I will keep this as short as possible.  I recently got a gelding that I have known for about 6 years...I have helped them with this horse for the last year and fell in love with him.  On July 27, she got his teeth done by an equine dentist, they were really bad.  Took him to a chiropractor on August 6, he said that his TMJ was really sore on both sides recommended she get his TMJ injected.  Took him to her vet on August 16, he said that the left side was worse than the right side.  He injected the left side (she said he jerked his head up when they stuck him with the needle). Fast forward to August 21, she called me upset because he wouldnt hardly let her touch the top of his head to put a halter on him much less a bridle.  She called vet and I went with her on August 25, he sedated him and said the injection site was not swollen or any heat/inflammation, he checked his ears and cleaned them out really good and couldnt find anything, he seems to think it was PTSD from a traumatic experience in his past and it was mental.  Meanwhile she agrees to sell him to me (yay!!).  This horse does not have a mean bone in his body so for him to still be scared to death of you putting a halter on him (you have to put it on really loose farther back on his neck) and not even remotely let you touch behind his ears around his poll area is way out of character.  The chiro is from out of town and doesnt come back until Octoberish...has anyone ever dealt with anything like this ? I cannot get close to his poll to even try tension release techniques. Any advice is appreciated! I am waiting on my vet to call me back on this as well ! TIA ! 

I bought a mare for my breeding program that had the same issue. When we picked her up I talked to her a minute and went to put her halter on and she went backwards. Not up just backed away quickly. I took my time with her and finally got the halter on and we headed home. She was apparently abused, how I don't know and it took some time for her to realize I wasn't going to hurt her and she finally excepted me putting a halter on her. For the 20 years that I had her she was never like my other horses that you just throw the halter on so to speak. I always had to put it on slowly. I sure miss that mare. One of the best producers I have ever had. You may try a pole pad. I have one for a mare I have because sometimes she can get anxious when I ride her. I let her stand in my cross tie with it on for about an hour then I ride her. It seems to help her. I got it from Benefab. I really like it. It may take time but be patient. Not knowing what happened to him is hard. Just like I had no idea what happened to Lady. 

Thank you! I appreciate the feedback! I have known this horse for 6 years and he's never been abused in those 6 years, but before that, I am pretty sure he didn't have the best life.  He just started this after getting his teeth done, chiro work, and injecting his TMJ on the left side. I have to put the halter on loose, but if I just throw a lead rope over his neck and it touches his poll/ear area, he doesn't freak out like he does with a halter. I may start ponying him off my other horse to see how he acts.  Again, thank you so much ! I am going to look into the benefab pole pad, I have a PHT poll pac, but I am willing to try anything right now. 

I have a mare with TMJ/headshakers syndrome. She had gotten so bad that you coulnd't put the halter on her, just had to throw the lead rope over her neck to take her out to her pasture. Sounds to me like this horse had made accomadations for his issues and even though they have been "fixed" it isn't what his body had grown accustomed to.  With my mare we have found that allegies play a big part in her issues ( and again, this came on latter in her life, she didn't have these issues until she was about 9 or 10 years old)  When I was still competing on her we found that Cur-ost Total Support with a half dose of the Cur-ost Pure  was the right mix for every day riding, on days we competed we upped the Pure to a full dose.  Now that she is 20 and I'm not competing on her but still trail riding OE Gamechanger Plus seems to keep the TMJ inflammation down enough that she is comfortable.

He sounds like such a sweet horse, I'm so glad he's yours now!!

I agree with trying a poll pad, have you tried magnawave on him? I would be curious what a few sessions would do for him. 

You need a tall massage therapist with soft hands and patience. Start in his mouth for the TMJ. I'll see if I can find a video. 

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=s9wQkTo-RZ0

After getting teeth done is another clue. Did the dentist use one of those contraptions where he jacks the head up and off to the side? If so, try a different chiro. First one missed something. Or again. A massage therapist.

Thank you all so much ! I have an appt Tuesday morning with my vet who just happens to be a great chiro as well because it has not gotten any better.  I am worried he did something to the nuchal ligament in his top neck line.  The soreness/pain is also right under his mane at the top of his neck about 6 inches back.  I am just trying to get him happy and relaxed so he can enjoy his time off that I had planned for him anyway this fall. I do have a magnawave rep as well, but we are going to talk to the vet first. Fingers crossed, it can be fixed with a simple adjustment or injection. Thanks again for all the suggestions !

Have you given him bute?  I'd give him bute a few days and see if he gets any better.  If he gets better you'll know he's still in pain and doesn't want pressure on his poll.  

What did your vet say?  How's your boy feeling?