Chiropractic Effective for TMJ Pain After Car Crash

Jaw pain is a fairly common condition experienced by many people after a auto collision, and it can be difficult for some doctors to diagnose the root of the issue. Complicating the issue, many times you won't experience TMJ pain until many weeks or months after a crash.

Dr. Covington has treated many individuals with jaw pain after an injury, and the scientific research explains what triggers these types of symptoms. During a auto injury, the tissues in your neck are oftentimes 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 pain 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 injury, like your head and jaw. Headaches after car crash are very common because of neck injury, and the jaw works the same way. Dr. Covington sees this very commonly in our Yakima office.

Research Shows Chiropractic Therapy Helps TMJ Pain After Auto Accident

Research shows that the root 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 key to resolving these symptoms is simple: Dr. Covington will work to return your spinal column back to health, decreasing the inflammation, treating the injured areas, and eliminating the irritation to the nerves in your spine.

Dr. Covington has found that jaw and headache issues often resolve once we return your spine to its healthy state.

If you reside in Yakima and you've been hurt in a crash, Dr. Covington 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 (509) 895-7535 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.