TMJ Treatment for EDS

TMJ Treatment for Hypermobile EDS Patient

The human body is a network of joints, muscles and connective tissues that hold organs in place and allow each person to bend, twist, jump, walk and run comfortably. One medical condition that prevents some people from performing these everyday motions is Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, otherwise known as EDS.

Those suffering from the hypermobile form of this syndrome have less collagen in their bodies, resulting in loose, velvety skin and unstable joints. If you have ever watched someone twist their arms around their body in an unnatural manner or pull their thumb back to touch their forearm, you have seen what some people suffering from hypermobile EDS are able to do. Unfortunately, those skills come with intense pain and other debilitating side effects.

Most hypermobile people do not develop any problems from their loose joints and ligaments, but some suffer chronic pain and other comorbidity symptoms. Those who do suffer chronic joint pain and other symptoms related to their hypermobility or to the looseness of other tissues that often accompanies hypermobility have a condition called joint hypermobility syndrome (JHS).

The Face of EDS

Take a peek into the life of someone suffering from hypermobile EDS by considering the story of a young adult named Amelia. She grew up in a loving family, but was always considered lazy due to her slow movements and refusal to sign up for sports or participate in activities with her peers throughout elementary, middle and high school. She looked forward to going to college after high school graduation, but she was in such excruciating pain by that time in her life that living alone was not an option.

One by one, she watched her friends move away to college. She fell into severe depression and stopped eating due to constant migraines and jaw pain caused by chewing and talking. Her parents started a desperate search to determine what was wrong with her, and eventually came across our expert. Amelia was diagnosed with hypermobile EDS at the age of 20, and our EDS/TMJ treatment was exactly what she needed to start accepting invitations to parties, going for walks with her dog, and eventually, moving away for college.

Her recovery was faster than anyone expected, and the dramatic change in her daily activity level is often referred to as a “miracle” by her family and friends. If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with EDS and suffers from TMJ, depression, chronic pain, headaches, depression or other related symptoms, our conservative, personalized treatment approach is likely what you need to control the pain and start living your life to the fullest.

Complications of EDS Hypermobility

While the hypermobility type of EDS is less severe than others, it is still debilitating for many patients. Each person will have their own symptoms and will react to those symptoms in their own way, but some of the most common complications experienced include:

• Bone dislocations
• Degenerative joint disease
• Chronic pain
• Sleep apnea/snoring
• Dysfunction in the jawbone
• Excessive skin bruising
• Bowel dysfunction
• Autonomic dysfunction
• Depression

The Ultimate Complication: TMJ

One of the most uncomfortable complications of EDS is Temporomandibular Joint Syndrome, often referred to as TMJ. The temporomandibular joint is located in the jaw and connects the jawbone to the skull, and this condition occurs when that joint becomes damaged or dislocated. Many EDS sufferers experience dislocations of all joints more frequently than other people, so they’re at much greater risk of dislocating this joint as well.

The result is extreme pain while the joint is put back in place, but many suffer pain from their jawbone and surrounding muscles and joints even without an active dislocation. In many cases, intense and consistent headaches only make living with TMJ even worse. Standard TMJ treatments often fail to relieve the pain, and ongoing stress may lead some sufferers to stop eating solid foods that require a lot of chewing.

Searching for an EDS – TMJ Solution

As if the physical and psychological pain of living with EDS and TMJ isn’t enough, most sufferers spend years enduring the emotional pain that comes with searching for a TMJ specialist with expertise in both of these conditions. Many sufferers are like Amelia. Their emotional struggle starts from a young age when friends and family members don’t understand that they’re suffering from a serious medical condition.

In many cases, EDS and TMJ treatment isn’t aggressively sought until multiple joint dislocations are experienced or the facial pain becomes too extreme for the sufferer to handle alone. Many sufferers are depressed and have withdrawn from their social lives at this point, and some are dealing with even more severe psychological problems resulting from continuous pain and the lack of understanding from others.

The emotional pain is intensified when doctors fail to recognize the signs of EDS. They may downplay the pain reported, so the patient must continue seeking second opinions until they find a medical provider who believes them when the level of pain and discomfort is reported.

Let Our EDS – TMJ Specialist, Dr. Paul Grin, Help You

No matter how long you’ve been suffering from the pain of EDS and searching for a TMJ solution, our TMJ specialist will ease that pain in every way possible. Rather than treating one or two symptoms and ignoring the rest, our expert takes a holistic, personalized treatment approach for every patient.

He has treated patients suffering from TMJ as a result of EDS for many years, and his treatment plans aggressively target all symptoms that make each patient’s life uncomfortable. This means that you will receive treatment for your sleep apnea and snoring problems, depression, facial pain and all other symptoms simultaneously.

Much of the suffering experienced by Amelia and other patients like you comes from a heartbreaking lack of understanding and sympathy. You have now found a doctor with deep knowledge of both EDS and TMJ, so your search for a sympathetic medical provider is over. The treatment offered by our TMJ specialist will help you regain control of your life.

What Will You Do Next Week? Next Month?

If you were not restricted by pain, depression and the fear of dislocated bones, what would you do today? Would you spring out of bed and go for a long walk with your dog? Would you play with your children rather than watching from the sidelines? Would you climb a mountain, roller skate or write a book?

It may seem impossible that you will ever enjoy those dreams due to the level of pain you experience each day, but our expert is going to put the odds in your favor. Within just a week of treatment, you should feel noticeably different. Within a few months, you may find yourself moving around more and spending more active time with your loved ones because the pain is no longer restricting your lifestyle. It may seem impossible, but keep your hopes up and take that first step toward TMJ treatment that actually works and call Dr. Grin at (310) 933-3077.