Inflammation of the upper jaw joint, symptoms and treatment. How to treat inflammation of the jaw joint. Diagnosis of the causes of inflammation of the temporomandibular joint

When we eat or talk, we force the jaw joint to work, which in turn moves the jaw. It also holds the base of the skull and lower jaw together.

Inflammation jaw joint- Not a rare event, most often it affects people after 40 years of age. But younger people are also not immune from of this disease.

The causes of an inflamed jaw joint can be different, but most often it suffers due to infection. The sooner the disease is identified and the sooner its treatment begins, the better. Treatment of the disease takes a long time, regardless of whether it was detected on time or whether it is already in an advanced stage.

Treatment must be taken seriously in order to completely cure the inflamed joint. In addition, it is necessary to treat not only the jaw joint itself, but also the infection that provoked its inflammation.

Inflammation of the jaw joint: characteristics of the disease

Arthrosis of the temporal mandibular joint(CHNS) is a chronic degenerative disease of the skull bones that manifests itself as destruction cartilage tissue articular surfaces, leading to deformation, pain and decreased mobility.

Microtraumas, untreated old injuries, circulatory disorders bone tissue and cartilage tissue, excess weight, infections - all this leads to inflammation of the joints (inflammation of the knee joints, inflammation of the joints of the feet, inflammation of the joints of the fingers, as well as inflammation of the temporomandibular joint and inflammation of the mandibular joint), which Lately becomes a problem for everyone age categories citizens.

Each disease belonging to the group “inflammation of the joints” has its own clinical picture and your symptoms. As soon as the first symptoms of joint inflammation appear, even if they are still minor, you should immediately contact medical workers, because timely diagnosis of the disease and prescribed treatment is a chance for complete cure.

If the disease is advanced, then treatment can be painful and lengthy, and worse prognoses are possible - up to complete loss of ability to work. Please note that only a doctor can choose optimal scheme course of treatment for joint inflammation.

Joint structure

The temporomandibular joint is a complex joint. In the joint capsule itself there is intra-articular cartilage, which separates the joint and provides a large range of motion:

Rotational movements while chewing food;
Translational displacements forward and backward;
Raising and lowering lower jaw.

The anatomical and physiological characteristics of the HFNS, a large range of movements and complex architecture ensure frequent trauma, as well as the vulnerability of this fragile joint.

Mechanism of disease development

The pathology develops as follows: first, the cartilage covering the head of the jaw becomes thinner, and then in some places it completely disappears. The body tries to compensate for its loss, but because cartilage is unable to regenerate, it is replaced by bone tissue, causing the joint to change shape and not function properly.

The whole point pathological process comes down to natural processes malnutrition of the joint, which leads to its regular traumatization, reduces the ability to regenerate and resist damage. Along with the articular cartilage, the ligamentous apparatus along with the muscles are also affected.

There are quite a lot of trigger factors for the development of this complex joint disease. They include long-acting predisposing factors, in which regenerative processes and normal tissue nutrition decrease over time, triggering a chain of irreversible reactions that cause arthrosis of the jaw with its characteristic symptoms, which requires immediate treatment.

Classification

Arthritis of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is insidious in that it early stages practically does not show itself. Does not affect general health, has no pronounced pain symptom, quite rarely can cause fever.

Therefore, quite often it becomes chronic. As the disease develops, it gradually becomes more severe symptoms, which will vary depending on the reasons that caused it. Doctors usually distinguish:

Traumatic arthritis, which is characterized by sharp pain and displacement of the lower jaw to the side, rapidly developing swelling and, in some cases, hematoma. This kind of arthritis is the easiest to identify, since it occurs due to the influence of an external force.
Infectious arthritis has symptoms such as pain that increases with jaw movement and limitation of movement. The skin around the joint is often inflamed and hot to the touch.

In severe cases there may be an increase general temperature bodies. Most often it occurs against the background of or after an infectious disease. It is dangerous because it can develop into purulent arthritis, which will additionally manifest itself as symptoms of general intoxication.

Rheumatoid arthritis, in addition common symptoms, such as pain, jaw crunching and inability to open the mouth, is characterized by pain and inflammation of other joints in the body.
Allergic arthritis, is quite rare. It can appear with any type of allergy, but more often occurs as a reaction to anesthesia administered by the dentist.

Its main distinguishing feature is its fairly rapid development. On average, inflammation of the jaw joint occurs two, rarely five to seven days after contact with the allergen. Usually both joints are affected at once. In addition to signs typical of arthritis, allergy symptoms will also be present.

The main difference between any type of arthritis and inflammation of the trigeminal nerve or otitis media is the local nature of the pain and decreased jaw mobility.

In addition, any of the arthritis starting with acute period, without proper treatment, can become chronic. They differ from each other only in the degree of severity of symptoms. With chronic arthritis, unlike acute arthritis, pain and inflammation will be vague, and swelling and redness of the tissue may be completely absent.

There is also a classification of arthrosis of the jaw joint into primary and secondary:

Primary - in which dysfunction of the temporomandibular joint occurs for no reason, treatment is described below, most often it is one of many arthrosis throughout the body;
Secondary – arthrosis of the jaw joint, the symptoms of which develop naturally, according to the reasons described above.

Stages of the disease:

Stage I – debut changes, characterized by excessive mobility of the ligaments with uneven narrowing of the joint space;
Stage II – severe pain in the jaw joint, with signs of decreased motor functions;
Stage III – complete destruction of cartilage tissue, severe limitation of mobility, increase in bone distances;
Stage IV – formation of fibrous fusion (ankylosis) of the articular surfaces.

Arthrosis of the temporomandibular joint at the onset of the disease may have a sluggish development. Initial manifestations occur with excessive loads on the area of the upper and lower jaws. The disease begins gradually, often the patient has already been bothered before inflammatory diseases or causeless pain in the jaw joint.

