Guest guest Posted September 19, 2000 Report Share Posted September 19, 2000 Try massaging both your jaw muscles and the muscles on the side of your head. First wash your hands thoroughly. Then place your right thumb inside your mouth, touching the inside of your cheek... use your index muscles to press against your thumb. You want to be way in the back of your mouth... near your molars. Feel around... you should be able to feel a thicker area of your cheek... this is where the muscle is. (If you have TMJ, you'll know when you find it--it'll hurt ). Press and hold for 8-10 secs on all of the sore spots. Do both sides. Then press and rub in small circles around the side of your head (sort of like a vigorous shampoo (same motion)... only a lot more slowly). If you put your hand flat against your head, and clench your jaw... you will feel a muscle pop out. This is where you want to massage. You can also try putting some uncooked rice in a sock, and nuking it for 2 minutes. This will make a reusable hot pack which you can place against your jaw to help release the muscles. Good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 20, 2000 Report Share Posted September 20, 2000 Hi Karla, I have had TMJ for years and have had extensive physical therapy and a mouth piece (that doesn't fit now). I have never been told to massage like this. Sounds great. I am still in pain this morning. How did you find out about this massage? thanks, Betty in Western NC pain of TMJ >Try massaging both your jaw muscles and the muscles on the side of your head. First wash your hands thoroughly. Then place your right thumb inside your mouth, touching the inside of your cheek... use your index muscles to press against your thumb. You want to be way in the back of your mouth... near your molars. Feel around... you should be able to feel a thicker area of your cheek... this is where the muscle is. (If you have TMJ, you'll know when you find it--it'll hurt ). Press and hold for 8-10 secs on all of the sore spots. Do both sides. > >Then press and rub in small circles around the side of your head (sort of like a vigorous shampoo (same motion)... only a lot more slowly). If you put your hand flat against your head, and clench your jaw... you will feel a muscle pop out. This is where you want to massage. > >You can also try putting some uncooked rice in a sock, and nuking it for 2 minutes. This will make a reusable hot pack which you can place against your jaw to help release the muscles. > >Good luck > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 21, 2000 Report Share Posted September 21, 2000 This feels so good. (The first time I tried it, it didn't). But now I have done it several times today. Thanks a lot. So far I have not given in and taken anything. Actually Excedrin seems to help a TMJ related headache better than anything else. But if it is just my jaws, not much except heat and massage works (and stop clenching). thanks so much. Betty pain of TMJ >Try massaging both your jaw muscles and the muscles on the side of your head. First wash your hands thoroughly. Then place your right thumb inside your mouth, touching the inside of your cheek... use your index muscles to press against your thumb. You want to be way in the back of your mouth... near your molars. Feel around... you should be able to feel a thicker area of your cheek... this is where the muscle is. (If you have TMJ, you'll know when you find it--it'll hurt ). Press and hold for 8-10 secs on all of the sore spots. Do both sides. > >Then press and rub in small circles around the side of your head (sort of like a vigorous shampoo (same motion)... only a lot more slowly). If you put your hand flat against your head, and clench your jaw... you will feel a muscle pop out. This is where you want to massage. > >You can also try putting some uncooked rice in a sock, and nuking it for 2 minutes. This will make a reusable hot pack which you can place against your jaw to help release the muscles. > >Good luck > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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