Chiropractic Effective for TMJ Pain After Car Crash

Jaw pain is a fairly typical problem reported by many people after a auto injury, and it can be challenging for some physicians to find the root of the issue. Complicating the matter, oftentimes you won't experience TMJ symptoms until many weeks or months after the accident.

Jefferson Spine & Injury Center has treated many individuals with jaw pain after an injury, and the medical literature explains what triggers these types of symptoms. During a car crash, the tissues in your neck are commonly stretched or torn, causing ligament, muscle, or nerve injury. This can clearly cause pain in the neck and back, but since your central nervous system is one functioning unit, irritation of the nerves can cause problems in other parts of your body.

For instance, with radicular pain, irritation of a nerve can cause tingling or pins and needles in the arm and hand. Similarly, it can affect parts of your body above the injured tissues, like your head and jaw. Headaches after auto accident are very common because of neck injury, and the jaw works the same way. Jefferson Spine & Injury Center sees this very frequently in our Arlington office.

Research Shows Chiropractic Therapy Helps TMJ Pain After Car Crash

Studies have shown that the source of many jaw or TMJ symptoms starts in the neck and that treatment of the underlying neck problem can resolve the secondary headaches or jaw symptoms. The trick to dealing with these symptoms is simple: Jefferson Spine & Injury Center will work to return your spine back to health, relieving the inflammation, treating the injured tissues, and lessening the irritation to the nerves in your spine.

Jefferson Spine & Injury Center has found that jaw and headache symptoms often resolve once we restore your spine to its healthy state.

If you live in Arlington and you've been hurt in a crash, Jefferson Spine & Injury Center can help. We've been treating auto injury patients for many years and we can probably help you, too. Give our office a call today at (703) 933-9000 for an appointment or consultation.

Ciancaglini R, Testa M, Radaelli G. Association of neck pain with symptoms of temporomandibular dysfunction in the general adult population. Scandinavian Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine 1999;31:17-22.

Brantingham JW, Cassa TK, Bonnefin D, Pribicevic M, Robb A, et al. Manipulative and multimodal therapy for upper extremity and temporomandibular disorders: a system review. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics 2013;36(3):143-201.