Jaw or TMJ pain is a fairly typical condition reported by people after a car wreck, and it can be tough for some physicians to identify the root of the problem. Complicating the matter, very often you won't experience TMJ symptoms until many weeks or months after the accident.
Back Pain Chiropractic has treated many people with jaw pain after an injury, and the scientific literature explains what triggers these types of symptoms. During a crash, the tissues in your spine are commonly stretched or torn, causing ligament, muscle, or nerve injury. This can obviously cause pain in the neck and back, but since your nervous system is one functioning unit, irritation of the nerves can cause pain 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 a wreck are very common because of neck injury, and the TMJ works the same way. Back Pain Chiropractic sees this very commonly in our Texarkana office.
Research indicates that the root of many jaw or TMJ symptoms originates in the cervical spine and that treatment of the underlying neck problem can resolve the secondary headaches or jaw symptoms. The key to resolving these symptoms is simple: Back Pain Chiropractic will work to return your spinal column back to health, decreasing the inflammatory reaction, treating the injured areas, and removing the irritation to the nerves in your spine.
Back Pain Chiropractic finds that jaw and headache issues often resolve once we restore your spine to its healthy condition.
If you live in Texarkana and you've been injured in a car crash, Back Pain Chiropractic can help. We've been working with auto injury patients since 1988, and we can probably help you, too. Give our office a call today at 870-774-0951 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.
Dr. Venita takes great pride in helping patients of all ages experience hope and healing through excellent chiropractic care. Her compassionate manner, combined with her extensive skill set, continues to draw patients to the clinic. If for some reason, we are not the right fit, we will help lead you to someone that can provide care to your needs.
