Acupuncture for TMJ

Acupuncture for TMJ

by | May 10, 2023 | Acupuncture, Chinese medicine, Client information, Health practitioner, Jaw pain, Mental health, Muscle pain, Nambour, Private health, Rehabilitation, Sleep, Stress, Sunshine coast, TMJ, Wellness

Acupuncture for TMJ

 

What is TMJ?

TMJ stands for Temporo-Mandibular Joint. The TMJ is the joint that connects the jaw to the skull. These joints are involved in eating, facial movements and speech. Let’s get into how Acupuncture for TMJ pain can be helpful. 

What is TMJ pain?

Pain that can feel grinding in the jaw, that if left untreated can lead to inability to chew properly, ear pain, migraine, headache, lack of sleep, tooth pain, lockjaw, dizziness, anxiety and joint noises such as cracking or popping of the jaw. 

What are the symptoms you might experience from TMJ pain?

  • Inability to chew food properly 
  • Ear pain or ear ache
  • Insomnia
  • Tooth ache
  • Locked jaw
  • Headache
  • Migraine
  • Mood dosorders
  • Neck pain
  • Dizziness
  • Vertigo 

 

How can TMJ be diagnosed?

Diagnostic tests may include:

  • Xray
  • MRI
  • CT scan
  • Physical exam by a general physician, physical therapist or other allied health professional if you are presenting with persistent jaw pain 

 

Available treatment options for TMJ pain

  • Exercises to relax or strengthen the muscles of the jaw
  • Dental splints to reduce tooth grinding at night
  • Dental alignment 
  • Stress management 
  • Soft tissue release to relax muscle tension in the jaw
  • Diet changes such as increasing omega’s to reduce systemic inflammation such as arthritis, autoimmune or connective tissue conditions
  • Pharmaceutical pain relief
  • Herbal medicine 
  • Acupuncture 
  • Physical therapy 

By the time a person seeks treatment, TMJ is often at its chronic stage so it does take time to treat it and using more than one type of approach would give a person a better outcome. 

For example: managing stress so that a person does not grind their teeth at night thus reducing the need for a dental splint, improving diet to align with low to no inflammation in the body and seeking treatment from a qualified therapist to assist soft tissue release such as having acupuncture or having dental procedures to correct jaw and tooth alignment. 

 

Acupuncture for TMJ:

Acupuncture therapy has been around for centuries and is often known to be able to treatment painful conditions. Aside from dental causes of TMJ, the majority of cases can be seen as a deep route of underling stress which therefore causes tension on the neck, jaw and temporal muscles of the skull. Exacerbated tension leads to exacerbated pain. The added benefits of chinese herbal medicines, diet and lifestyle advice alongside the acupuncture therapy, people can have lasting results in treating TMJ.

 

Current research findings for Acupuncture for TMJ:

  • Acupuncture to have a positive effect in the treatment of pain associated with TMJ compared to the control groups (3). 
  • A 2010 study showed acupuncture treatment of TMJ achieved immediate effect in pain and showed ongoing positive effects after a treatment regime over 8 – 10 weeks of treatment (1).
  • A 2012 study showed pain intensity was less in the trigger point acupuncture group than in the sham (fake acupuncture) treatment group, pain intensity decreased significantly between pretreatment and after 5 weeks, and trigger point acupuncture therapy may be more effective for chronic TMJ myofascial pain (2).
  • A 2014 study showed laser acupuncture therapy improves the symptoms of treatment-resistant TMD. Further studies with a more appropriate designs specific for laser acupuncture are needed (5), however a review of acupuncture randomised control trials (3) found acupuncture showed promising results in the management of TMJ symptoms (4).

 

If you are suffering from TMJ pain please contact us today to discuss how we can help you at our Nambour Acupuncture clinic in the Sunshine Coast hinterland.

Contact us here

Book online here

 

Hi, I’m TThis is an image of acupuncture for digestive healthanya, an AHPRA registered Acupuncturist and health practitioner in Nambour in the Sunshine Coast hinterland, Queensland Australia. I practice Chinese medicine because its safe, logical, relevant and has effectively shown methods of natural wellness for thousands of years (read more about my training here). Life doesn’t need to be complicated and nor does the treatment approaches to get people feeling vibrant and well. I’ve seen people gain a lot from treatments, much more than just alleviating symptoms. It’s exciting to connect with people and share deep wisdom from the classics of ancient and traditional medicine, with modern protocols for todays mind-body living. See you in the clinic ! 