Causes

In most cases, the cause of inflammation is an infection that has entered the human body. Treatment must be correct and timely. The doctor’s task is to correctly determine what triggered the development of the disease. The choice of treatment method for inflammation of the mandibular joint depends on this.

Modern medicine distinguishes between infectious and traumatic types of infection. The main infectious factors that can provoke the disease:

overwork;
hypothermia of the oral cavity;
mastoiditis;
osteomyelitis of the lower jaw bone;
otitis;
inflammatory process salivary gland;
tonsillitis;
flu;
any dental disease (for example, caries);
any form of tuberculosis;
syphilis;
gonorrhea;
fungus actinomycetes.

The temporomandibular joint is usually damaged as a result of trauma to the lower part of the face. This could be the result of a blow, dislocation, fracture or crack.

There are two forms of this disease: chronic and acute. The first manifests itself mainly as a result of infection or another disease.

An acute form of inflammation can occur both after an injury and due to infection in the oral cavity or auricle patient.

Routes of infection

Microorganisms can enter the temporomandibular joint in several ways:

contact: from nearby tissues;
hematogenous: with blood from distant organs and tissues;
lymphogenous: with lymph flow; from the outside: with open wounds.

Contact arthritis

The contact route of spread occurs most often. In this case, the root cause of inflammation can be:

otitis (inflammation of the middle ear) and mastoiditis as its complication;
sore throat (inflammation palatine tonsils);
sialadenitis (inflammation of the salivary glands), most often parotid gland(mumps);
abscesses and phlegmons of soft tissues maxillofacial area;
boils and carbuncles of the temporal region;
osteomyelitis of the mandible or temporal bone;
acute pericoronitis (difficulty in the eruption of wisdom teeth).

Thus, the source of inflammation and the root cause of arthritis can be, for example, a diseased tooth, which, if untreated, develops osteomyelitis of the lower jaw. But arthritis is often caused by diseases of the ENT organs: ear and throat.

Hematogenous arthritis

With the hematogenous spread of the pathogen, the causes of arthritis of the jaw joint can be:

Flu, measles, rubella;
Specific diseases(syphilis, tuberculosis, leprosy);
Autoimmune pathologies (rheumatoid arthritis, lupus);
Sepsis;
Common fungal infections.

How to recognize the disease

There are two forms of temporomandibular joint arthritis - acute and chronic. The first option is much more common, and the symptoms of such a disease can be determined even without the help of a doctor. Like any inflammatory process of cartilage tissue, arthritis of the temporomandibular joint initial stage is practically asymptomatic.

However, if you feel slight numbness in the lower jaw in the morning, then you should visit a rheumatologist as soon as possible. If this is not done, then soon primary characteristic illnesses will be added and secondary symptoms, among which are acute or aching pain in the jaw area, characteristic clicking and joint crunching while yawning or chewing food.

You should also consider what type of arthritis you are talking about. The disease as a result of the injury manifests itself almost immediately with characteristic acute pain in the jaw area and a shifting of the chin to the side. In addition, pain occurs when you try to open your mouth. A characteristic sign of traumatic arthritis is the occurrence of swelling in the joint area within 20–30 minutes after mechanical damage.

When the disease is infectious, acute pain in the jaw area occurs while eating or yawning. Moreover, the pain gradually spreads to the neck, ears, back of the head and tongue.

From the moment the first symptoms appear until the jaw becomes completely immobilized, as a rule, no more than 5–6 hours pass. Chronic arthritis is rare and is the result of untimely or incomplete medical care. This disease makes itself felt by regular aching pain in the jaw area, minimal mobility of the damaged joint and a strong crunching sound when trying to open the mouth.

However, even if you are sure that you have become a victim of temporomandibular joint arthritis, you should still undergo a comprehensive medical examination. In addition to a visual examination, you will certainly be asked to take a blood test, which can be used to determine whether there is a focus of inflammation in the body.

Symptoms

Inflammation of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is characterized by the appearance of throbbing pain, which sharply intensifies when opening the mouth and any movements of the jaw.

The intensity of the pain increases when pressing on the joint anterior to the ear, as well as when pressing on the chin. The joint area may swell. If nearby soft tissues are involved in the process, hyperemia (redness) of the skin in the ear area and its adhesion are sometimes observed. At the site of inflammation, the skin cannot be folded.

When the mandibular joint is damaged, the patient experiences the following manifestations of the disease:

Loss of appetite, nausea, constantly want to sleep, weakness.
Body temperature rises.
It's hard to open your mouth after sleep.
Pain when eating and talking. Typically, your temples and ears may seem to hurt.
Swelling of the skin and redness around the mouth. Acute pain on palpation.
Crunching when the jaws are clenched tightly.
Muscle pain.
Displacement of the jaw, distortion of the shape of the face.

Symptoms chronic form diseases may differ slightly from the general ones. The pain is usually not sharp, but long-lasting and aching. When talking or eating, it intensifies significantly.

Jaw stiffness is observed mainly in the morning and during sleep. The lower jaw shifts, but swelling does not appear. The skin does not change color, but when pressed the patient feels a sharp pain.

In acute purulent form of inflammation of the maxillofacial facial joint A dense neoplasm appears in the jaw area. The skin takes on a bright red tint, becomes tense, and the pain threshold decreases. The patient experiences symptoms such as severe dizziness and decreased hearing acuity. In this case, treatment must be started immediately.

If you run purulent form diseases, heart problems may begin, and arthritis of the joints, and not only the jaw, may develop. Inflammation due to tuberculosis can lead to deformation of cartilage tissue.

In the rheumatoid form of arthritis, the course of the disease is complicated by symptoms such as disturbances in the functioning of the heart (rheumatic carditis or defect develops) and the development of arthritis in the shoulder, hip and knee joints. For specific arthritis (syphilitic, tuberculous), a symptom such as significant damage to the cartilage is characteristic.

