Question 1

TMJ or Jaw Pain?

Accepted Answer

Do you experience jaw pain, TMJ/ TMD pain, grinding/ clenching teeth, jaw locking, difficulty opening your mouth, difficulty chewing?
 
These are symptoms common in temporomandibular joint disorder, or pain in the jaw.  This problem can be very painful and significantly limit your ability to eat, talk, or even yawn.
 
The TMJ is located in front of the ears on both sides of the face.  This joint goes through motions thousands of times a day with talking and eating.  It often doesn't even get to rest when you sleep as many people with this problem grind their teeth at night.  The constant load can affect the muscles, ligaments, and a special part of the TMJ called a disc. 
 
At Clemens Physical Therapy, we are able to gently work on the muscles to relieve tension and get more space in the joint to allow for normal movement. We help patients improve the tension in their head and neck and also work to improve posture and stress to help prevent the problem from occurring.
 
We can work in conjunction with your Dentist or Medical Provider.  Dentists can make sure your teeth are aligned properly  and provide you with a mouthguard or splint to help with clenching.  
 
Dr. Clemens has seen patients for 30 years and is specialist certified in orthopedic, manual, and women’s health physical therapy.  
 
Call our office if you would like to make an appointment 304-842-6008.

Question 2

Headaches?

Accepted Answer

Are you experiencing headaches, neck pain, pain that gets worse with stress and muscle tension?
 
These symptoms are frequently seen in headaches caused by tension.  Tension headaches are the most common type of headache. They are aggravated by stress and posture and tend to be worse as they day goes on.  They most often affect both sides of the head but can be mainly one sided. They are also commonly seen in patients with jaw pain/ TMJ. 
 
Physical Therapy works the best on tension-type and cervicogenic (neck joint caused) headaches. At Clemens Physical Therapy, we use a gentle hands-on approach using manual therapy, mobilization, strengthening, and myofascial and trigger point techniques. This works well to tame the muscle tension causing the pain. 
 
It is also important to work on preventing future headaches by improving posture, sleep, and work positions (ergonomics). We teach simple stress management and breathing techniques to help you manage and prevent future headaches as well.
 
Dr. Clemens has seen patients for 30 years and is specialist certified in orthopedic, manual, and women’s health physical therapy.
 
Call our office if you would like to make an appointment 304-842-6008.

Question 3

Facial Pain?

Accepted Answer

Do you have facial pain?
 
Bells’ palsy and Trigeminal Neuralgia are problems affecting only the nerves to the face.  They can cause weakness/ paralysis and pain to one side of the face.  As symptoms can be similar to a stroke, it is crucial that you be evaluated by your medical provider to rule out a stroke first.  Facial nerve issues often differ from strokes in that strokes tend to affect more that just the face, including speech, arm or leg weakness. 
 
If you experience any of the symptoms of a possible stroke, you should go to the emergency room as soon as possible.  Once a stroke is ruled out, and you are diagnosed with a facial nerve problem, your medical provider may give you medication and send you to physical therapy. 
 
It is not really understood why people get facial nerve problems.  It is believed that it may be a result of a viral infection to the nerve (similar to shingles) and is often treated with anti-viral medication. Sometimes, this problem resolves on it's own, but not always. 
 
We can help by using gentle hands-on techniques to help pain and swelling and aid in recovering as soon as possible.  Specific face exercises can help return the facial expression muscles. Modalities, such as electrical stimulation, heat, and cold, can also be useful.  
 
Dr. Clemens has seen patient for 30 years and is specialist certified in orthopedic, manual, and women’s health physical therapy.  
 
Call our office if you would like to make an appointment at 304-842-6008

Imagine being able to open your mouth to talk, laugh, and eat what you want without pain.

Imagine being able to work, play, and enjoy life without face pain or headaches.

We can help with that.

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Marnie's methods were different, very gentle, and very effective. She taught me how to relax certain muscles and how to pay attention to the alignment of the jaw. I had tremendous relief from tension in the jaw and headaches.

Physical Therapy to Reduce Headaches

Face Pain and Physical Therapy

Headaches and Physical Therapy

TMJ- Jaw Pain and Physical Therapy

Imagine being able to open your mouth to talk, laugh, and eat what you want without pain. Imagine being able to work, play, and enjoy life without face pain or headaches. We can help with that.