What Does Jaw (TMJ) Pain Feel Like?
As an executive mum balancing the demands of your career and family, persistent aches and pains can often take a backseat to your responsibilities. However, jaw pain, also referred to as TMJ (temporomandibular joint) pain, can significantly impact your quality of life. In this blog lets understand the symptoms and recognise how TMJ issues manifest as these are the first steps toward finding relief.

The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) connects the lower jaw (mandible) to the temporal bone of the skull on both sides of your head. It functions as a sliding hinge, enabling movements like talking, chewing, and yawning. When this joint or the muscles surrounding it experience dysfunction, it can lead to TMJ disorder, causing pain and discomfort in the jaw and beyond.

These are some of the most common sings of TMJ dysfunction: 
Pain in the Jaw Area: One of the most common symptoms is localised pain in front of your ears, on one or both sides. This pain may worsen with jaw movement, such as chewing, speaking, or yawning.

Stiffness and Limited Jaw Movement: TMJ issues can cause stiffness, making it difficult to open or close your mouth fully. Movements like sliding your jaw forward, backward, or side-to-side may feel restricted.

Clicking or Popping Sounds: Some individuals experience clicking or popping noises when they open or close their mouths. While not always painful, these sounds indicate irregular movement within the joint.

Headaches and Radiating Pain: TMJ pain can radiate to the temples, creating tension headaches. Some people also report pain spreading to the neck, shoulders, or even down the arms, mimicking other conditions.

Tooth Sensitivity or Discomfort: TMJ issues can mimic dental problems, causing unexplained tooth sensitivity or discomfort. This can often lead to confusion between jaw pain and dental concerns.

Ear Pain or Fullness: Given the proximity of the TMJ to the ears, many people experience earaches, a feeling of fullness, or even ringing in the ears (tinnitus) as part of TMJ dysfunction.

For busy executive mums, jaw pain can contribute to stress and reduced productivity, making it harder to focus on your work and family. TMJ issues can stem from a variety of factors, including stress, teeth grinding, and, surprisingly, poor posture. Forward head posture, for example, places unnecessary strain on the jaw joint, exacerbating pain and discomfort.

Watch this video to learn how jaw pain can be related to your posture?


If you’re experiencing TMJ pain, addressing the root causes, like poor posture, is essential. Incorporating gentle jaw exercises (you can find these in the free training "Simple solutions to manage your Jaw Pain" in my free community HERE) and adopting posture-friendly habits can also make a significant difference. Remember, TMJ pain is manageable, and understanding its symptoms can help you take proactive steps toward relief. 

HERE is a free guide on 'How to maintain a good posture while working from home' 

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MEET SWATI

 
Hi there! 
I am Swati, an Executive Mum Power Coach and a Certified Posture Expert. I use my proven system to help mums of younger kids working in high-stress executive jobs manage their back, neck, and nerve pains, despite low energy levels and brain fog. I do all this without taking away a big chunk of their time out of their already busy day. This enables them to be more productive and capable professionals at work and guilt-free mums who can focus on their kids instead of always being distracted by pain. 



My passion for helping executive mums stems from my own experiences. I have been in the same boat and understand the frustration and helplessness of being in constant pain or being afraid to engage in activities due to the fear of pain. After two pregnancies in the span of three years and juggling my two kids, housework, and a demanding job, I was constantly in pain. The weight gain from motherhood added extra stress to my already overburdened spine and joints. I was stuck in a vicious cycle of weight loss and spinal/nerve pain that I just couldn’t break free from.

On top of the physical pain, I also suffered from adrenal fatigue. I often felt exhausted, waking up groggy even after a full night’s (10 to 12 plus hours!) sleep, and struggled with low energy levels and brain fog. Simple tasks became challenging, and I found myself forgetting things and unable to think clearly. It was incredibly frustrating and made it even harder to balance my professional responsibilities and family life.

My work involved long hours of standing during the day, prolonged hours on the laptop in the evening, and lots of running around and rocking my kids to sleep in between. Despite my knowledge and expertise in pain relief, I still found myself unable to escape the constant daily pain and fatigue.

Sitting at a desk job from 9 to 5, or longer, plus endless meetings that seem to go on forever. The frequent traveling, the uncomfortable hotel pillows that make it impossible to get a good night’s sleep—I’ve experienced it all. I remember not being able to share my discomfort at work because I felt like an imposter, talking about pain relief strategies and focusing on work while I was not able to achieve it myself. I didn’t disclose the extent of my pain and forgetfulness to my colleagues for years. Even though I loved my kids and my job, I couldn’t give 100% to either. The discomfort held me back from reaching my full potential, making me feel guilty as a mum and less productive at work. I felt like I was constantly running on empty, unable to catch a break from the pain and exhaustion.

finally got fed up after years of trying and decided to make a New Year’s resolution to get ‘healthy’ instead of focusing solely on my pain, fatigue, forgetfulness, and weight loss. When I shifted my focus to getting healthier by reducing the inflammation in my body and addressing my adrenal fatigue, the pain started to decrease, my energy levels and focus improved, and the pounds started shedding off too! That, of course, meant a happier spine, nerves, joints, and a happier me! Today, my neck, back, and nerve pain are down to zero, my knee pain has reduced by 75%, my brain fog has reduced drastically and my energy levels are higher than ever. I realized that I had been focusing on the wrong solutions for over a decade!

Now, my mission is to share my knowledge of pain relief and managing adrenal fatigue along with my personal experience with other mums, especially those with younger kids who work in high-stress executive jobs. My goal is to help you find lasting relief, boost your energy, and reclaim your life, just as I did. 

If you can relate to all this, you are not alone. As a mum, I have been there and done that—momma, I got you! I’ve helped hundreds of mums in this situation over the years find their solution to manage spinal and joint pains, low energy levels, and brain fog that hold them back. This enables them to feel confidently in control and empowers them to cultivate that confidence and productivity at work and enjoy being with their kids, to be able to run around with them without the fear of injury or pain.

Are you ready for this journey? Ask me how if you are curious.

Let's DO THIS!
xx Swati
** Executive Mum Power Coach **

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