TMJ muscles Archives

Got Thick Skin? It Could Be Scleroderma

Having thick skin can be a positive thing if we’re talking about how well you respond to criticism, but what about having actual thick skin? Thick skin could be a sign of an autoimmune rheumatic disease known as scleroderma. June is National Scleroderma Awareness Month, so to better understand this rare condition, we’re going to look at its symptoms, how it is diagnosed, and the treatments available for it. This disease presents itself differently from person to person, but it can be very serious: as many as 10,000 people die each year from it. The exact cause of this condition is unknown, but there is some promising research that is examining the relationship between the immune system and scleroderma.

What Is Scleroderma?

Scleroderma is an autoimmune rheumatic disease that affects more women than men and occurs mainly in people between the ages of 30 and 50. People with this disease will experience issues with their skin and other organs. While symptoms vary from person to person, the most visible and common symptom is hardening of the skin. Other symptoms can range from mild to life threatening; the seriousness of each symptom depends on what part of the body is affected. If scleroderma is not treated, it can become more serious over time.

What Causes It?

Scleroderma is not genetic or contagious, and it is not a type of cancer or infection. Researchers are still looking into the disease to figure out exactly what causes it. What they do know is that something within the person’s immune system triggers it, and that it causes the body to produce too much collagen, which is what causes the hardening, thickening and tightening of the skin, tendons, joints, and internal organs. It’s possible that environmental factors can trigger scleroderma, and, although it is not necessarily genetic, babies who developed morphea, the most common type of scleroderma, are more likely to have a blood relative who has or has had it. More research needs to be conducted to figure out the exact cause.

Types of Scleroderma

There are four different types of scleroderma, which affect different parts of the body, and which are classified in two different ways. The two classifications are localized scleroderma, which is usually found on a few patches of skin or muscles and rarely spreads anywhere else. The other classification is systemic scleroderma, which affects connective tissues in many parts of the body, including the internal organs. The four different types that fall under the two classifications are:

oval shaped dry patch of skin that is pink — *Morphea is the most common type of scleroderma, causing an oval-shaped dry patch on the skin.*

Localized Scleroderma:

Morphea– This is the most common type of scleroderma. Firm, oval-shaped patches can occur on the chest, stomach, back, face, arms, and legs.
Linear– With this type, a single line of thickened skin typically runs down the leg, arm, or forehead.

Systemic Scleroderma

Limited– Thick skin is restricted to certain areas of the body, such as fingers, hands, face, lower arms, and legs. The symptoms of this type include calcinosis (calcium deposits in tissue), visible blood vessels, and impaired esophageal function.
Diffuse– Thick skin covers a lot of the body in a symmetrical pattern. Skin can swell and become itchy; over time, it will affect your organs, including your kidneys, lungs, heart, and digestive tract. This is a rare type of scleroderma.

Symptoms

There are a variety of signs and symptoms of scleroderma to watch out for, including:

Hard, thickening, or tight skin- Typically there will be at least 1 or 2 patches of hard, thick skin on the body. The patches will feel hard and as if you cannot move them.
Hair loss and reduced sweating- The area where there is hardened skin will be shiny, hairless, discolored, and will not produce sweat.
Dry, itchy skin
Skin color changes- The affected patches of skin might be lighter or darker than your natural skin color. If a patch is violet in color, that means the scleroderma is growing.
Stiff joints– You will have difficulty moving your joints because of the hard, thickening, or tight patches that have formed over the skin.
Muscle shortening and weakness
Loss of tissue beneath the skin
Loss of muscle, cartilage, and bone, also known as Parry-Romberg syndrome
Bone deformities- These usually occur in children who are still growing
Skin sores
Visible blood vessels near the surface of swollen skin
Calcium deposits beneath the skin, also known as calcinosis

heartbeat with 2 hearts in the background — *Abnormal heartbeat is one of the signs of scleroderma.*

There are specific signs that scleroderma is affecting your internal organs, including:

Problems swallowing
Constipation
Diarrhea
Heartburn
Bloated feeling after eating
Weight loss without trying
Abnormal heartbeat
Lack of sex drive

Diagnosing Scleroderma

If you experience any of the symptoms above, you should see a dermatologist (skin specialist) or rheumatologist (arthritis specialist). They will conduct a physical exam, ask about your medical history, and give you a blood test, X-rays and a CT scan to determine if the condition is only affecting your skin or is affecting your internal organs as well.

Treatment

If your doctor confirms that you have scleroderma, it is important to get treatment as soon as possible. Physical and occupational therapy can help you straighten and bend your joints so you can maintain a normal life. If caught early, there are treatments such as phototherapy and medications that can actually clear up your scleroderma. If the condition mainly affects your skin, a dermatologist can offer different forms of treatment ranging anywhere from a moisturizer for dry skin to light and laser treatments for darkened skin or morphea. There is also a lot of ongoing research into new treatments for scleroderma.

There is no known cause of scleroderma, meaning we don’t know who could end up being affected by it. That is why it is important to shed light on this disease: if people learn about the symptoms and get checked out, they will have a better chance of treating it and getting rid of it before it gets worse. It’s important to know that, while the hardened skin can clear up on its own within a couple of years, the more serious forms of scleroderma can be life threatening. Treating it early can prevent any serious issues, and having good health insurance will help with costs.

Undergoing testing for conditions like scleroderma can be costly, and if you need any therapy, that could end up costing you even more money. Health insurance plays a big role in how much everything will cost, and having a plan that meets your needs can save you a lot of money. If you would like to compare plans in your area to find the one that is right for you and saves you money, we can help. We will compare plans in minutes and find a more personalized and affordable plan, for free. To get started, simply enter your zip code in the bar above, or to speak to a licensed agent, call 888-350-1890. No hassle or obligation.