Diagnostics

This pathology is initially encountered by sports medicine doctors, dentists, maxillofacial surgeons, traumatologists and rheumatologists.

To suspect this disease, a qualified specialist only needs a survey, a short examination, a review of facial asymmetry, changes in range of motion, and palpation of the masticatory muscles.

One of the routine and most accessible research methods is radiography of the affected joint (if necessary with intra-articular contrast enhancement), thanks to which it is possible to determine not only the presence of the disease, but also its stage.

There are also highly specialized examination methods:

CT scan;
Use of specialized braces;
Electromyography.

In addition, diagnosis of the disease necessarily includes interviewing and examining the patient, identifying the main symptoms and ordering general tests.

Depending on the specifics of the arthritis, consultation with other specialists, such as an allergist, traumatologist or dentist, may be required. If the pathology is infectious, as a rule, additional PCR diagnostics are prescribed, which makes it possible to determine the pathogen.

Pathology treatment options

In any form of this disease, the main task is to ensure immobility of the jaw joint. This is achieved by applying a sling-shaped bandage, which fixes the lower jaw.

At infectious arthritis You need to wear it for 2-3 days. When we're talking about about an injury, the bandage is applied for 7–10 days. To avoid complications, patients are allowed to eat only liquid foods. In all cases, people suffering from a similar illness are prescribed anabolic steroids.

For traumatic arthritis accompanied by swelling, drugs that stimulate blood circulation in the damaged tissues. When it comes to an infectious disease, then in this case antibiotics and drugs that help strengthen immune system.

In each specific case, the course of treatment is prescribed individually. However, if you follow all the doctor’s recommendations, improvements are observed already 2–3 days after the start of treatment.

When the acute symptoms of arthritis of the temporomandibular joint are relieved, additional physiotherapeutic procedures are prescribed, which include electrophoresis, magnetic therapy, laser therapy, special exercises, designed to restore the functions of the facial muscles, as well as mud therapy, massage and hot paraffin applications.

If chronic arthritis of the temporomandibular joint is associated with the presence dental disease, then after cupping acute symptoms the disease is being rehabilitated oral cavity. If this is not done, then even the most successful treatment will be useless, since after a few months the arthritis will make itself felt again.

For the rheumatoid variety of the disease, in addition to anabolic steroids and anti-inflammatory drugs, patients are prescribed a course of physiotherapy and are recommended to take restoratives- vitamins and dietary supplements.

IN medical practice there is purulent arthritis of the temporomandibular joint - a disease, in this case you can only get rid of the disease surgically, opening the joint cavity and installing drainage. Such a diagnosis suggests hospital treatment which can last 2–3 weeks and includes different kinds therapy.

For any inflammatory processes, laser therapy is used to relieve tension, swelling and pain. It is necessary to treat diseased joints in several stages. The initial task is to get rid of pain. Then - overcome the root cause of inflammation. And in the end, such treatment allows you to completely get rid of the disease.

The last step is usually the most difficult. It is enough to simply eliminate the symptoms of the disease and overcome the infection that provokes them. But in order to achieve a complete recovery, a long course of rehabilitation using anti-inflammatory and painkillers is necessary.

As soon as the patient’s pain disappears, he is prescribed physiotherapeutic procedures. Treatment methods vary depending on the underlying cause of the inflammation. The patient may be prescribed intra-articular injections, non-steroidal drugs, antibacterial or antirheumatic drugs.

Choose the right one therapeutic agents Only a doctor can, so you should not self-medicate. The specialist prescribes medications taking into account the severity of the disease and its causative agent. Recipes from traditional medicine can be used, but it is advisable to first consult with your doctor.

It is imperative to apply a bandage to the mandibular joint. It will help reduce pain and immobilize the affected organ. This will prevent further damage.

Main groups of drugs used

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Such as ibuprofen, etoricoxib, ketorol, diclofenac and others. Please bring this to your doctor's attention: possible diseases your gastrointestinal tract when prescribing this group of drugs. If necessary, medications that reduce acidity are taken, for example:

Omeprazole, Lansoprazole;
Vitamin therapy: complexes of vitamins C (ascorbic acid) and D (cholecalciferol), as well as calcium preparations, for example: Calcium-D3-Nycomed Forte, Calcemin and others are more often used;
Medicines that protect and renew cartilage tissue, such as: chondroitin sulfate, hyaluronic acid;
Possible hormonal correction in women after menopause mandatory control endocrinologist and gynecologist;
For severe and persistent pain in the jaw joint, intra-articular injections can be used hormonal drugs long-acting, for example, Diprospan. This type of treatment is advisable no more than once every 4-6 months.

Methods of physiotherapeutic treatment of arthrosis of the TMJ:

Electrophoresis with potassium iodide and novocaine;
Massage;
Therapeutic exercise, special gymnastic exercises, for example, according to Rubinov;
Magnetotherapy;
Ultraviolet irradiation;
Laser therapy;
Galvanic currents;
Ultrasound therapy;
Paraffin therapy;
Microwave therapy;
Infrared irradiation;
Ozocerite therapy.

Capabilities of orthodontists and maxillofacial surgeons

With the capabilities of orthodontists, it is possible to restore a normal bite, install braces, prosthetics, and grind teeth if the chewing surfaces do not conform. Thus, removing the causes of arthrosis.

In advanced stages, destruction of articular surfaces, surgical interventions are recommended, such as:

Removal of an intraarticular disc;
Transfer articular head lower jaw;
Removal of the head of the mandibular bone;
Joint replacement.

Principles of rational diet therapy

All food should be mechanically processed (mashed, grated) and chewed using minimal movements in the temporomandibular joint.

Excluded from the diet: smoked meats, strong tea, alcohol, savory snacks, chocolate, meat, chewing gum and everything that is associated with a long chewing process.

