Ukugudluka Kwemihlathi—Umkhohlisi Omkhulu

ULARRY wayecabanga ukuthi ulahlekelwa ingqondo. Izinyanga eziyisikhombisa wayelokhu ezwa imisindo encencethayo nechwazayo. Waya kudokotela owuchwepheshe kwezemithi elapha ingaphakathi nakudokotela onolwazi lwezindlebe. Bobabili abazange bayithole imbangela yenkinga yakhe.

URobert wachitha imali engaphezu kuka-R7 500 ezama ukwelapha izinhlungu eziqaqambayo zekhanda lakhe. Uthi, “Ngaya kodokotela abanolwazi, ezibhedlela kuyo yonke indawo . . . ngenziwa konke ukuxilonga.” Odokotela bamnikeza izidungamizwa eziqeda izinhlungu nokucindezeleka kwemisipha, kodwa izinhlungu zekhanda zaqhubeka.

Eminyakeni eminingi uPauline wayehlushwa ubuhlungu bezinyo obubeleselayo. Udokotela wakhe wamazinyo akatholanga lutho olungalungile emazinyweni akhe futhi wabe esemthumela kudokotela ovamile. Lodokotela wamphindisela kudokotela wamazinyo, owakhipha izinyo. Ebambe izinyo ngodlawu ekukhanyeni, udokotela wamazinyo wathi: “Lelizinyo liphila saka.” Lapho isidungamizwa sesiphelile, izinhlungu zabuya.

Nakuba izimpawu zabo zazehluka, labantu abathathu babenesifo esifanayo. Yileso esiphatha abantu abangaphezu kwezigidi eziyishumi eUnited States iyodwa. Ngenxa yokuthi silingisa ezinye izifo eziningi, siye sethiwa ngokuthi “Umkhohlisi Omkhulu.” Abaningi esibaphethe abazi ukuthi banaso. Kungenzeka ukuthi abaningi abakaze bezwe ngisho nokuzwa ngaso.

Lesisifo sibizwa ngokuthi isifo seTMJ (temporomandibular joint).a Ngaphezu kwezinkinga ezishiwo ngenhla, isifo seTMJ singabangela futhi ubuhlungu bemisipha yomhlathi, ubuhlungu bobuso, intamo kanye namahlombe okuqaqambayo, ubuhlungu beso, ubuhlungu bamankanka, isiyezi, ngisho futhi nokungezwa. Ngenxa yalezimpawu ezihlukahlukene, izifo zeTMJ ngokuvamile zipopolwa ngokungeyikho noma azitholwa nokutholwa lapho zipopolwa. Ngenxa yalokho, abantu abaningi bagqigqa kodokotela abahlukahlukene, odokotela abangochwepheshe ezifweni ezithile, ngenxa yokungakwazi ukuthola ikhambi lezinhlungu abanazo. Abanye, ngenxa yokuphelelwa yithemba, baphendukela kodokotela bezifo zengqondo, kuyilapho abanye begimbela imilaliso yokuqeda izinhlungu. Kodwa kungcono kakhulu ukuzama ukubonana nodokotela wamazinyo onolwazi. Ngokunokwenzeka anganikeza usizo​—⁠usizo ngokuvamile olungenazinhlungu noluhlala njalo.

Ukudalulwa Komkhohlisi

Cabangela ubunjalo besimo. Izinhlafuno (ngamunye wethu unezimbili) zihlanganisa umhlathi ongezansi nogebhezi lwekhanda. Lezinhlafuno zisenza sikwazi ukunyakazisa imihlathi yethu iye phansi naphezulu, phambili nasemuva, futhi ngisho nasemaceleni. Ziyasebenza noma nini lapho sikhuluma, sihlafuna, sizamula, sigwinya, noma simoyizela. Izinhlafuno zisebenza nesimiso esiyinkimbinkimbi futhi esibambisene semisipha, amathambo, izicubu, imizwa, kanye nemithambo yegazi. Kubantu abaningi konke lokhu kusebenza ndawonye ngokuzwana futhi akudali nkinga.

Nokho, uma umhlathi ugudlukile, umphumela ungaba ubuhlungu obuqaqambayo. Lesimo siye safaniswa nokuphoqelelwa komuntu ongamamitha angu-1,8 ubude ukuba ame endlini engamamitha angu-1,75 nje kuphela ubude. Angase abe kulesosimo sokugoba okwesikhashana engezwa buhlungu, kodwa ngokuhamba kwesikhathi kancane kancane ubuhlungu bungaqala ukuzwakala. Ngokufanayo, lapho umhlathi ungahlali endaweni yawo yophahla lwamathambo, kufanele usekelwe imisipha ngokuqhubekayo. Umphumela uyafana nalowo womuntu omude ngaphansi kophahla olufushane​—⁠izinhlungu.

