Referral for Physical Therapy
Cranial Pain Solutions is focused on individualized treatment plans without the confines of insurance restrictions. This allows for greater flexibility in the amount of quality time with each patient spent one-on-one with their physical therapist, which is vital for proper assessment, hands-on manual techniques, and progression of the treatment plan.
Our goal is to collaborate with you and your patients to promote understanding of their individual conditions and create strategies for lifelong improvement and quality of life.
Patient Referral Form
Appropriate patients for Referral
When treating temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD), it’s crucial to understand the various symptoms and presentations of the condition to tailor an appropriate treatment plan. Examples of appropriate patients for referral to a craniofacial physical therapist includes:
Acute Lock or TMJ Pain Not Resolving in 2 Weeks:
- If an individual is experiencing a lock of the jaw or persistent TMJ pain that does not improve within two weeks despite conservative treatments (such as a modified diet, application of moist heat or ice, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), muscle relaxers, and/or the use of a temporary oral appliance), this may indicate the need for a more comprehensive assessment and treatment strategies.
Progressing Pain Pattern with Referred Pain:
- When pain from the TMJ starts to refer to other areas such as the face, ear, neck, headaches, or spreading to the opposite side, it signifies a worsening condition or a complex presentation.
Chronic TMD Interfering with Daily Activities:
- If TMD symptoms become chronic and start to significantly impact daily activities such as eating, talking, and sleeping. Chronic conditions may lead to adaptive changes in muscle function and even affect nutritional intake and mental health due to the constant pain and functional limitations.
Persistent Headaches Radiating from the Neck or TMJ:
- Headaches that persist, particularly those radiating from the neck or the TMJ area, may be related to muscular tension, nerve compression, or misalignment within the cervical spine or TMJ. Persistent headaches require a closer look at the neuromuscular connections to find the source rather than just treating the symptoms.
Cervical or Thoracic Pain and/or Upper Extremity Radicular Symptoms:
- Pain that extends from the cervical (neck) or thoracic (upper back) regions and includes radicular symptoms (such as tingling, numbness, or weakness) into the arms may indicate nerve involvement. This can be a result of nerve compression or irritation in the neck, which could be related or concurrent to TMJ issues.
Motor Pattern Changes – Overuse of Cervical, Masticatory, and Tongue Muscles:
- Changes in motor patterns, especially the overuse of cervical, masticatory, and tongue muscles during mandibular movements, suggest that the normal biomechanics of jaw movement are altered. This can lead to muscle fatigue, increased pain, and further dysfunction.
In all these scenarios, an interdisciplinary approach may be warranted, involving dental specialists, physical therapists with expertise in craniofacial and cervical spine issues, and possibly speech language pathologists, and neurologists.
The treatment plan may include advanced manual therapy, targeted exercises for neuromuscular re-education, pain management strategies, and sometimes more interventional procedures depending on the underlying cause and severity of symptoms. The goal is to address not only the symptoms but also the root cause of the dysfunction to provide long-term relief and improved quality of life.
