A popular non-opioid treatment for inflammatory or pain-related reactions, medical cannabis is well-known for its ability to reduce pain. Medical marijuana is a promising treatment for individuals seeking to alleviate the jaw and muscle pain associated with temporomandibular disorder/dysfunction (TMD) and TMJ pain, as it is primarily used to alleviate pain. Before using marijuana to treat TMJ pain, it is always advisable to speak with an MMJ doctor. The doctor will determine whether or not marijuana is helpful for you.
The symptoms of TMJ are examined in this guide, along with how medical marijuana can help with it and what patients should think about when looking for cannabis-based treatments.
What Are the Causes of TMJ?
The uncomfortable ailment known as temporomandibular joint disorder, or TMJ for short, can result in facial muscle spasticity. The disorder affects the temporomandibular joint, which is responsible for opening and closing the jaw. Facial muscles are tense, and it hurts to try to move or stretch them.
TMJ can be brought on by trauma, arthritis, stress and teeth grinding, or other jaw misalignments. TMJ can occasionally appear as a shingles symptom.
TMJ symptoms frequently include:
- Stiff jaw muscles
- Earaches or headaches
- Facial swelling
- Pain radiating to the neck, eyes, and face
- Immobility or a locked jaw
- Painful jaw popping or clicking
- Misalignment of the lower and upper jaw’s teeth.
Some more severe pain symptoms may necessitate medical treatment, but TMJ can frequently be resolved on its own with ice packs or by consuming only soft foods. Dentists can prescribe treatments like mouth guards, physical therapy, or over-the-counter pain relievers after conducting an examination to determine the cause of the TMJ.
How Marijuana Can Help Manage TMJ Symptoms
By interacting with the endocannabinoid system (ECS), medical marijuana is believed to alleviate chronic pain related to the TMJ and many other sensory experiences of pain. Through interactions with cannabinoids and CB1 and CB2 receptors, the ECS controls a number of bodily homeostasis functions, including pain processing.
Numerous studies have demonstrated that cannabis has anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties. THC from marijuana controls how much pain the body feels by acting on CB1 receptors in the brain. Additionally, it has a lesser effect on immune cells’ CB2 receptors, which regulate inflammatory processes.
There is currently insufficient proof to conclude that cannabis is an effective treatment for pain associated with the TMJ. Nonetheless, a recent study revealed that low concentrations of cannabinoids may affect the activity of receptors linked to TMJ pain, suggesting a potential use in treating pain in people with disorders. The same study also found that cannabis has additional benefits for reducing pain associated with TMJ disorder, which is controlled by CB1 and CB2 receptors.
About half of participants in a different study that looked at muscle spasticity in MS patients reported that using medical marijuana helped them feel less spasmy. Medical cannabis may also provide twitching relief for people with a TMJ disorder, even though MS spasticity starts in the brain rather than the muscle.
Because CBD inhibits pain signals from interacting with CB2 receptors and reduces inflammatory responses, it also exhibits a promising ability to relieve pain from temporomandibular joint disorders. Due to its anti-inflammatory properties, CBD may effectively alleviate pain associated with temporomandibular joint disorders, such as facial pain and tense jaw muscles.
Using Cannabis to Manage TMJ
Research on the most effective applications of medical cannabis for TMJ is still lacking. It is completely up to the patient and their endocannabinoid systems to decide which cannabinoids to take, in what combinations, and at what dosages in order to relieve TMJ pain.
TMJ disorder can be treated with a variety of consumption techniques, some of which may be more suitable for a given patient’s circumstances than others.
Since medical cannabis releases cannabinoids into the bloodstream through the lungs and lasts for up to an hour or two (and occasionally longer) after use, smoking and vaping it are quicker ways to get pain relief. On the other hand, because edibles and tinctures are processed in the liver and have effects that last for at least five hours, they offer more effective relief with lower dosages. However, since edibles can take one to two hours to start working, inhaling cannabis might be a better option for pain relief right away.
TMJ relief may also be aided by cannabis topicals. Cannabinoids can be absorbed into the skin and act on the local cannabinoid receptors at the site of pain when topicals are applied to the face or neck.
Numerous people use a range of cannabis products in various ways and at various times of the day. There is no one “best” way to use cannabis for medical or therapeutic purposes, and different pain types may call for different treatment modalities.
Best Cannabis Strains for Relieving TMJ Pain
The goal of these promising strains (cultivars) for treating TMJ disorders is to reduce inflammation, pain, and spasms:
- AC/DC
- White Widow
- Harlequin
- Blue Dream
- Bubba Kush
Instead of focusing solely on the strain’s name, it’s usually better to look at its cannabinoid-terpene profile, which will give you a better idea of the potential effects. Additionally, if you plan to include marijuana in your medical regimen, you must have a medical marijuana card in Quincy. It will allow you to legally obtain medical marijuana in your state, preventing you from facing legal ramifications.
