TMJ from Automobile Accidents in the Tampa Bay, Florida Area

A few days ago, you were in an automobile accident on Waters Avenue in Tampa, Florida. Since the accident, you've noticed some unusual symptoms in your mouth, jaw, head, neck, and shoulders. It's difficult to chew or speak and sometimes it feels like your jaws are locked into place. You notice a clicking sound when you try to open and close your mouth. You have bad headaches and your neck and shoulders hurt, too. Strangely, you don't remember a direct impact to your head, but you definitely have pain radiating from your jawbone and it is affecting your everyday life.

What you may be experiencing from your Tampa Bay automobile accident is an injury commonly called TMJ. TMJ injuries involve the temporomandibular joint. There are actually two temporomandibular joints, one on each side of the jaw. These joints are located in front of each ear and are responsible for connecting the lower jaw bone to the skull. The temporomandibular joints enable your jaw to move up and down, front to back, and side to side.

When one or both temporomandibular joints are injured, it is often referred to as TMJ, although this term is technically incorrect. The proper is TMD, or temporomandibular disorders. Whether you call it TMJ or TMD, the symptoms of this condition can make it difficult for you to eat, speak, and swallow. You may even have difficulty breathing and making facial expressions. Possible symptoms of TMJ/TMD include:

• Pain in the jaw, face, shoulders, ears, neck, and back
• Difficulty opening the mouth wide
• Sounds like popping, clicking, or scraping when opening and closing the mouth
• Tiredness in the face
• The sensation of your teeth and bite not fitting together properly
• Swelling on either side of the face
• Headaches and migraines

If you are experiencing the symptoms of temporomandibular joint injury, you should mention it to your doctor or dentist. In some cases, TMJ symptoms require no treatment and will go away in a few days or weeks. But in more serious cases of TMJ injuries, symptoms can last indefinitely, causing the accident victim significant discomfort. Severe TMJ injuries may require anti-inflammatory drugs, physical therapy, injections, or surgery.

You should also mention your TMJ injury symptoms to your Tampa automobile accidents attorney. An attorney who has experience representing clients with TMJ injuries will be best suited to understand the consequences of your injury and the compensation you will need for treatment.

Please contact Tampa automobile accidents attorney Dale Appell, P.A. today for a free evaluation of your car accident and TMJ injury case. You may fill out the form on our "Do I Have a Case?" page to contact attorney Dale Appell directly, or you may simply call our office for prompt assistance.