TMJ Pain: Acupuncture, Botox or Both?
Botox is gaining popularity as a treatment for TMJ (temporal mandibular joint) pain. Some people get great results, others see no effect, and some have undesirable side effects. The goal of this brief article is to give you clarity about whether you should try acupuncture, botox or a combination of both for optimal results in reducing TMJ pain, while addressing underlying issues to prevent its reoccurrence.
Botox for TMJ pain:
Pros
Can completely relax the muscle – even if you try to clench, with enough units of Botox, you will be unable to – which can release pain for those who are constantly tensing the muscle
Results last for several months
Can soften the look of the jaw for cosmetic purposes
Cons
May cause jowling if used for prolonged period of time
Does not address the underlying stress factors
Cost per unit adds expense to address other tense areas in addition to the TMJ
Acupuncture for TMJ pain:
Pros
Relaxes muscle through lowering stress response and modulating the muscle-nerve feedback response – promoting relaxation and pain relief outside of that directly affected by the TMJ
Underlying energetic patterns are treated, making it a cost effective approach to addressing multiple areas of tension as well as other related symptoms
Cons
Will not completely prevent you from working the masseter if you are wishing to soften the jawline from a squared appearance
May need multiple treatments for cumulative effect before noticing prolonged results
Conclusion:
Acupuncture can be used alone or combined with botox for chronic or acute TMJ pain. Focusing on one vs the other depends on whether multiple sites and factors are involved (upper back tension, jaw alignment, stress, etc.), and while botox may yield more dramatic muscle relaxing results, it may be more expensive due to cost increasing per units needed. Botox may also cause undesired laxity in the lower face if overdone for too long. Combining it with acupuncture may reduce the amount of units needed. Acupuncture can also address underlying stress and trigger points in upper back and neck, as well as improve circulation throughout the face while maintaining healthy muscle tone.