 

 

References :

  1. Acupuncture for Treating Temporomandibular Disorder: Retrospective Study on Safety and Efficacy: Garty Adriel, Maimon Yair, Miller Udi; Acupunct Meridian Stud 2010 
  2. Effects of trigger point acupuncture treatment on temporomandibular disorders: a preliminary randomized clinical trial: Kazunori Itoh, Sayo Asai, Hideaki Ohyabu, Kenji Imai, Hiroshi Kitakoji; Epub 2012
  3. Acupuncture therapy in the management of the clinical outcomes for temporomandibular disorders A PRISMA-compliant meta-analysis: Jun-Yi Wu, MD,Chao Zhang, MD, Yang-Peng Xu, MM, Ya-Yu Yu, MD,Le Peng, PhD, Wei-Dong Leng, PhD,Yu-Ming Niu, PhD, and  Mo-Hong Deng, PhD
  4. Acupuncture for Temporomandibular Disorders: A Systematic Review: Seung-Hun Cho KMD PhD, Wei-Wan Whang KMD PhD.
  5.  Clinical effectiveness of laser acupuncture in the treatment of temporomandibular joint disorder: Yu-Feng Huang, Jung-Chih Lin, Hui-Wen Yang, Yu-Hsien Lee, Chuan-Hang Yu; Epub 2014
  6. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/tmj/symptoms-causes/syc-20350941
Private Health Insurance and Acupuncture

Private Health Insurance and Acupuncture

by | Sep 23, 2021 | Acupuncture, Chinese medicine, Client information, Health practitioner, Private health

Private Health for Acupuncture

 

Health Fund Changes Since 2019

Has there been private health fund changes? 

 

There has been some changes to the private health insurance legislation. As of April 1, 2019 changes surrounding health fund rebates for complimentary therapies and natural medicine have commenced. You might be wondering if your favourite and preferred complimentary medicines have been excluded or not. The good news is, Private health for Acupuncture and Chinese medicine have not been affected by the change. They will continue to be listed under therapies with private health fund status.

 

Will I be able to claim benefits for Acupuncture from a qualified Chinese Medicine practitioner from my private health fund?

 

Yes! Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine have maintained their private health fund status. Depending on the type of private health insurance cover you have and are limited to, will determine how your health fund provider reimburses you. Tanya Keam would recommend you speak to your current health fund provider to ensure your current policy covers all that you need, such a hospital cover and the extras that you actually use. You may not need optical or dental as a extra for example. Your fund will ensure you have selected specific extras cover option that includes Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine.

 

What therapies HAVE BEEN affected by the changes?

 

The federal government has made a decision to no longer allow health fund providers to issue rebates for a number of natural therapies. These include:

  • Alexander Technique
  • Aromatherapy
  • Bowen Therapy
  • Buteyko Breathing technique
  • Feldenkrais
  • Homeopathy
  • Iridology
  • Kinesiology
  • Naturopathy
  • Pilates
  • Reflexology
  • Rolfing
  • Shiatsu Massage
  • Tai Chi
  • Western Herbalism
  • Yoga

 

How can I claim my private health insurance at Tanya Keam’s Clinic?

 

Tanya Keam’s Sunshine Coast Acupuncture Clinic has a health fund provider HICAPS terminal on site to facilitate your health fund transactions. You can then pay the gap amount via eftpos, credit card or cash – meaning you don’t need to follow up your rebate afterwards. You can find which health funds are available for on the spot claims here. Rare occasions when health funds or terminals are down, you will receive an invoice via email that you can send a PDF document straight to your health fund for reimbursement. How much you get back from your private health fund for Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine depends on your individual policy and the level of cover your health fund provides, such as a 50% rebate or a 20% rebate. Health funds will also be able to let you know what your limit is for the entirety of your policy year round, such as $400 or $1000 per year. Policies are usually a calendar year or financial year start date.

Patients often ask who is the best health fund to go with. That question is really something you and your family need to sit down and go over, depending on the level of cover you want and the premiums you want to pay to insure your health privately. Rebates can also only be obtained when you attend your booked appointment and your Acupuncturist has treated you. If for example you are sick or miss the appointment, the practitioner cannot issue you an invoice to claim despite the practitioners own treatment costs.

 

 

This is an image of Acupuncture private health If you have any further questions about private health rebates for your treatments then please contact us here or book online here. 

Tanya Keam Wellness is a Chinese Medicine, Acupuncture and Natural Health Clinic in Nambour Heights, in the beautiful Sunshine Coast Hinterland in Queensland. Tanya welcomes her patients into the clinic with compassion and and open mind, while understanding their desired outcomes for current ailments and life-long optimal health. Her particular interest is in women’s health and fertility, pain, the immune system, mental health and preventative medicine. With continued training, Tanya works closely with patients from a integrative perspective by blending evidence-based healthcare with traditional eastern medicine.