In the last year, Michigan, along with many other states in the US, instituted laws allowing people to use CBD oil without falling under the restrictions of the states medical marijuana code. CBD, cannabidiol, is one of the most common components of extract from marijuana plants, but it doesn’t have the same narcotic effects as some of the other extracts, most notably tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Although it doesn’t possess these narcotic effects, widespread adoption of CBD for medicinal purposes has expanded. But just how effective is CBD? In many cases, we don’t know. But we do know that it’s quite effective in at least one case, as a muscle relaxant for TMJ (temporomandibular joint disorder) patients.
Muscles Cause Most TMJ Pain
Finding good ways to treat TMJ-related muscle pain is important because most instances of TMJ-related pain in the jaw, face, neck, and elsewhere are related to sore muscles.
The problem in TMJ is often that the teeth, joints, and muscles aren’t in harmony. When the teeth come together, the jaw muscles are stressed, not relaxed. This makes the jaw muscles strain, trying to find a more relaxed position. The short-term result is sore muscles, but over time, the teeth and jaw joints can be damaged. Thus, relaxing the muscles not only controls short-term symptoms, but prevents long-term damage that is difficult to repair.
CBD Oil Effective on Tense Muscles
To test the muscle relaxant properties of CBD oil, researchers selected 60 patients who met the RDC/TMD (Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders). These patients were divided into two groups with comparable average age (23.2 years vs. 22.6 years). Group 1 received CBD oil formula for topical use. Group 2 received a placebo.
Researchers measured muscle tension before treatment and after 14 days of treatment, using electromyography. People also rated their pain intensity using a 10-point scale. The results showed that people responded better to the CBD application than the placebo. In Group 1, muscle tension reduced 11% on the left and 13% on the right, compared to 0.23% and 3.3%, respectively, for the placebo group.
Reduced muscle tension also led to reduced pain. In the treatment group, patients reported a 70% decrease in pain, compared to less than 10% for the placebo group.
Chemical and Drug-Free Relief
While there are some people who will welcome this news, many others won’t see much benefit here. After all, we already have many drug-based solutions to TMJ pain. There are medications, ranging from over-the-counter medications to opioids, and there are chemical treatments like botulinum tox in injections. These treatments are all effective to some degree, but they don’t address the root cause of the problem, and they call come with various side effects associated with introducing chemicals into your body.
However, we offer drug-free TMJ treatment. Our highly effective approach helps people who want to get relief from pain and other symptoms without taking medications or drugs. We also work to address the root cause of your problem. We start by finding the optimal relaxed position for your jaw, and give you an oral splint to hold your jaw in that position to reduce muscle tension and pain.
If you wish, we can even build your teeth up so they will do the job of holding your jaw in a relaxed position.
If you are interested in learning more about chemical and drug-free treatment of TMJ pain in the Detroit area, please call (248) 480-0085 today for an appointment with TMJ dentist Dr. Jeffrey S. Haddad at the Michigan Center for TMJ & Sleep Wellness in Rochester Hills.