INhlangano yaseMelika Yokubuyisela Imihlathi Endaweni Yayo ithi lapho izinhlafuno ziguqukile endaweni yazo, zingabangela “uhlobo olubi kakhulu lokucindezeleka komzimba ngenxa yokuthi ayikho indlela umzimba ongathola ngayo ukukhululeka.” Ngokungafani nesitho esilimele, esingaphunyuzwa, imihlathi kanye nemisipha ekanye nayo ihlala isebenza ngaso sonke isikhathi, ubusuku nemini.

Ekhulumela imiphumela yokucindezeleka okunjalo okuqhubekayo kulezinhlafuno kanye nemisipha, udokotela wamazinyo uHarold Gelb waseNew York, owuchwepheshe wezinkinga zeTMJ, uyabhala: “Ukucindezeleka kwenza imisipha esicindezelekile kakade ekhanda, entanyeni, kanye nasemahlombe ibe nenkwantshu. Ukujikeleza kwegazi kulemisipha kuyoba okulinganiselwe ngenxa yokuqhunsuka kwazo, futhi lapho igazi lingajikelezi khona kahle, ukungcola okwakhiwa izinqubo zamangqamuzana omzimba kuyanqwabelana futhi kwakhe izindawo ezidala ubuhlungu ngaphakathi emangqamuzaneni. Izindawo ezidala ubuhlungu zingathumela izinhlungu kunoma iyiphi indawo emzimbeni; ubuhlungu obusegxalabeni bungabangela ubuhlungu obukhulu ohlangothini lwekhanda, bulingise ubuhlungu bekhanda okuthiwa imigraine. . . . Ngenxa yokuthi okuningi kokucindezeleka okubangelwa ukugudluka komhlathi kugxila ezinyameni ezisekhanda, intamo, kanye namagxalaba, eziningi zezimpawu zenzeka kuleyondawo.”

Yini Ebangela Izifo Ze-TMJ?

Kodwa empeleni lezinhlafuno zigudluka kanjani endaweni yazo? Ngezinye izikhathi kuwumphumela wokushayeka kwekhanda, intamo, noma umhlathi. Umkhuba ongemuhle wokuhlafuna noma wokugwinya ungase ube yimbangela yalokhu. Nokho, imbangela evamile kakhulu isimo lapho amazinyo angenhla nangezansi engahlangani kahle.

Ngokuvamile ukuphuma kwenhlafuno endaweni yayo kwenziwa kube kubi kakhulu imikhuba yomlomo, enjengokuququda amazinyo, ukubamba ipipi ngamazinyo, ukuhlafuna amapeni okubhala. Noma ukungalingani kungabangelwa imikhuba engemihle yokumisa umzimba, njengalapho ufingqana lapho uhlezi edesikini noma unomkhuba wokusekela isilevu sakho ngesandla.

INhlangano Yamazinyo yaseMelika ichaza ukuthi lapho imisipha yomhlathi kanye nezinhlafuno kungakwazi ukubambisana kahle, ngokuvamile umphumela uba inkwantshu yemisipha. Inkwantshu yemisipha ibangela ubuhlungu, ukuzwela, kanye nokulimala kwezinyama. Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi izinhlafuno kanye nemisipha ngokwayo kuyalimala, futhi ikhono lakho lokusebenza kahle liphazamiseka ngisho nangaphezulu. Lokhu kuholela enkwantshini eyengeziwe, ubuhlungu obengeziwe, nokulimala okwengeziwe.

Lokho Ongakwenza

Bungaqedwa kanjani ubuhlungu beTMJ? Ngezinye izikhathi ukuthoba ubuso ngokushisa okunomswakama kungaletha ukukhululeka. Eminye imilaliso ingasiza futhi kwezinye izimo, kodwa lokhu uma kungcono kakhulu kuhlala nje isikhathi esifushane. Ukuthola ikhambi elihlala njalo ngokuvamile kuhilela ukulungisa imikhuba emibi eyenza izinhlafuno zicindezeleke kanye nemisipha ehlobene nazo, izicubu, imizwa, njalonjalo. Kungase futhi kuhilele ukubuyiselwa kwemihlathi endaweni efanelekile.

Umkhuba oyingozi kakhulu uwukuqinisa kakhulu noma ukuququda amazinyo. Ngokuvamile, amazinyo omuntu kufanele athi ukuhlukana kancane ngaphandle kwalapho ehlafuna noma egwinya. Nokho, cishe amaphesenti angu-40 abantu abahlushwa iTMJ anomkhuba wokuhlanganisa amazinyo kuyilapho kufanele ahlukaniswe, ikakhulukazi ebusuku lapho silele. Ngokuvamile, lomkhuba wokuqinisa amazinyo uwukusabela ekucindezelekeni okungokomzwelo noma ekungahlanganini kahle kwamazinyo.

Ngakho, yini engenziwa ngokuqinisa amazinyo? Abanye baye bakwazi ukugqashula kulomkhuba ngokunciphisa noma ukuqeda ukucindezeleka okungokomzwelo okuwubangelayo. Odokotela bamazinyo baye basiza abanye ngokufaka phezu kwamazinyo ucwephe lokuluma olungabonakali, oluvimbela imiphumela eyingozi yokuqinisa amazinyo. Njengoba ngokuvamile lufakwa ebusuku, lento ewupulasitiki ivimbela amazinyo ekuhlanganeni ngendlela engeyiyo. Ngokuvamile, ukufaka lokhu kuletha usizo ngokushesha.

