Living in chronic pain creates enormous challenges to achieving a high quality of life. The primary reason for seeking treatment is chronic muscle apain, Migraine, Tension headaches and chronic neck pain.
TMJ Disorders have been called “The Great Imposter” because they mimic so many different problems. The majority of patients seeking care for sinus infection pain actually have referred pain from the muscles to the sinus regions.
Retro-orbital or behind the eye pain is rarely an opthamologic problem but again referred pain from muscles.
Problems with chronic ear pain, eustacian tube dysfunction and tinnitus are most commonly referred pain from the TMJoint and related muscles in the absence of obvious infection.
The common denominators to many of these “Imposter” conditions is the Trigeminal Nervous System. The Trigeminal Nerve is widely acknowledged to be the dentist’s nerve because it goes to the gums, the periodontal ligaments, the teeth, the jaw muscles and the TMJ or jaw joint.
The Trigeminal Nerve and the Trigemino-vascular System is also directly responsible for almost 100% of all Migraines, Tension Headaches, Chronic Daily Headaches, Autonomic cephalgias, Cluster headaches and SUNCT.
Chronic neck pain that responds only temporarily to chiropractic treatment, Myotherapy, myofascial release, craniosacral therapy is almost always associated with postural distortions related to the Temporomandibular Joints and the bite.
The NHLBI of the NIH published a paper “The Cardiovascular and Sleep Related Consequences of Temporomandibular Disorders” in which chronic sleep problems such as snoring and sleep apnea are directly related to jaw development. This is a leading cause of cardiovascular disorders.
Also related to sleep disorders are anxiety and depression, and changes to Thyrroid, growth hormone, cortisol which is the stress hormone.
We also now know that the development of the jaws affects all of these processes starting at a very young age. ADD, ADHD and Oppositional behavior disorder and other behavioral disorders are related to problems with breathing and sleep.
The autonomic nervous components of the Trigeminal Nerve pass thru the Sphenopalatine Ganglion (SPG). SPG Blocks have been shown to help every single item I have just discussed.
The meninges of the brain are innervated by the Trigeminal Nerve and the Vagus Nerve. The anterior cranial fossa and Middle Cranial fossas are entirely Trigeminal innervatin. The Anterior from the opthalmic division and the middle from all three Trigeminal branches. These are the neurons responsible for vascular headaches as part of trigemino-vascular system
While everyone does not agree on the single best treatment of TMJ disorders and MPD or Myofascial Pain and Dysfunction, almost every study shows 50% or more improvement.
I am currently the Chair, Allaince of TMD Organizations and I am amazed even though our approaches are different the success rates are always high.
I utilize Physiologic Diagnostic Orthotics as a safe and reversible treatment along with SPG Blocks to address the autonomic nervous system, trigger point injections and spray and stretch to address the MPD or Myofascial Pain and Dysfunction, Oral Appliances to treat airway issues such as snoring and sleep apnea.
Epigenetic Orthodontics allows us to grow adult and adolescent patients orthopedically and grow their airways pneumopedically to eliminate snoring apnea and grow physiologically healthy wide smiles without the pain associated with standard orthodontic techniques and/or Invisalign.
The office is conveniently located a 2 minute walk from the Fort Sheridan Metro Station.
Long distance patients will find us located midway between O’Hare airport and Milwaukee Mitchell Field. Out of town patients can visit Chicago and travel by Metra or stay at convenient local hotels.
Visit our testimonial page to learn more about patient’s life changing experiences from their videos on this site.
