JONES LAW GROUPYour Lawyers for Life! Personal Injury Law Firm in St. Petersburg
Car accidents are a leading cause of TMJ injuries, often going undiagnosed. Learn the symptoms, how TMJ is connected to whiplash, and available treatment options.
Call our personal injury law office directly at (727) 512-9847
At Jones Law Group in St. Petersburg, FL, we would like to hear from you. Contact us for a free personal injury case consultation.
Call our personal injury law office at (727) 512-9847
Get educated on the Florida's personal injury laws and more.
By: Heath C. Murphy + – Car Accidents
Temporomandibular Joint Syndrome or TMJ is a condition which often goes undiagnosed in car accident cases. Many doctors until recently denied any relationship between injuries suffered in a car accident and TMJ. Recent studies, however, show that people injured in a car accident especially those with a whiplash injury have a significantly higher incidence of TMJ.
How Can Car Accidents Cause TMJ
People who have been involved in a rear end car accident almost always sustain whiplash as the result of that car accident. When a car or truck is rear ended, the vehicle accelerates forward with impact causing the occupants to be rapidly accelerated. The person’s head is “whipped” backward, and which can cause the muscles in their lower jaw to experience a huge amount of pressure. When this happens the jaw is pulled open and places additional pressure on Temporomandibular Joint (the joint where the jaw and head connect). The head and jaw are actually being pulled in opposite directions and TMJ injury can then be the result of the severe whipping motion. While whiplash is a common cause of TMJ injury in car accidents, it’s also possible to suffer the injury as a result of your head or chin strikes the steering wheel or other fixed object in the vehicle.
Diagnosing TMJ
In many instances TMJ following a car accident will go undiagnosed. This is because the doctors are generally focusing on the whiplash effects on the spine and neck. It is important that if you have any of the following symptoms following a car accident, even weeks or months after the accident, it is important to seek further testing:
1. A clicking when opening or closing the mouth;
2. Difficulty or pain when chewing;
3. A locking of the jaw, especially following a wide yawn;
4. Facial pain, especially in the morning;
5. Headaches;
6. Pain in neck, shoulders or back;
7. Tooth pain;
8. Light sensitivity;
9. Dizziness; and
10. Hearing problems.
Once you see a doctor regarding these symptoms, the doctor will attempt to rule out other causes of the symptoms. There is no specific test for TMJ, but your doctor may use an MRI or may refer you to an oral and maxillofacial specialist or an ear, nose and throat specialist.
Treatment of TMJ
Surgical options used to be far more prevalent than they are today in the treatment of TMJ. Surgery is now, typically, the absolute last resort in the treatment of TMJ. Some of the more common treatments for TMJ include:
1. Ice packs to the joint;
2. Ibuprofen and Alleve to reduce inflammation;
3. Eating soft foods;
4. Massage;
5. Mouth guards to prevent grinding of the teeth and to keep teeth in the proper position at night;
6. Exercise of the jaw; and
7. More potent pain medications.
Unfortunately, the treatment of TMJ which is accident related is less successful that the treatment of TMJ which is unrelated to trauma. [1] Doctors have yet to determine why TMJ that results from a car accident has a much bleaker prognosis. However, further studies are conducted on the topic.
Contact an Experienced Car Accident Lawyer at Jones Law Group
Have you or a loved one been injured in a car accident? Contact an experienced St. Petersburg car accident attorney at Jones Law Group today. When you contact our office we will immediately set an appointment where you will meet your attorney and be provided with his/her personal contact information. If you do not have transportation or you cannot drive, your attorney will travel to meet you and discuss your case with you.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident caused by the negligence of another, you should immediately call an experienced personal injury attorney in St. Petersburg at Jones Law Group at (727) 571-1333 during regular business hours or (727) 753-8657 on weekends or after regular business hours. We will evaluate your case for free and you will never pay us a dime unless we recover compensation for your injuries.
Jones Law Group
5622 Central Avenue
St. Pete, FL 33707
References:
Long story short, no, it’s not okay. If you’ve been hurt in a car accident, you not only need to get medical help right away, you also need to follow the doctor’s advice. In fact, one of the biggest mistakes you could make would be not to go to the hospital after a car accident. […]
By: Jones Law Group – Personal Injury Concussions have become a hot topic lately. There is a reason why and it is because concussions can have permanent effect on accident victims. There is a reason that the NFL paid former players who suffered concussions 1 BILLION dollars. The Center for Disease Control now actually calls […]
Summary When most people think about truck accidents caused by large trucks, they usually picture semi-trucks that weigh 80,000 pounds. But there are many kinds of large trucks, and they can all result in devastating accidents leading to catastrophic injuries – and worse. The following is a look at some of these trucks and information […]
While any kind of car accident can be serious, of course, a truck accident usually leads to devastating results. The sheer size difference between a truck and the typical passenger car exposes car drivers and passengers to much stronger forces – and to much more severe injuries. The effects of these injuries can last a […]
By Heath Murphy So, you have been involved in a car accident or motorcycle accident. Now what? In this article, I will give you a basic checklist of things to do and try to give a little advice on each. 1. Check to see if anyone needs immediate medical care. If you or anyone in […]
Pedestrian Safety Issues in St. Petersburg St. Petersburg is a city in which there are a lot of pedestrians. We are blessed with an urban environment in which walking is practical and convenient. Pinellas County is also home to miles of pristine beaches that are lined by hundreds of resorts and hotels. This tourist haven […]
Speak with us before time runs out! In Florida, you have a limited window to file a personal injury case, so speak to an Attorney today.
Call our personal injury law office directly at (727) 512-9847
Jones Law Group is a dedicated personal injury lawyer in St. Petersburg, FL, serving the Tampa Bay area since 2006. Our experienced attorneys specialize in car accidents, slip and fall cases, employment law disputes, construction law issues, and overtime wage claims, fighting for maximum compensation on a contingency fee basis. Contact us for a free consultation to discuss your case.
Call our personal injury law office at (727) 512-9847
© Copyright 2006–2025 Jones Law Group Attorneys at Law. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy Terms of Use
Attorney Advertising.
The information on this website is for general information purposes only. Nothing on this site should be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation. This information is not intended to create, and receipt or viewing does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship. Past results do not guarantee similar outcomes.
We will gladly call you on your schedule.
Use the secure and confidential form below.