Kunezinye izinto ongazenza ukuze unciphise ukucindezeleka emihlathini. Gwema ukuncikisa isilevu sakho esandleni sakho. Ungahlali ugobe phezu kwedeski lakho, futhi ungabambi ucingo ngesilevu ehlombe lakho. Nyakazisa imihlathi ngendlela ekhululekile nelawulwayo. Futhi ungagedli amapeni okubhala.

Lokho Okungenziwa Udokotela Wakho Wamazinyo

Uma kakade usuhlushwa ubuhlungu beTMJ, ngokunokwenzeka uzodinga ukwelashwa udokotela wamazinyo. Njengoba ukuma kwamazinyo lapho umlomo uvaliwe kubonisa ukuma komhlathi, udokotela wamazinyo angase anqume ukushintsha indlela amazinyo ahlangana ngayo. Lokho ukwenza ngokuhhudla amanye amazinyo futhi mhlawumbe ngokuphakamisa amanye​—⁠inqubo ebizwa ngokuthi ukubuyisela imihlathi endaweni efanele (equilibration). Lokhu kwenza umhlathi ume kahle nangendlela engabangi-buhlungu. Inqubo yokubuyisela amazinyo idinga isikhathi kanye nekhono kudokotela wamazinyo, kodwa ngokuvamile isiguli asizwa buhlungu.

Ngokuvamile imiphumela iyamangalisa. URobert, okukhulunywe ngaye ekuqaleni, wenza ukuba amazinyo akhe alungiswe ngalendlela. Uthi, “Ngokuphazima kweso, ngezwa sengathi nganginamazinyo amasha emlonyeni wami. Futhi okungcono kunakho konke, zazingasekho izinhlungu.” Omunye wababaza: “Kuzwakala sengathi nginomlomo omusha!”

Nokho, naphezu kwempumelelo ekhona ekwelapheni labo abanesifo seTMJ, kukude kakhulu ukuba siqondwe ngokuphelele. Ngokwesibonelo, iyini imbangela yangempela yalezimpawu? Futhi kungani abanye abanemihlathi egudluke kakhulu kungabakhathazi nhlobo lokho kuyilapho abanye egudluke kancane kubo bezwa ubuhlungu obukhulu? Ingabe ubuntu buyisici esinqumayo? Futhi, empeleni ubuhlungu budluliselwa kanjani busuka kwenye ingxenye yomzimba buye kwenye?

Izimpendulo zalemibuzo kanye neminye ziyacwaningwa futhi odokotela bamazinyo banezinkulumo-mpikiswano ngazo. Nokho, kunoMuntu oyedwa okuqonda ngokugcwele konke ukusebenza kanye nezinkinga zomzimba womuntu. LoMuntu uye wathembisa ukuqeda konke ukungapheleli okubangela ubuhlungu nokuhlupheka esintwini.​—⁠IsAmbulo 21:⁠4.

Okwamanje, uma usola ukuthi unesifo seTMJ, kungani ungavakasheli udokotela wamazinyo onolwazi ngalomkhohlisi omkhulu? Kungenzeka akwazi ukukusiza.

[Umbhalo waphansi]

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Ingabe Umhlathi Wakho Ugudlukile Endaweni Yawo?

Uma uphendula ngoyebo emibuzweni elandelayo, kungenzeka ukuthi kunjalo.

1. Beka iminwe yakho ezinhlangothini zobuso bakho ngaphambi nje kwendlebe ngayinye, lapho ongakwazi khona ukuzwa izinhlafuno. Manje vula futhi uvale umlomo wakho izikhathi eziningana. Ingabe uyakuzwa ukuqhuma kwezinhlafuno?

2. Ngokulandelayo faka ngokucophelela endlebeni ngayinye izihloko zocikicane bakho, ubacindezele phambili ngasemnyango wendlebe. Phinda uvule futhi uvale umlomo. Kufanele uzwe ithambo lomhlathi lisunduza iminwe yakho. Ingabe liqapheleka kakhulu ngakolunye uhlangothi kunakolunye? Ingabe kubuhlungu ukwenza lokhu?

3. Ingabe ngezinye izikhathi kunzima ukuvula umlomo wakho, noma ingabe uzwa ubuhlungu lapho uwuvula kakhulu?

4. Ingabe kukhona ukuzwela noma ubuhlungu emhlathini wakho noma ubuso noma ngasezindlebeni?

5. Ingabe kuba buhlungu lapho uhlafuna noma uzamula?

6. Ingabe uqinisa noma uququde amazinyo lapho ulele? (Okubonisayo ukuthi uyakwenza ubuhlungu noma ukukhathala kwemihlathi lapho uvuka.)

7. Ingabe imihlathi yakho ike ibambeke kangangokuba ungakwazi ukuvula noma ukuvala umlomo wakho?