Chiropractic Effective for TMJ Pain After Car Crash

Jaw or TMJ pain is a fairly common condition reported by many people after a car crash, and it can be confusing for some doctors to identify the cause of the issue. Complicating the matter, very often you won't experience TMJ pain until many weeks or months after a crash.

Dr. Holland has treated many individuals with jaw pain after an injury, and the medical literature explains what produces these types of symptoms. During a auto injury, the tissues in your neck are frequently stretched or torn, causing ligament, muscle, or nerve damage. This can clearly cause pain in the neck and back, but since your 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 prickling 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 collision are very common because of neck injury, and the TMJ works the same way. Dr. Holland sees this very commonly in our North County St. Louis, MO office.

Research Supports Chiropractic Therapy Lessens TMJ Pain After Auto Accident

Research shows that the root of many jaw or TMJ problems originates in the neck 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. Holland will work to restore your spine back to health, reducing the inflammation, treating the injured areas, and lessening the irritation to the nerves in your spine.

Dr. Holland has found that jaw and headache issues often resolve once we restore your spine to its healthy condition.

If you reside in North County St. Louis, MO and you've been injured in a crash, Dr. Holland can help. We've been treating auto injury patients for many years 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.