TMJ Patient, Andria Stafford treated by Deborah Karlan L.M.T
I’ve had diagnosed TMJD for approximately 6 years. I’ve been diagnosed with migraines for 13 years. After a particularly intense flair-up of my TMJ pain, I saw an oral surgeon who specializes in treatment of TMJD. At the time, I was advised that my condition was intense, with severe arthritis on my right joint and serious arthritis on my left. I was advised that because I already had a well-adjusted splint and was currently taking pain killers- both over the counter and prescription- that there was nothing more that could be done for me. I was told that my condition would continue to worsen but that I had no options. I pressed for another means of treating the pain, something that didn’t require pills and was given a prescription for physical therapy. The doctor’s office advised me to find someone who would do both work with both the inside and outside of my mouth.
After calling a few other practices to see who they recommended, I was given Deborah Karlans name. After describing my condition and the pain I was in, I was able to see her the same day I called. I begin to have improvement in the amount of pain I was in with that first visit. Deborah was patient and explained exactly what she was doing and why she expected that to help. Being in pain makes me nervous, so her patient manner was exactly what I needed. She talked as she worked and gave me an assessment at the end of our first session- that she could work with me to help get my pain under control and I was NOT out of options.
I began seeing Deborah twice a week for massage therapy. During my initial treatment, she also shared her knowledge to help me start my own regimen to treat both my pain and structure issues. She focused most of her massage attention on my TMJ and related pain but soon discovered that I was showing signs of additional problems. Deborah encouraged me to see a chiropractor regarding some pain and issues I was experiencing with my neck and back. These areas of pain have been with me for so long that I had written them off as permanent and untreatable- all my medical doctors in the past said there was nothing physically wrong with me and to take pain medication when it hurt.
The chiropractor was able to identify and treat two serious problems with my cervical spine that were exacerbating my TMJ condition and causing a host of other problems. My treatment consisted of adjusting the atlas vertebrate, which was off center and causing a lot of imbalance in my skeletal system. I was surprised to hear the chiropractor identify the same problem Deborah had suggested as a possible culprit for my pain. Since my atlas adjustment and subsequent massage therapy, I have had fewer migraines, less chronic headache, and less intense headache pain. I spent years without ever responding to any prescription migraine treatment and it appears as though this was the answer all along. My TMJ pain has calmed down considerably and is much more isolated to specific areas, rather than spread all over my face, neck and shoulders.
My current treatment is a combination of Deborah’s massage, chiropractic manipulation by my doctor, and home exercise/lifestyle adjustment. For me, Deborah’s skill and experience in this area lead to not only a reduction of my TMJ pain (on a scale of 1 to 10, it was previously an 8 or 9 and is now down to 3 or 4) but also a treatment of underlying issues that went improperly diagnosed for years. Had it not been for her specific area of expertise, and my own willingness to trust in her and her recommendations, I would still be in a tremendous amount of pain with no hope of treating the actual cause.
I would whole heartedly recommend Deborah’s services anyone who suffers from chronic pain, whether it is TMJ related or otherwise. I am confident in her ability to treat not just the immediate pain, but the condition as a whole so that her patients can get back to a normal, healthy life.
-Andria Staffan
