Month: August 2021

Are you experiencing pain related to Temporomandibular Joint or TMJ? Is the pain hindering your daily lifestyle? If so, contact RiverView Health’s Rehab Services Department for relief.

The jaw is also known as the Temporomandibular Joint. The TMJ comprises several parts: the lower jaw (or mandible) and the socket (or temporal bone). In between the mandible and the socket is a disc. The disc allows the joint to glide smoothly on opening and closing. The joint is also held in place by muscles and ligaments. It can become painful due to injury, inflammatory disease, poor postures and habits, or growth disorders.

Temporal Mandibular Disorder (TMD) is the term used for the complex set of conditions characterized by pain and dysfunction as a result of a problem with the jaw, jaw joint and/or surrounding facial muscles that control chewing and jaw motion.

There are several causes for TMD, and frequently it is a combination of these rather than one single cause:

• Trauma, for example, a blow to the jaw either directly to the joint or elsewhere to the jaw
• Overactivity of the jaw muscles – this can occur from continuous clenching or grinding the teeth
• Wear and tear of the cartilage inside the joint
• Arthritis
• Increased sensitivity to pain linked to stress

Physical Therapist Lori Hefta works with patients suffering from TMD at RiverView Health. While TMDs are not life-threatening, Hefta stated that symptoms can negatively affect your quality of life over time if left untreated. Untreated TMD pain can affect your sleep, mood, eating habits, and even the way you sit and walk.

While pain is the most common sign of TMD, not everyone experiences pain. Symptoms can include:

• Pain in the jaw joints and facial muscles
• Clicking, grinding, or locking of the jaw
• Headaches and dizziness
• Difficulty opening or closing the mouth comfortably
• Pain on talking, chewing (especially hard food), and yawning
• Ear pain, ringing in the ears (tinnitus), and hearing loss
• Neck and shoulder pain

Hefta uses various techniques like massage, manipulation, and exercise to aid in pain relief for those suffering from TMD. These practices also work to minimize stiffness, restore normal function and mobility, and correct posture. Poor posture in sitting, standing, or lying down can cause prolonged over-stretching of the ligaments and surrounding tissues, including those of the jaw, according to Hefta. Learning exercises to keep a good posture makes it possible to prevent or relieve neck and jaw pain.

“Spine and neck problems often are helped by evaluating and treating TMJ limitations that patients don’t realize can be part of their problem,’’ Hefta shared. “For example, a patient will come in with neck pain, and their results from TMD treatment help relieve that pain.’’

For more information on physiotherapy management of TMD, call Rehab Services at 281.9463. A referral from a doctor, dentist, or chiropractor, depending on the situation, is needed.

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The Chautauqua & French-Canadian/Metis Festival is this weekend and will begin tomorrow afternoon. The 39th annual event, put on by the Association of the French of the North board (AFRAN) would be celebrating the 40th year of the event; however, it was canceled last year because of safety concerns with COVID-19.

There will be great entertainment throughout the week, and the Treasurer of the AFRAN board Jerry Amiot highlighted some of the big performances. “The program is fairly similar for Saturday and Sunday this year,” said Amiot. “At 12:30 p.m. those days, our President Virgil Benoit will give a welcome, and then at 1:00 p.m. each day, the band Poitin will play. And then, at 2:00 p.m. each day, Jan Smith, who is a storyteller, will talk about tales of midwifery.”

The band Poition (pah-CHEEN) is a six-piece band that plays fiddle, banjos, guitars, mandolins, Irish bouzouki, bodhran, harmonica, bass, and drums. The O’Neil’s Family Musicians will also be performing on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. Corey Medina & the brothers will perform Sunday at 3:30 p.m. These two performances replace the Ivan Flett Memorial Dancers who couldn’t make the festival due to concerns about crossing the Canadian border.

The event will begin on Friday night, however, as there will be a Potluck Picnic at 6:30 p.m. and a Bonfire with songs and storytelling at 8:30 p.m.

Admission for the event is free; however, the AFRAN board needs donations to keep the event going each year. Amiot talked about one of the big ways people can get involved. “Each day, there will be a silent auction, where there will be 40 items to bid on, and this is one way we use to raise money, said Amiot.” There will also be jars passed around during the event and performances for people to give free-will donations.