Inflammation of the temporomandibular joint and laser therapy

Treatment of joints is a long and difficult process, accompanied by a whole range of procedures and receptions. medications.

A method of treating joint inflammation such as laser therapy is becoming increasingly popular. Laser therapy- perhaps the most effective and modern method treatment of joint inflammation.

Today there are many medications that are aimed at treating arthritis, gout and other diseases, but all of them, as a rule, have many side effects. Unlike these drugs, laser therapy has no side effects; moreover, laser therapy sometimes even relieves the negative effects of medications.

Laser therapy is often used when the following diagnoses are made:

inflammation of the jaw joint;
inflammation of the temporomandibular joint;
inflammation of the mandibular joint.

Laser therapy relieves pain, and over time, a complete cure is possible. Laser therapy is also prescribed as a maintenance procedure when the disease is severe and aggravated by severe joint pain. Inflammation of the jaw joint can also be successfully treated with laser therapy.

Folk remedies for treatment

If your doctor has diagnosed you with arthritis of the joint, then the treatment he prescribed can be supplemented with traditional medicine methods. They will help relieve inflammation faster, reduce pain and swelling, and make the recovery period shorter. For this purpose, it is best to use ointments or decoctions prepared independently, according to simple recipes.

For external use

rubbing – juice of one radish, 100 g of vodka, a tablespoon of salt and ¾ cup of honey, apply to the jaw and wrap;
when treating the rheumatoid form, it is recommended to rub fir oil into the jaw and warm it with warm sea salt, placed in a cotton bag.
Take 200 gr. salt, add 100 g to it. dry mustard powder and paraffin in an amount sufficient to form a thick paste. Place the finished mixture in a warm place for 10 hours. Use at night, applying to skin and rubbing slowly until completely absorbed. In the morning, the remaining ointment should be washed off.
At home for successful treatment ointments can be used with bee venom(if you are not allergic to any beekeeping products), make hot compresses with decoctions of chamomile, thyme, coltsfoot, and oak bark. In addition, it is recommended to draw in the lower jaw area at night. iodine grid, which has absorbable, warming and anti-inflammatory properties.

For indoor use

A decoction of berries and lingonberry leaves, mixed in equal proportions in the amount of one tablespoon, should be poured into a glass hot water and leave for half an hour. You can drink this decoction like regular tea, two glasses a day.
A mixture prepared from black elderberry flowers in the amount of 20 grams, birch leaves - 80 grams will help relieve inflammation of the jaw joint. and 100 gr. willow bark. All components need to be crushed and mixed. Take two tablespoons, pour in 500 ml of hot water and let it brew for two hours. Take 100 ml per day in the morning and evening before meals.
Herbal infusions, as well as pine buds, which are infused mixed with sugar in a dark place, have proven themselves well in the fight against joint inflammation. For infusions you can use: calendula, St. John's wort, lingonberry and nettle leaves - all in equal proportions.

The herbs are poured with boiling water and infused, after which half a glass is consumed orally every day (can be 4-5 times a day). But it is necessary to take into account that such treatment with infusions is quite long-term, which means you need to be patient. And yet, many folk remedies, just like medications, have contraindications.

decoction of black currant leaves - 5 g of dry leaves, pour 200-250 ml of boiling water, leave for 15 minutes, drink 30 g three times a day;
mix a tablespoon of dandelion roots, fennel fruits, mint leaves with two tablespoons of buckthorn bark, add half a liter of water and cook for 15-20 minutes, take 30-40 g on an empty stomach;
pour 200 ml of water 20 g lingonberry leaf, cook for 20 minutes, take a tablespoon 4 times a day.

Arthritis of the jaw joint is serious illness and can quite easily move from acute form into chronic. Therefore, if you experience any discomfort in the jaw joint, you should consult a doctor. If you start treating arthritis correctly and on time, then most often the joint can be restored completely and without consequences.

Complications

Among purulent complications inflammation of the jaw joint produces phlegmon of the temporal region, the development of meningitis or sepsis.

In these cases, pus from the joint cavity spreads beyond its boundaries by breaking through the joint capsule. At first it may accumulate in soft tissues, and then spread through the vessels to other areas, incl. hard meninges. The development of complications is accompanied by low immunity. Most often they develop in patients with immunodeficiency (HIV infection, etc.)

This condition is accompanied by the inability to open the mouth with bilateral lesions or significant asymmetry of the face with unilateral lesions.

Disease prevention

Inflammation of the jaw joint is often a secondary ailment that occurs against the background of caries, otitis media, influenza and a number of other diseases. Consulting an appropriate doctor is the first step to preventing arthritis. This also applies to inflammation of the joint due to injury.

Don't forget about vitamins, which also play a role in disease prevention. They contribute proper development cartilage tissue is the main component of the joint.

Sources: avinonmedic.com; zapitanie.ru; moisustavy.ru; moisustav.ru; moyskelet.ru; zdorovie-sustavov.ru; rheumatology.org.ua; sustaved.ru

megan92 () 2 weeks ago

Tell me, how does anyone deal with joint pain? My knees hurt terribly ((I take painkillers, but I understand that I am fighting the effect, not the cause...

Daria () 2 weeks ago

I struggled with my painful joints for several years until I read this article by some Chinese doctor. And I forgot about “incurable” joints a long time ago. So it goes

megan92 () 13 days ago

Daria () 12 days ago

megan92, that’s what I wrote in my first comment) I’ll duplicate it just in case - link to professor's article.

Sonya 10 days ago

Isn't this a scam? Why do they sell on the Internet?

julek26 (Tver) 10 days ago

Sonya, what country do you live in?.. They sell it on the Internet because stores and pharmacies charge a brutal markup. In addition, payment is only after receipt, that is, they first looked, checked and only then paid. And now they sell everything on the Internet - from clothes to TVs and furniture.

