain/TMJ

Our therapists at Coast Physical Therapy Specialists are highly trained to provide quality care for neck pain. A thorough initial evaluation helps us identify movement dysfunction that can be addressed with patient education, manual techniques, therapeutic exercises, and modalities. Regular reassessment provides reassurance that we are always working to achieve patient goals in a cost-effective manner.

Priority One – Pain Relief

Severe neck pain can be disabling. For this reason, our first priority is pain relief. Treating the underlying causes of identifiable movement dysfunction is the next step toward achieving long-term relief and recovery. One of the main causes of neck pain is a pinched nerve.

Diagnosing a Pinched Nerve in the Neck

A pinched nerve occurs when your nerve root becomes compressed as it exits your spinal column. A pinched nerve in the neck occurs when a nerve root of the nerves exiting from the spinal cord becomes irritated or compressed. A pinched nerve in the neck is known as cervical radiculopathy. Pain is the most common symptom of a pinched nerve. There may also be weakness and/or mild numbness, tingling, or a burning sensation in nearby areas such as the shoulder, arm, hand, and fingers.

Doctors use several tests to help them diagnose pinched nerves, including:

• The Spurling Test – involves the doctor extending your neck, rotating your head from side to side, and applying gentle downward pressure to the top of the head to see if he or she can elicit symptoms of pinched nerves.
• X-Ray – the X-Ray can’t see your nerves, but it does show the alignment of the vertebrae in your neck and demonstrate narrowing of the foramen and disc spacing in the vertebrae. This information can show nerve damage or rule it out as the cause of your neck pain.
• Computerized Tomography (CT) Scan – a more detailed image of the bones, which is why doctors sometimes use this to help diagnose a person with a suspected pinched nerve.
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) – an MRI will show the severity of the nerve compression in your neck and determine if a herniated disc is causing it.
• Electromyelography (EMG) – a test that measures the speed of transmitting electrical impulses along a nerve to determine whether a nerve or group of nerves is functioning properly. The EMG can help doctors determine which nerve has become irritated or compressed and where exactly the compression occurs.

A Hands-on Approach

Hands-on techniques, in most cases, are an essential part of a successful neck pain treatment program. Our therapists are equipped with cutting-edge manual skills to assist with the recovery of range of motion, reestablish correct movement patterns, and alleviate muscle related pain and tightness. Coupled with patient education and therapeutic exercise, the results can be dramatic and long lasting.

Evidence is Our Guide

Medical research is continuously providing the clinicians at Coast Physical Therapy Specialists with “current best-evidence” guidance so we are equipped to provide the state-of-the-art care to our community members. We look to systematic reviews and random controlled trials to help guide us in the delivery of state-of-the-art care. Coupled with regular attendance to continuing education courses, Coast Physical Therapy Specialists has a reputation for providing a high quality service to those in need of neck pain rehabilitation.

Visit our Medical Library for more information on neck pain.

If you would like to learn more about how our neck pain specialists can help you out, please give us a call.

Temporomandibular disorder (TMD), is a term that describes an entire group of disorders involving the temporomandibular joint or joints (TMJ).

The TMJs are the jaw joints. There is one on each side of your head just in front of your ear canals. Like many other joints in the body, they consist of:

• Muscles that control joint movement,
• Ligaments that hold the bones together,
• Cartilage that provides a smooth surface for the bones to move on,
• A disc that helps with proper movement, of the bones,
• Elastic tissue that helps hold the disc in place.

One or more of the above tissues can cause symptoms. In fact, studies suggest that one third of the population at any one time experiences TMJ symptoms such as pain with chewing, yawning, or jaw opening. Women seem to have TMJ problems much more often than men and it is estimated that 3-6% of the population might benefit from treatment.

There are a variety of temporomandibular disorders. The muscles (myogenous), joint(s) (arthrogenous), or a combination of the two may cause pain.

Since physical therapists treat muscle and joint problems, they are ideally suited to address a TMD. Moreover, a majority of patients diagnosed with TMD, also have associated neck pain. Both respond well to treatment provided by a physical therapist. No other healthcare practitioner is better suited to address both the TMD and neck pain.

TMD may appear to be a complex condition and it shouldn’t be. This website and your physical therapist can help to insure the following:

1. You are properly educated.
2. That your treatment is conservative, cost-effective, and reversible,
   goals are realistic.
3. Your examination is brief and meant to identify your source(s) of pain.

When a physical therapist performs the examination, they will be able to classify you as having one or more of the following:

1. An inflammatory condition
2. Limited jaw range of motion
3. Excessive jaw range of motion
4. Arthrogenous Disc Displacement
5. Jaw muscle pain
6. Neck pain causing related headaches (sometimes mistaken as TMD)

Once the involved structures are identified, the therapist will be able to provide you with the appropriate treatment.

If you would like to learn more about how our TMJ specialists can help you out, please give us a call.