I didn't always want to specialize in treating patient with headaches, migraines, neck pain and jaw pain. I actually went to Physical Therapy school because I wanted to work with people who had spinal cord injuries, but in school I learned that neurology was much more my jam!
It was during one of my jobs in outpatient neurology, at National Rehabilitation Hospital (NRH) in Washington D.C, that I was exposed to treating patients with concussions and jaw pain (TMD). I remembered learning about treating these conditions in school, but I had not been exposed to treating these conditions in any of my clinical settings.
Being someone who has TMD as well as had a concussion, I was super intrigued.
As I continued to learn about concussions and TMD, I finished my dry needling certification. The last portion of the course (face & jaw) was taught by a physical therapist who specialized in Craniofacial and Orofacial pain. What?!?! I had no CLUE that was a specialty in physical therapy!
Treating Craniofacial and Orofacial pain was different than anything else I had been exposed to.
Every person is different.
Every presentation is different.
There are so many pieces to the puzzle.
A multidisciplinary approach I needed for successful treatment.
Between having TMD and knowing what it is like and having a husband (Dr. Hubs) who had childhood sleep apnea and sees people with TMD and sleep disordered breathing daily in his practice I knew this patient population was my niche in the physical therapy world.
I knew this was the specialization for me.
I know I can make a difference.
A HUGE difference.