Jaw pain is a fairly common problem reported by many people after a car crash, and it can be challenging for some doctors to identify the source of the problem. Complicating the matter, many times you won't develop TMJ pain until many weeks or months after the accident.
Dr. Holland has helped many people with jaw pain after an injury, and the medical literature explains what triggers these types of symptoms. During a crash, 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, inflammation of the nerves can cause issues in other parts of your body.
For example, 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 injury, like your head and jaw. Headaches after a crash are very common because of neck injury, and the TMJ works the same way. Dr. Holland sees this very frequently in our St. Louis, MO office.
Research shows that the source of many jaw or TMJ symptoms begins in the neck and that treatment of the underlying neck problem can resolve the secondary headaches or jaw symptoms. The secret to dealing with these symptoms is simple: Dr. Holland will work to restore your spine back to health, reducing the inflammatory reaction, treating the injured areas, and eliminating the irritation to the nerves in your spine.
Dr. Holland finds that jaw and headache issues often resolve once we return your spine to its healthy condition.
If you reside in St. Louis, MO and you've been injured in a crash, Dr. Holland can help. We've been working with auto injury patients since 2000, and we can probably help you, too. Give our office a call today at (314) 588-9100 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.