Head, tooth, and jaw aches: TMJ: A Silent Stressor

Have you ever woken up with an aching jaw? Do you suffer from sensitive teeth? How about tension headaches that stretch across your forehead like a rubberband? These symptoms – a constant aching pain, lockjaw, or tension – can elevate daily stress levels and decrease overall quality of life. Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction, or TMJ, could be the sneaky culprit of these, and other, symptoms.

What Is TMJ?

TMJ is basically a broad term for conditions that affect the temporomandibular joint, jaw muscles, and facial nerves. The temporomandibular joint is a hinge-and-slide joint that attaches your jaw to your skull on either side. You can feel the joint – it’s a ball between your ears and your cheekbones. When it is working correctly, the bones around the joint are covered with cartilage and protected by a shock-absorbing disk, allowing smooth movement when opening and closing your mouth.

When it’s dysfunctional, the hinge catches irregularly because the joint’s cartilage is damaged, the joint is damaged by an injury or impact, or the disk has eroded or is misaligned. This dysfunction can cause facial tension and pain, headaches, earaches, swelling, and difficulty chewing. In the worst cases, TMJ can cause the joint to lock, making it difficult to open or close your mouth. The exact cause of this joint’s dysfunction is different for every person, but 5-12% of people experience pain in this area, so if you are suffering from these stressful symptoms, you aren’t alone!

Key Risk Factors For TMJ

While every TMJ case is different, there are some common risk factors that may increase the risk of developing or worsening temporomandibular joint dysfunction, including:

Jaw injury
Chronic teeth grinding
Arthritis
Connective tissue diseases
Tenderness or pain in the jaw area is one of the symptoms of TMJ.

TMJ is painful, and often goes undiagnosed, despite the fact that the majority of cases can be managed with lifestyle changes or physical therapy. It’s important to see a doctor if you have two or more of the following symptoms:

Tenderness or pain in the jaw area
Sensitive, aching teeth
Aching pain in or around the ears
Swelling, pain, or pressure around one or both of the temporomandibular joints
Difficulty or pain while chewing
Aching facial pain
Clicking sound or grinding sensation when chewing or opening the mouth
Sensation of locking of the jaw when opening or closing.

What Happens Next?

If you’ve decided that you’ve had enough of these stressful symptoms and are looking for relief, the first step is finding a craniofacial specialist. These doctors know the inner workings of the bones and joints of the face and can perform a thorough exam and assessment. They will measure the range of motion and strength of your jaw, take x-rays and bite compressions, and may run other tests to find out what exactly is going on. If your doctor determines that your pain is caused by temporomandibular joint dysfunction, they may prescribe a set of targeted jaw exercises to help strengthen and relax those tight joints and muscles, or they may refer you to a physical therapist. Additionally, they will likely recommend lifestyle changes to support healthy temporomandibular function. Common lifestyle changes to reduce symptoms of TMJ include:

Improve posture. Because the neck and jaw are so closely related, the slouched posture so many of us have can affect the position of your jaw joints. This posture is often related to working at a desk, using cellular devices, and not getting enough physical exercise. One easy way to correct poor posture is to place a rolled up towel in the curve of your back while sitting at a desk. When properly placed, this should force you to sit up tall and correct your neck and shoulder positioning. This is such a common issue that there are also many tools available to support proper posture, including over-the-counter back braces and electronic devices that remind you to adjust your position.
Improve sleep habits. TMJ discomfort can cause poor sleep quality, but poor sleep quality exacerbates TMJ discomfort! Break this cycle by improving your end-of-day habits, so you can be ready for a more relaxed night’s sleep. Try reducing the amount of screen time you get before bed, dimming the lights 30 minutes before you want to fall asleep, or adopting a pre-bedtime mindfulness routine to get a better night’s sleep.
Watch what you eat. Certain foods can irritate TMJ symptoms. Avoid things like steak, chewy vegetables, and hearty breads, as they can cause jaw fatigue or unnecessary compression. Eating softer foods and taking smaller bites when TMJ symptoms are acting up can help alleviate pain and tension.

Decrease stress levels. Many folks have nervous habits, like chewing on gum, biting their nails, or grinding their teeth. All of these habits can lead to overusing the TMJ muscles and can cause damage to the joint or tissues that support healthy jaw function. Try to break these habits by supplementing hard candies for gum and using relaxing breathing techniques to eliminate nail biting or jaw grinding. To supplement physical therapy exercises and these lifestyle changes, there are some helpful at-home remedies you can rely on to relieve pain. You can try:

Ice and heat therapy: Apply hot or cold packs to sensitive jaw areas for 5-15 minutes at a time.
Anti-inflammatory medication: While you don’t want to use these every day, over the counter pain management medication can be helpful for TMJ symptoms. You’ll want an NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug) like Motrin or Advil, as they have the anti-inflammatory properties that will decrease swelling and pain related to swelling.
Stress management techniques: Stress plays a major role in jaw pain for many people, and stress relieving techniques can be effective for reducing pain. You can try breathing exercises or relaxation techniques, massaging the area with essential oils, or taking a brief break for meditation.

TMJ symptoms can be invasive and can impact every part of your life, but these stressful symptoms don’t have to last forever. You can adopt healthy lifestyle changes that will help you to see a decrease in symptoms before you even visit your doctor. Remember, though, as with any concerning symptoms, you should contact your doctor right away. TMJ is a manageable condition, and you have nothing to lose by starting on the path to recovery.

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