Editor's response 10 days ago

Sonya, hello. This drug for the treatment of joints is indeed not sold through the pharmacy chain in order to avoid inflated prices. Currently you can only order from Official website. Be healthy!

Sonya 10 days ago

I apologize, I didn’t notice the information about cash on delivery at first. Then everything is fine if payment is made upon receipt. Thank you!!

Margo (Ulyanovsk) 8 days ago

Has anyone tried traditional methods of treating joints? Grandma doesn’t trust pills, the poor thing is in pain...

Andrey A week ago

No matter what folk remedies I tried, nothing helped...

Ekaterina A week ago

I tried drinking a decoction of bay leaves, it didn’t do any good, I just ruined my stomach!! I no longer believe in these folk methods...

Maria 5 days ago

I recently watched a program on Channel One, it was also about this Federal program to combat joint diseases talked. It is also headed by some famous Chinese professor. They say that they have found a way to permanently cure joints and backs, and the state fully finances the treatment for each patient.

Any inflammation brings us a lot of suffering, and with problems with the jaw joint, a person cannot eat at all. How to cope with pain in the facial joint area? What exactly is inflammation of the jaw joint? Symptoms, treatment and causes of this medical problem we'll discuss it.

Anatomy of the temporomandibular joint

The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is a hinge joint that connects the lower jaw to the temporal bone, located just in front of the ear on each side of the head.

The joint consists of the following parts:

head ;
condyle - the head entering the capsule;
joint capsule;
articular disc, which consists of
intracapsular and extracapsular ligaments.

There are two joints, and they work simultaneously. The human jaw is capable of protrusion, lateral movement, and upward and downward movement. This structure allows us to chew food and speak.

If any inflammation occurs in one joint, the entire system will be disrupted. Therefore, inflammation of the jaw joint requires medical examination and proper treatment.

Inflammation can be acute or chronic. Acute inflammation of the jaw joint usually occurs after injury, prolapse of the condyle from the capsule, or dislocation of the jaw. Chronic inflammation develops slowly, most often as a result of defects ( malocclusion) or poor quality work of the dentist. In this case, the pain is not severe, but aching. Sometimes a person does not even suspect the causes of this pain. It happens that inflammation is transmitted from the inner ear to the joint.

After all, the ear canal, its shell and the jaw joint are in close proximity. Thus, osteomyelitis or meningitis can cause inflammation. It happens that it provokes this state lupus erythematosus (an autoimmune disease) or rheumatoid arthritis. There are many options.

Symptoms of inflammation

The first symptoms of this condition should not be ignored. A person will lose normal performance when he has pain in the temporomandibular joint. Inflammation, the symptoms of which we will present, is called “arthritis of the temporomandibular joint” in medicine. If inflammation is not treated, it leads to degenerative changes. This condition of the joint will already be called arthrosis. Then you will have to spend more time and money on treatment.

Complications of inflammation of the upper jaw

An untreated infectious disease is one of the the most dangerous reasons inflammation of the facial joint. What happens if the joint is not treated? Firstly, pain will come periodically. Articular cartilage consists of connective tissue. And if suppuration begins in the joint area, this cartilage will quickly collapse.

Purulent temporal phlegmon occurs. Then, if the patient does not come to the surgeon to remove the pus, it can spread to other nearby tissues.

The acute nature of the disease without pus can also significantly ruin the life of someone who is afraid of treatment. The process of adhesion begins in the joint, and over time it ceases to be mobile. This process is called fibrous ankylosis. If this happens on one side, then the entire face is deformed. The next stage of the disorder is bone ankylosis, when the joint tissue finally ossifies.

How to cope with pain?

Sometimes the pain due to facial arthritis is unbearable. People cannot eat for weeks, much less yawn. And while the main treatment lasts, you need to somehow cope with the pain that radiates far from the site of inflammation. Conventional medications such as Ibuprofen are suitable for this. Any non-steroidal anti-inflammatory tablets available in your home medicine cabinet will come in handy.

During severe pain The joint needs to be immobilized and a special bandage applied. It is advisable to apply a hot and dry compress to the temple. Just heat the salt in a frying pan and put it in a bag made of plain cloth. Some people prefer to use ointments.

But sometimes pain relief pills are not enough. Then the doctor has the right to prescribe injections.

Such injections block the pain completely after 15 minutes. Tramadol or Trimeperidine are prescribed as injections. These medications belong to the class of narcotics, and the doctor uses them only in exceptional cases when the pain is unbearable, for example after a jaw injury.

There is also a medicine called Nalbuphine. The drug is not so strong, it does not belong to narcotic drugs, but it has not been studied enough.

Inflammation of the jaw joint. Treatment

How to determine inflammation of the jaw joint? Which doctor will help you find a solution to the problem? First you need to see a therapist who will initial examination, and then he will refer you to a specialist who can help practically.

If a patient has problems with bite, he should consult a dentist; otitis media should be treated by an ENT specialist. You may need the help of a gnathologist or neuromuscular dentist. And if the pain began after an injury, then you need to go to an oral surgeon.

This insidious and dangerous disease classified into:

Osteitis is an inflammatory process of spongy substance in the bone, which occurs for a short period of time and turns into the form of periostitis.
Periostitis is an inflammation of the periosteal tissue of the jaw. It is a complication of periodontitis. Symptoms are characterized by swelling of the gums around the sore tooth, severe painful sensations. Over time, an abscess forms, the contents of which can find its way out through the fistula. An intensifying inflammatory process can lead to a diffuse condition of the surrounding soft tissues or purulent inflammation of the bone.
Osteomyelitis is a lesion of all layers of bone, most often the lower jaw.

Inflammation of the lower jaw: causes and symptoms

Inflammation of the lower jaw is a consequence of progressive purulent periostitis. A special feature is the disease of not only bone, but also soft tissues.

