Jaw pain is a fairly typical problem experienced by people after a auto collision, and it can be challenging for some physicians to identify the source of the problem. Complicating the issue, many times you won't experience TMJ pain until many weeks or months after the accident.
Dr. Poelking has treated many men and women with jaw pain after an injury, and the medical research explains what causes these types of problems. During a auto injury, the tissues in your spine 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, irritation 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 numbness in the arm or hand. Similarly, it can affect parts of your body above the injured tissues, like your head and jaw. Headaches after car crash are very common because of neck injury, and the TMJ works the same way. Dr. Poelking sees this very frequently in our Kettering office.
Research shows that the root of many jaw or TMJ problems originates in the cervical spine and that treatment of the underlying neck problem can fix the secondary headaches or jaw symptoms. The key to dealing with these symptoms is simple: Dr. Poelking will work to restore your spine back to health, alleviating the inflammation, treating the injured tissues, and removing the irritation to the nerves in your spine.
Dr. Poelking finds that jaw and headache symptoms often resolve once we restore your spine to its healthy state.
If you live in Kettering and you've been hurt in a car crash, Dr. Poelking 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 (937) 299-2900 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. Poelking
For over 20 years, Poelking Chiropractic has been treating patients in the Dayton Ohio area (Kettering, Centerville, Oakwood, Beavercreek, Belmont, Fairborn, Springboro...). Through chiropractic care and other non-invasive methods, we provide effective relief for those suffering from disc bulges/protrusions/herniations, degenerative disc disease, stenosis, sciatica, arthritis, whiplash and other causes of neck and low back pain.