Jaw pain is a fairly common problem reported by many people after a car wreck, and it can be hard for some physicians to identify the root of the problem. Complicating the matter, very often you won't develop TMJ pain until many weeks or months after the incident.
Dr. Mark Holland has treated many men and women 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 damage. This can obviously cause pain in the neck and back, but since your nervous system is one functioning unit, inflammation 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 numbness in the arm or hand. Similarly, it can affect parts of your body above the injured tissues, like your head and jaw. Headaches after a collision are very common because of neck injury, and the TMJ works the same way. Dr. Mark Holland sees this very commonly in our North County St. Louis, MO office.
Research indicates that the source of many jaw or TMJ problems starts in the cervical spine and that treatment of the underlying neck injury can resolve the secondary headaches or jaw symptoms. The key to dealing with these symptoms is simple: Dr. Mark Holland will work to restore your spine back to health, alleviating the inflammation, treating the injured tissues, and eliminating the irritation to the nerves in your spine.
Dr. Mark Holland has found that jaw and headache symptoms often resolve once we restore your spine to its healthy condition.
If you live in North County St. Louis, MO and you've been hurt in a crash, Dr. Mark Holland can help. We've been treating auto injury patients since 2000, and we can most likely help you, too. Give our office a call today at (314) 867-8888 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.
We have a long-standing track record or helping people get out of pain with chiropractic care. Whether you were injured last week, or have been suffering from chronic pain for years - It might only take one visit to our office in Downtown Saint Louis, MO to get you back on the path to everyday health.