Inflammation of the jaw bone occurs for a number of reasons that provoke various types of osteomyelitis:

The most common one is odontogenic. This type appears by generalization of infection into the jaw bone due to an untreated carious or periodontitis tooth.
Traumatic osteomyelitis is a consequence of a previous injury, such as a fracture.
Hematogenous osteomyelitis occurs due to the penetration of infection into the bone tissue of the jaw from an acute or chronic inflammation. First, part of the bone is affected, then the inflammatory process can also affect the teeth.

This form of the disease is quite rare. It is provoked by infectious diseases such as scarlet fever, diphtheria, as well as acute and chronic tonsillitis, if they occur against a background of weakened immunity.

Inflammation of the upper jaw: features and possible complications

Inflammation upper jaw has its own characteristics, unlike the bottom one. With the development of osteomyelitis in the upper jaw, inflammation may occur maxillary sinus, eye socket, middle ear.

According to clinical manifestations, inflammation of the jaw is divided into:

acute, which is characterized by pronounced pain in the area of the causative tooth. Then the pain increases due to the fact that the inflammatory process spreads to the nearest teeth. Pain pounding in the temples, eyes, ears. Increasing swelling can cause a decrease in the palpebral fissure, often until it closes completely. The nose is stuffy, making breathing difficult.
subacute is a consequence of acute. At this time, pus from the bone tissue comes out through the fistula, often into the mouth. However, the process of bone destruction has already begun.
chronic is characterized by a long-term inflammatory process that could develop over some time. At chronic osteomyelitis so-called sequestra are formed - fragments of rejected dead tissue.

Not timely appeal for qualified medical care with inflammation of the jaw bone tissue can cause severe complications. Against the background of a protracted inflammatory process, purulent inflammation of the soft tissues of the neck, abscess, phlegmon, sepsis, and decreased mobility of the facial veins can develop.

Inflammatory processes can affect any area of the body, including the cranial one - then treatment of the jaw joint will be required immediately, before the changes become irreversible or dangerous. The temporomandibular joint is a very complex structure, and in healthy condition capable of moving in three directions. He makes these movements not only when we chew, but also when talking, swallowing, even in sleep. The importance of the absence of pathology in it is evidenced by the fact that this joint “works” every 30-40 seconds while a person is awake. So problems with it catastrophically reduce the patient’s quality of life.

Causes of the disease

Inflammation of the jaw joint is most often caused by infection. However, medicine also knows the aseptic development of arthritis, in which microorganisms do not take part. The “trigger” is a misalignment of the bite that occurs during dental surgery (many teeth are removed from one side of the jaw) or due to prosthetic errors.

Infectious inflammation of the temporomandibular joint, which is most often required, develops as a result of penetration into it pathogens. Methods of infection:

contact method: infection enters the joint from neighboring tissues;
hematogenous method: bacteria are transported from peripheral organs and tissues;
lymphogenous way: microorganisms penetrate the joint with lymph flow;
traumatic: inflammation begins after receiving open wound in the jaw area.

Contact arthritis

This route most often causes inflammation of the jaw joint. The root cause of contact arthritis can also be a diseased tooth, which, if left untreated, provokes the development. Or the pathological progression of wisdom tooth germination. It happens that inflammation of the temporomandibular joint begins with furunculosis, localized in the temporal region. However, more often the development of jaw arthritis begins with the initiation of treatment of the ENT organs: ignored otitis media, inflammation of the salivary or parotid gland, incorrect therapy and many “innocent”, “harmless” diseases.

Hematogenous arthritis

Arthritis of the jaw can also be obtained hematogenously by autoimmune pathologies, for example, lupus or.

Signs of jaw arthritis

If inflammation of the temporomandibular joint is suspected, symptoms that confirm the diagnosis may include the following:

pulsating character A. Its intensity increases sharply if the patient moves the jaw in any way, or when pressing on the chin;
swelling of the joint area. If arthritis also affects the soft tissue around it, the epithelium in this place may turn red; it is not possible to fold it;
limited mobility: the patient is sometimes unable to open his mouth wider than half a centimeter, chewing is difficult;
symptoms of inflammation of the mandibular joint include hearing loss: due to increasing swelling ear canal gradually narrows. There is a feeling that the ear is blocked.

Often, with inflammation of the mandibular joint, the symptoms are complemented by a rise in temperature - local in the affected area or general. Chills and dizziness are sometimes observed. Signs of the disease can appear on one side of the face (this is typical for osteomyelitis) or on both - this course is typical for jaw arthritis, which developed as a result of sepsis, hematogenous spread of infection and autoimmune diseases.

At later stages, symptoms are supplemented by or. His stiffness becomes more noticeable and is especially noticeable either after a long day's rest. The severity of stiffness weakens after a minute “warm-up” - active work with the jaw. It should be noted that at this moment pain syndrome especially strong.

Elderly people and parents of children who have not reached puberty should pay particular attention to the earliest signs of problems with the jaw joint. It is these two categories of the population that are especially likely to develop. In children, the tendency towards it is explained by the fact that the processes of bone tissue formation are not completed and proceed at a very fast pace. In addition, children are at high risk of accidentally injuring their jaw during normal childhood play.

Elderly people usually already have systemic chronic diseases, and the immune system works weaker.

Diagnostics

Basically, to make a diagnosis jaw arthritis"It is also possible based on severe symptoms. However, the doctor’s goal is to establish the reasons for its development, only then will treatment of the jaw joint be successful. Therefore, a whole medical consultation may be needed, which may include:

orthopedist in tandem with a traumatologist. Their examination is a priority, since it is necessary to exclude a fracture of the jaw, damage to cartilage or ligaments;
dentist: his task is to make sure that jaw arthritis is not a complication of a diseased tooth;
an otolaryngologist checks the condition of ENT organs to exclude them from the list possible reasons diseases of the nose, throat, ears and related sinuses;
An infectious disease specialist will be needed if inflammatory processes of a viral or bacterial nature are detected in the body. If you have tuberculosis, you need to consult a phthisiatrician, and if you have skin rashes and unfavorable test results, the patient will be referred to a dermatovenerologist;
A rheumatologist will prescribe treatment if the jaw is affected by rheumatoid arthritis.

