Have you ever been in a car accident? How did you deal with the aftermath? Did your body feel sore and achy after? Were there neck pain and other issues? Did you experience jaw pain and feel like it would fall off? Car accidents can lead to various injuries, including temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pain. Some patients involved in car accidents are looking for natural ways to relieve TMJ in Oklahoma City.
The TMJ is the joint that connects your jawbone to your skull. It holds your two jaw bones together and allows you to open and close your mouth when you chew and speak. When your TMJ is injured or irritated, it can cause a range of symptoms, including:
- Jaw pain
- Ear pain
- Headaches
- Neck pain
- Dizziness
- Difficulty chewing
- Clicking or popping sounds in the jaw
How Car Accidents Can Affect the TMJ
Car accidents tend to happen a lot in Oklahoma City; some are major collisions, and some are minor fender benders, but when they do, there can be a force of impact that can cause the head and neck to be thrown back and forth, called whiplash. This type of injury can damage the ligaments and muscles in the neck and the TMJ. The TMJ is a complex joint that is made up of several bones, ligaments, and muscles. You can experience variations of pain and discomfort when these structures are injured.
Whiplash and TMJ in Oklahoma: The Connection Explained
One of the most common ways car accidents can cause TMJ pain is through whiplash, an injury to the neck that happens when a sudden and forceful movement causes your neck to abruptly move back and forth. This can happen when a car is rear-ended or hits another car head-on.
When the head is forcefully thrown back and forth, it can put a lot of stress on the TMJ and cause the joint to become injured or misaligned. This can also lead to a misalignment of your upper cervical spine. Misaligned upper cervical bones can also strain the surrounding areas, including the muscles and joints in your jaw, leading to pain, inflammation, and other problems.
Upper Cervical Care To Help Relieve TMJ In Oklahoma City
Upper Cervical Care focuses on the upper neck. The upper neck is home to the atlas and axis bones, the first two bones in the spine. These bones are essential for maintaining proper head and neck alignment and ensuring your brain and body communicate without interference.
If the atlas and axis bones are misaligned, it can strain the TMJ and other structures in the head and neck. This can lead to TMJ pain, headaches, neck pain, and other symptoms. Upper Cervical Care can help to correct misalignments of the atlas and axis bones to reduce pain and improve function in the TMJ and other structures in the head and neck.
How to Get Help and Manage Your TMJ Pain with Upper Cervical Care
If you’ve been in a car accident and are experiencing TMJ pain, it’s essential to see a doctor to ensure there are no fractures and medical emergencies that need to be addressed. Incorporating a visit to an Upper Cervical Chiropractor can also help identify if the accident impacted your upper cervical spine. This can help prevent your pain and discomfort from getting worse.
You don’t have to suffer in silence. You can relieve TMJ in Oklahoma City. Even if your pain and symptoms happen after weeks or months from the accidents, you can seek help from an Upper Cervical Chiropractor, and while it’s easy to shrug it off and hope for the pain to go away, you are just making it more difficult for yourself. If this situation sounds too familiar, let us help you. Book a visit to our office today, and we will do our best to help you relieve TMJ in Oklahoma City.
To schedule a consultation with Dr. Sheppard, call our Oklahoma City office at 405-378-3100. You can also click the button below.
If you are outside of the local area, you can find an Upper Cervical Doctor near you at www.uppercervicalawareness.com.