The board does receive $10,000 from the Northwest Minnesota Arts Council in the form of a grant but still needs an extra $12,000 each year as the event costs around $22,000 to put on. The donations from the public allow the AFRAN board to continue bringing the great event back each year. The board also uses any earnings that they receive from the food tent to help cover the costs.

The food tent will be on Saturday and Sunday and open from 11:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. Amiot talked about what the menu will look like this year. “This year will be featuring a prime burger and a traditional French-Canadian Turkey, known as “Meat pie,” said Amiot. “You can also select a meal, and you’ll be getting two different sides to choose from.”

With this event being in its 39th year, Amiot talked about how special it is to continue to bring it back each year. “It’s really almost remarkable when you think about how little funding there was back in the early 2000s,” said Amiot. “We had some minimal events during that time, and somehow we hung in there, and now we have plenty of events for the children and lots of vendors for our event.”

The festival will take place at the Old Crossing & Treaty Park 9 miles in Huot, Minnesota, Southwest of Red Lake Falls or 7 miles Northeast of Gentilly on County Road 11. For more information on the event or directions to the park, you can go to www.FrenchCanadianAFRAN.org.

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The Minnesota Department of Transportation announced that the detour on the Highway 9 bridge repair project near Ada is finished. The project includes a total of four bridges in northwest Minnesota.

• Hwy 9 bridge over Marsh River south of Ada
• Hwy 11 bridge over Silver Creek east of Baudette
• Hwy 32 bridge south of Greenbush
• Hwy 89 bridge over Roseau River northwest of Roseau

Motorists can expect lane closures for the remaining three bridge repairs.

The contractor for this $1.9 million project is PCI Roads. This project will create a safer, longer-lasting bridge and road surface. It is estimated to be complete by October weather permitting. Visit the project website below for more information: www.mndot.gov/d2/projects/bridges.

Important reminders for motorists regarding work zone safety:

• Slow down when approaching every work zone, then navigate through with care and caution.
• Stay alert; work zones constantly change.
• Watch for workers and slow-moving equipment.
• Obey posted speed limits. Fine for a violation in a work zone is $300.
• Minimize distractions behind the wheel.
• Be patient; expect delays, especially during peak travel times.

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The Crookston Housing & Economic Development Authority (CHEDA) has $18,000 left to give for their B3 Program “Building Better Business.” The Building Better Business funds assist with various start-up, improvement, or expansion expenses for local businesses. CHEDA looks to leverage existing investment dollars and creates additional funding mechanisms with these funds.

CHEDA Executive Director Amy Finch spoke more on what the money can be used for. “These funds historically have been sent over from the City with the last two installments being $50,000 increments each,” said Finch. “People can then apply for the grant, and the money can go towards marketing and advertising, start-up improvements, signage on windows, really a variety of things that might help someone’s business grow.”

Finch also discussed the maximum amount of money that can be received and what qualifications must be met. “The standard amount of money is $3,000,” said Finch. “There is an additional $1,000 that can be given to a business owner that’s graduated from Crookston and another $1,000 to a graduate from UMC or the Northland Technical and Community College. So, there is an opportunity to get up to $5,000 for specific businesses.”

Businesses interested in receiving the money must have specific outlines of what they will use the funds for. To be eligible, businesses must also be located within Crookston City limits and on a tax-paying property.

With the new board in place, there has been some concern regarding if the program will stay in place and if businesses can continue to benefit from it. Finch said she doesn’t see the program going anywhere and expects it to be back again once the funds run out. “There has not been specific discussion yet on the B3 program, but I have not picked up anything from anyone that would wish to discontinue it,” said Finch. “As those funds continue to disappear, there will start to be a discussion on if the board wants to continue the program, and at that time, additional funds can be sent over.”

The CHEDA board will look to discuss the B3 program more at upcoming meetings over the next couple of months and potentially make changes to the program if they decide to move forward. It has been a great benefit to local businesses and a win-win for all involved, which is part of the reason Finch believes the program will continue.

Business owners interested in learning more if they qualify can go to www.crookstonheda.com/ scroll down and click on the “Building Better Business” icon for more information.

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