Chiropractic Therapy Can Ease Jaw Pain Related to TMJ After Auto Injury

Jaw or TMJ pain is a fairly common problem reported by people after a auto collision, and it can be difficult for some physicians to diagnose the source of the issue. Complicating the issue, oftentimes you won't develop TMJ symptoms until many weeks or months after the accident.

Dr. Jung has treated many individuals with jaw pain after an injury, and the scientific literature explains what triggers these types of problems. During a auto accident, the tissues in your neck are oftentimes stretched or torn, causing ligament, muscle, or nerve injury. This can obviously cause pain in the neck and back, but since your central nervous system is one functioning unit, inflammation of the nerves can cause issues 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 or hand. Similarly, it can affect parts of your body above the injured area, like your head and jaw. Headaches after auto collision are very common because of neck injury, and the TMJ works the same way. Dr. Jung sees this very frequently in our Pinole office.

Research Proves Chiropractic Treatment Lessens TMJ Pain After Auto Accident

Research shows 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 dealing with these symptoms is simple: Dr. Jung will work to restore your spine back to health, decreasing the inflammatory reaction, treating the injured areas, and removing the irritation to the nerves in your spine.

Dr. Jung finds that jaw and headache symptoms often resolve once we return your spine to its healthy state.

If you reside in Pinole and you've been injured in a crash, Dr. Jung can help. We've been working with auto injury patients for many years and we can probably help you, too. Give our office a call today at (510) 243-7500 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.