If during the examination there are suspicions of problems with trigeminal nerve, a visit to a neurologist will be mandatory.

One of the first instrumental studies will be radiography. This technique has a fairly low accuracy, but it is inexpensive and allows you to determine whether a fracture has occurred. To identify the presence/absence of microcracks, tomography, computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging is prescribed.

Therapy for jaw arthritis

If symptoms of inflammation of the maxillofacial joint are confirmed, treatment will be aimed at eliminating the cause of its development, but first the pain syndrome must be relieved.

Traumatic inflammation

The first thing that is required is to ensure the immobility of the affected joint. This should be done by a professional traumatologist. The patient's jaw is fixed with a sling-shaped bandage equipped with a special plate that prevents the jaws from closing. This allows the victim to eat food, even if only in liquid form. Cold compresses are recommended to prevent swelling; At the same time, the doctor will prescribe medications that prevent the development and spread of inflammatory processes. In most cases, systemic administration is also required, since injuries are associated with a gross violation of tissue integrity, which can lead to painful shock.

After swelling subsides to medicinal methods treatment will be supplemented with physical therapy designed to prevent the affected joint from fusing into a fixed conglomerate. Physiotherapy is also used: UHF, electrophoresis, diadynamic therapy, phonophoresis with hydrocortisone.

Infectious inflammation

If the cause of arthritis in the jaw joint is the action of harmful organisms, the main focus of therapy is treatment of the provoking disease. Until it is clear which aggressor started the inflammatory process, the doctor prescribes antibacterial drugs himself wide range influence. When the pathogen is identified, the medications are replaced by those that most effectively fight the specific disease.

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are also included in therapy, whose task is to counter the spread of inflammation. They are often combined with antihistamine complexes to make the swelling go down faster.

If conservative treatment turns out to be ineffective (usually this happens in the later stages of the disease), surgical intervention is prescribed. The operation is performed under general anesthesia, the cavity is cleaned of pus and a drainage is installed to remove the released fluids from the tissues. Postoperative treatment consists of painkillers and antibacterial drugs. If recovery proceeds without pathologies, physiotherapeutic procedures are prescribed 3-4 days after the surgeon’s work. Until the drainage is removed, the patient is prescribed a strict diet consisting exclusively of liquid food.

Rheumatoid inflammation

This type of jaw arthritis is mostly treated by a rheumatologist, although further guidance may be needed from other doctors. Drug treatment comes down mainly to relieving inflammation and pain; Physiotherapeutic procedures act as a supporting and accelerating effect. But therapy is not limited to these areas only, since when rheumatoid arthritis there is a very high probability of development, which threatens partial (and sometimes complete) loss of its mobility. This phenomenon is explained by pathological growth of tissue in the articular cavity; there is no gap left for rotation of the joint parts. Therefore, a person with such a diagnosis must constantly work on the diseased joint. The exercises are simple, but require regular performance, at least three times a day, and only after pain has been eliminated and inflammation has been relieved.

Experts in physical therapy consider four exercises to be the most effective:

the chin is pressed with the palm from below, the mouth slowly opens, overcoming resistance. With the same speed and the same pressure, the mouth closes;
the chin is grasped with the fingers, the jaw rises and falls. Your hand should press in the “down-back” direction;
fingers press on the side of the jaw; the chin moves left and right. Then pressure is applied from the opposite side, and the exercises are repeated;
the chin is pushed back by the hand; The jaw should be pushed forward as much as possible.

Each exercise is repeated three times. When performing them, pain may begin; if they are strong, you should do fewer approaches per day, reduce the intensity of pressure, or even take a break for several days. If the pain does not go away, the supervising doctor should be notified about the condition of the jaw.

It is worth making one more clarification. Like other diseases, inflammation of the jaw joint can go from acute to chronic. In this case, after the onset of a period of remission, the main emphasis in treatment is on physical therapy. In addition to the already mentioned electrophoresis and UHF, mud therapy and paraffin therapy provide good therapeutic results.

Possible complications

If you ignore the symptoms of inflammation of the jaw joint and do not start treatment on time (or replace it with amateur actions), then there is a risk of developing severe complications.

At infectious origin arthritis of the jaw, inflammation will not go away on its own. The pus that accumulates during the process can lead to the “melting” of the components of the joint - cartilage, capsule, ligaments. As a result, things can reach the point of complete immobilization of the joint.

With hematogenous and contact spread of microorganisms, a patient with jaw arthritis may develop meningitis. This is a very dangerous disease, manifested by severe headaches with a rise in body temperature to dangerous indicators(40 0 C and above), fainting and photophobia. Failure to accept urgent and professional measures leads to the death of a person.

Phlegmon of the temporal region. This is the name for inflammation accompanied by pus formation. It occurs in soft tissues and requires immediate surgical intervention. The root cause of phlegmon may well be jaw arthritis, but without additional circumstances it alone does not lead to the disease. The development of phlegmon also requires a persistent, long-term weakening of the immune system, which is often found in older people.

Inflammation of the jaw joint, left without proper treatment, can lead to sepsis - penetration into circulatory system pyogenic bacteria. Through it they are transported to all points of the human body. The consequence is a massive inflammatory process, manifested by weakness, pathologically excessive sweating, increased breathing and heart rate, and loss of consciousness. The most terrible outcome of the disease is septic shock, which in 50% of cases ends in the death of the patient.

