Jaw pain is a fairly common problem experienced by many people after a car crash, and it can be confusing for some doctors to diagnose the source of the problem. Complicating the matter, very often you won't experience TMJ symptoms until many weeks or months after the original injury.
Lifeplus Health Centers has treated many people with jaw pain after an injury, and the scientific literature explains what causes these types of problems. During a auto accident, the tissues in your spine are oftentimes stretched or torn, causing ligament, muscle, or nerve damage. This can clearly cause pain in the neck and back, but since your central nervous system is one functioning unit, irritation 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 numbness in the arm or hand. Similarly, it can affect parts of your body above the injury, like your head and jaw. Headaches after car accident are very common because of neck injury, and the TMJ works the same way. Lifeplus Health Centers sees this very often in our Lynnwood office.
Studies have shown that the root of many jaw or TMJ symptoms starts in the neck and that treatment of the underlying neck problem can fix the secondary headaches or jaw symptoms. The secret to dealing with these symptoms is simple: Lifeplus Health Centers will work to return your spinal column back to health, reducing the inflammatory reaction, treating the injured areas, and removing the irritation to the nerves in your spine.
Lifeplus Health Centers has found that jaw and headache issues often resolve once we restore your spine to its healthy state.
If you live in Lynnwood and you've been injured in a car crash, Lifeplus Health Centers can help. We've been working with auto injury patients for many years and we can most likely help you, too. Give our office a call today at (425) 775-2288 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.
Dr. Stephanie Greenall was born in Vancouver, BC, Canada. She graduated from Western States Chiropractic College in 1991. Doctor Greenall served as President-Elect of the Washington State Chiropractic Association (WSCA) Board of Directors in 2014 representing over 1000 chiropractors in Washington state. Stephanie’s parents introduced her to alternative care as a child. Their family would visit their chiropractor on a regular basis. She knew at a young age that chiropractic was the answer to most ailments. As a teenager, working for a veterinarian, she always knew she wanted to be a healer. Dr. Greenall lives in Edmonds and has called the Lynnwood/Edmonds area home since she began her practice in 1991. “My purpose of practicing chiropractic is to provide the highest quality of alternative ways of healing to my patients.” Stephanie Greenall
