Can TMJ Cause Swollen Lymph Nodes?

Remember how you used to tell your mother as a child that you didn’t feel well and that you thought you were “coming down with something” to avoid going to school? Aside from your temperature, your mother would almost certainly check the sides of your neck.

You were probably wondering why your mother needed to check your neck and what she could be looking for at the time. Swollen lymph nodes are one of the symptoms that an individual may have an infection in their body.

Lymph nodes are small bean-shaped glands that are located throughout the body. Lymph node clusters can be found in the neck, underarms, thighs, and torso. They play an important role in the overall functioning of the body as part of the critical lymphatic system.

Additional Resource:

Learn more about TMJ: What is TMJ?

What Are Swollen Lymph Nodes?

When your lymph nodes swell, it means your body is most likely fighting off a temporary infection somewhere in your system. The lymph fluid circulates throughout the body after passing through the lymph nodes. As it does so, bacteria and viruses may be collected in the fluid, but immune cells will work to combat this infection.

If a virus or bacteria can cause an infection, immune cells will react by swelling the lymph nodes in the general area where the infection is located. The swelling can be as small as a pea or as large as a cherry. Swollen lymph nodes are often quite painful when touched, so your mother was feeling for any enlargement and seeing if you reacted to pain in the swollen areas.

Symptoms of Swollen Lymph Nodes

Swelling in the area where an infected lymph node is located, as you might expect, is one of the clear indicators that you have swollen lymph nodes. There are a number of other symptoms associated with swollen glands, including:

Tenderness in the affected area
Pain when touched or when engaging in certain movements
Visible lumps or clusters
Coughing
Night sweats
Chills
Fatigue
Runny nose
Fever
Sore throat

As you can see, many of these symptoms are typical of illnesses such as the flu or a cold. These symptoms could be a clear indication of a swollen lymph node.

How Are Swollen Lymph Nodes Related to Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMJ)?

When you visit your doctor with swollen glands, your doctor will be unable to determine the exact cause of the swelling without additional examination and diagnostic tests. This is due to the fact that swelling in the lymph nodes can be caused by a variety of factors. The temporomandibular joint disorder is one of the many causes of swelling.

What Is the Temporomandibular Joint and What Does It Do?

The temporomandibular joint serves as a hinge for your jaw muscles and contains cartilage that absorbs joint shock. TMJ pain and restrictions in jaw joint movement can occur if the disc in this complex joint erodes or becomes misaligned.

When the TMJ joints are damaged, you will likely experience jaw pain and the inability to use your jaw normally. TMJ symptoms include jaw popping, ear pain, lower and upper jaw problems, and even swollen lymph nodes.

Lymph node swelling can cause pain in the face, neck, or jaw. It is critical that you receive comprehensive TMJ treatment for your temporomandibular disorder in order to relieve pain and reduce swelling in the lymph nodes.

How Can Our TMJ Treatment Help You Get Rid of Jaw Pain?

Jana Powell, our massage therapist at Attune Massage in Richmond, VA, is here to help you find the relief you need for your TMJ pain. Through her experienced and skilled massage therapy, she can help to replace the disc in your jaw back into position and relieve the pain associated with TMJ disorder.

She can also provide you with exercises that you can do at home on your own to keep this disc in place. Jaw pain is caused by disc misalignment and a disruption in the cartilage that absorbs normal shock. Jana will assist you in improving your joint alignment and muscular balance while also allowing you to manage your symptoms on your own.

When dealing with TMJ disorder and jaw pain, our goal is to help you eliminate the need for pain relievers. We understand how inconvenient and irritating it can be to have a disruption in your jaw’s normal activities due to TMJ, and our experienced massage therapist is here to help you avoid it.

If you have swollen lymph nodes but do not feel ill, your TMJ disorder could be to blame. Contact Attune Massage in Richmond, VA, to learn more about our TMJ treatment methods and why the joint affects your lymph nodes.

Contact Us to Learn More about Swollen Lymph Nodes and TMJ Disorders

Jana, our Richmond, VA massage therapist, has helped many patients just like you who are suffering from pain in their upper or lower jaw caused by TMJ disorder. She understands how painful and uncomfortable pain can be, and she works hard to provide you with the pain relief and behavior modification techniques you require.

Contact Attune Massage in Richmond, VA, today to learn more about all of our treatment options for yourself or a family member (including the kids). She will assist you in overcoming tooth grinding and clenching, which may be exacerbating your TMJ symptoms on a daily basis.

Call now at (804) 901-2952 to schedule a facial massage with Jana and to learn more about TMJ’s relationship with your lymph nodes.