Stiff neck. Headaches. Pressure behind the eyes. Earaches. These symptoms are common after a car accident. Most associated these symptoms with whiplash injuries, but they could be related to a temporomandibular joint injury (TMJ).
Temporomandibular joint disease, TMJ, is a painful condition which carries similar symptoms as whiplash and, therefore, is sometimes overlooked. Symptoms of TMJ induced by a whiplash injury in a car accident may include headache, dizziness, deep ear pain, pressure behind the eyes, earaches
and stiff neck. Also, TMJ suffers could experience the inability to open the jaw fully, a clicking or snapping of the jaw and changes in alignment when the jaw is opened or closed.
If you've sustained a TMJ injury in a car accident, there are a variety of treatment options available. Such treatments may include physical therapy and chiropractic care. If TMJ symptoms worsen, an evaluation and treatment with a dentist or oral surgeon may be needed. The doctor may recommend splint therapy for the injured TMJ. Surgery also cannot be ruled out.
If you have been injured in a car accident and are experiencing ear pain or jaw pain, consult your doctor and/or dentist about the possibility of a TMJ injury. For information on your legal rights after a Florida car accident, click here to contact Personal Injury Attorney Matthew Noyes. Insurance companies have attorneys looking out for their best interests, so should you!