Don't forget about ankylosis. Adhesions filling the articular cavity make the joint immobile; with a bilateral lesion, this results in the inability to open the mouth slightly; with a unilateral lesion, this results in a distortion of the face. The patient most likely will not die from hunger; surgeons and rheumatologists will be able to restore at least partial jaw mobility to the patient. But the treatment will be very long, painful and expensive. And the patient’s quality of life will become very low until the end of at least the first stage of treatment.

And finally, relapses. An incorrectly selected course of treatment, non-compliance with medical prescriptions, or insufficiently long therapy can relieve or smooth out symptoms. But the inflammatory focus remains, and inflammation of the jaw joint will soon begin with renewed vigor.

Require early start their treatment. And its course should be prescribed by a professional who is able to correctly determine the cause of the disease, take into account its severity and the characteristics of the patient’s physiology (age, presence concomitant diseases, resistance of the immune system and much more).

The temporomandibular joint is a three-way movable connection between the temporal bone and the lower jaw. It contains a cartilage disc and is surrounded by a capsule that produces a special joint fluid.

Thanks to it, the joint moves smoothly, providing the function of chewing and articulation. Among the possible pathologies of this formation, arthritis and arthrosis are the most common. The first is inflammation of the joint structures and nearby tissues, and arthrosis is its degenerative changes.

Causes of arthritis of the jaw joint

Inflammation of the jaw joint often develops due to infection entering it. But sometimes it is aseptic, i.e. is formed without the participation of microorganisms. Such aseptic inflammation can result from acute closed injury or chronic joint overload. The latter develops as a result of removal large quantities teeth on one side of the jaw or improper prosthetics for missing teeth.

Routes of infection in a joint

Microorganisms can enter the temporomandibular joint in several ways:

contact: from nearby tissues;
hematogenous: with blood from distant organs and tissues;
lymphogenous: with lymph flow;
from the outside: with open wounds.

Contact arthritis

The contact route of spread occurs most often. In this case, the root cause of inflammation can be:

otitis (inflammation of the middle ear) and mastoiditis as its complication;
tonsillitis (inflammation of the tonsils);
sialadenitis (inflammation of the salivary glands), often the parotid gland (mumps);
abscesses and phlegmons of soft tissues of the maxillofacial area;
boils and carbuncles of the temporal region;
osteomyelitis of the mandible or temporal bone;
acute pericoronitis (difficulty in the eruption of wisdom teeth).

Hematogenous arthritis

With the hematogenous spread of the pathogen, the causes of arthritis of the jaw joint can be:

Flu, measles, rubella;
Specific diseases (syphilis, tuberculosis, leprosy);
Autoimmune pathologies (rheumatoid arthritis, lupus);
Sepsis;
Common fungal infections.

Symptoms of arthritis of the jaw joint

Inflammation of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is characterized by the appearance of throbbing pain, which sharply intensifies when opening the mouth and any movements of the jaw. The intensity of the pain increases when pressing on the joint anterior to the ear, as well as when pressing on the chin. The joint area may swell. If nearby soft tissues are involved in the process, hyperemia (redness) of the skin in the ear area and its adhesion are sometimes observed. At the site of inflammation, the skin cannot be folded.

A pronounced limitation in mouth opening develops, when the patient cannot open it wider than a few millimeters. Flow acute inflammation accompanied by fever, chills, dizziness and other manifestations of general intoxication. Due to increasing swelling, the external auditory canal narrows, causing a feeling of ear fullness.

Such signs can be observed on one side, for example, with arthritis due to osteomyelitis of the lower jaw. Bilateral arthritis is characteristic of hematogenous infections (influenza), autoimmune diseases and sepsis.

Complications of arthritis of the jaw joint

Among the purulent complications of inflammation of the jaw joint are phlegmon of the temporal region, the development of meningitis or sepsis. In these cases, pus from the joint cavity spreads beyond its boundaries by breaking through the joint capsule. First, it can accumulate in soft tissues, and then spread through the vessels to other areas, incl. dura mater. The development of complications is accompanied by low immunity. Most often they develop in patients with immunodeficiency (HIV infection, etc.)

If acute arthritis is not treated in time, it can become chronic with the development of adhesions inside the joint cavity. In this case, fibrous ankylosis develops first. And then, as calcium salts are deposited, bone ankylosis forms with the development of complete immobility of the joint. This condition is accompanied by the inability to open the mouth with bilateral lesions or significant asymmetry of the face with unilateral lesions.

Diagnostics

To exclude jaw fractures in arthritis of traumatic origin, the patient undergoes a radiograph of the TMJ. It is not possible to detect inflammation itself on an x-ray. There may be only a slight widening of the joint space in the image due to edema. With the development of a complication such as ankylosis, the joint space, on the contrary, narrows or becomes completely invisible in the image. Basically, diagnosis consists of assessing clinical symptoms and taking a medical history.

Treatment of inflammation of the jaw joint

Treatment methods for inflammation of the jaw joint depend on the causes that caused it. So, in case of obligatory prescription of antibiotics and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. To reduce swelling in combination with them, it is recommended to take antihistamines. If conservative therapy does not have an effect, and there is a risk of pus spreading into the surrounding tissues, surgical drainage of the joint is performed.

For rheumatoid arthritis affecting the TMJ, the main treatment is prescribed by a rheumatologist.

In case of traumatic arthritis, the joint must be kept at rest. To do this, the patient is given a sling-shaped bandage, and a bite release plate is installed between the teeth on the affected side, which allows him to take liquid food through a tube. After the swelling will subside(3-4 days), recommended use physical therapy for joint development and prevention of ankylosis.

If acute arthritis becomes chronic, treatment is carried out using physiotherapeutic methods: electrophoresis with proteolytic enzymes (lidase, ronidase), UHF, paraffin therapy, diadynamic therapy, mud therapy.