There are a lot of injuries that an individual can sustained in an accident. Some are categorized as catastrophic such as spinal or brain injuries, but there are a multitude of others that do not surface immediately after the accident. However, that does not mean that the pain and suffering is lessened.
Following the involvement in a car accident, TMJ disorder, which is sometimes shortened as TMD, is actually a quite common diagnosis. Symptoms of this disorder include chronic pain, oftentimes located in the neck, shoulders, and jaw. Additional symptoms commonly include hearing loss, chronic headaches, and pain in the ears.
What Actually Is TMJ Disorder?
For this, we will have to look at what TMJ actually stands for, which is temporomandibular joints. These joints are located at the jaw, or to be more specific, at the hinge where your jaw and skull connect on either side. Due to its extremely flexibility, this joint allows for your jaw to move both up and down, and also from left to right.
The TMJ is a highly complex joint which consists of blood vessels, bones, muscles, and nerves – all of which are necessary for you to chew, speak, and yawn, among other things. Due to its connections with many other parts of your skull, pain in your TMJ can lead to chronic aches and pains in your face, ears, head, and other joins. While sometimes temporary, this pain can also follow some through the years.
A Car Accident As Cause For TMD
Reportedly, motor vehicle collisions are among the top causes behind TMD, due to the nature of how many collisions occur. Regardless of whether the impact is coming from the back, front, or side, the head will always be jerking rapidly in some directions and then back into place, or even receive direct impact against the dashboard, airbag, or steering wheel. When this occurs, the jaw will experience pressure and strain along the TMJ which then results in TMD.
Symptoms of TMD
While there are many symptoms which have been associated with TMD, there are some that are more common than others, such as:
• experiencing pain when attempting to widely open the mouth, or being fully incapable to do so to begin with
• experiencing pain or sensitive along the neck, face, and shoulders when the jaws move during speech, chewing, or simply opening the mouth
• struggling with biting or chewing
• noticeable grating or popping noises which stem from the jaw
• suffering from earaches and hearing loss, headaches and dizziness, or a ringing in the ears
• noticeable swelling along one half of the face
Irrespective of the severity of TMD, it is important to talk with a personal injury lawyer in Spruce Grove to file for compensation.