Jaw (TMJ) Pain & Facial Massage

The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is located at the base of the skull in front of the ear and connects the lower jaw (mandible) to the upper jaw (maxilla). The mandible sits against an indentation in the skull, with a protective cartilaginous disc between the two bones. This is a HARD working joint in constant motion all day, talking, eating and often at night with repetitive grinding and clenching patterns, often due to stress.

The TMJ is held in place by ligaments originating from different parts of the head and neck and the muscles connecting to those ligaments link throughout the body. Think of it as a puppet with strings attached, so if one area is pulled out of alignment, it can affect many parts of the body as far away as our hips.

There are many reasons for this joint to be adversely affected and the surrounding muscles and fascia will become sore and inflamed, causing numerous problems: face pain, limited opening and movement of the jaw, discomfort radiating up to the head and down to the neck and shoulders, headaches, migraines, feeling of blockage in the throat, sinus discomfort, pain behind the eyes, dizziness, tinnitus, poor balance, clicking and popping of the joint. The World Health Organisation estimates that 1 in 4 people suffer from TMJ pain and women are affected much more than men.

My TMJ Massage Therapy is aimed at relieving the delicate tissues of the myofascia and underlying muscles that support this joint. It is a gentle and carefully targeted massage from the shoulders up to the temples, aimed at releasing tension by applying gentle pressure to the muscle fibre knots and subtle myofascia manipulation. Indian scalp massage can be added onto the end of the therapy to completely relax the whole head.

It is important to understand that this treatment cannot alleviate problems from fractures, arthritis, disc attrition, cancers of the neck and underlying problems with the teeth.

PLEASE NOTE - I do not use oils for the TMJ therapy or Indian scalp massage, but I may - with your consent - use a little aromatherapy oil on the forehead. Part of the TMJ massage involves using a carefully placed finger inside the mouth, cross infection protocols will be observed and I will be using a latex-free glove to do so.

The TMJ therapy takes 45 minutes (£75) and a course of three is recommended but I will always respect your needs and budget. The treatment can be extended to one hour to encompass Indian Head Massage (£100).

Deborah Ryan's offering on weekday evenings, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays - please use the form below to contact Deborah to ascertain the best time for you.

If you would like to access the Women Supporting Women Fund to subsidise this session, find more details here.

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