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Finding Relief for Injury-Related Headaches

It is very common for different kinds of migraines and headaches to develop following a head injury, and in some cases these headaches can stay long after the original injury.  Mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI) happens more often than most people think.  Each year, just in the U.S., about 1.4 million new cases of traumatic brain injuries are reported.  Three-quarters of these are mild head injuries, but even mild head injuries can have lasting, negative impacts on a person’s daily life.  Here are a few of the more common causes of mild head injuries:

  • Motor vehicle accidents

  • Falls

  • Job-related accidents

  • Sports or recreational accidents

  • Military service-related injuries

  • Assaults

It's important to note that a loss of consciousness is not required in order to have a concussion or mild traumatic brain injury.

Explaining Post-Concussion Syndrome (PCS)

Post-concussion syndrome is a complex condition that happens when the symptoms of a concussion persist for weeks, months, or at times even years after a mild traumatic brain injury.  Surprisingly, the risk of developing post-concussion syndrome is not connected to the severity of the actual injury. Losing consciousness or sustaining a severe head trauma does not indicate a higher likelihood of developing persistent symptoms of PCS.  Post-concussion symptoms can include the following:

To learn more about the connection between head and neck injuries and headaches download our free e-book Natural and Drug-Free Ways to End Your Migraines by clicking the image below.

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  • Headaches

  • Insomnia

  • Increased sensitivity to sound and light

  • Changes in vision

  • Dizziness or vertigo

  • Fatigue

  • Anxiety

  • Cognitive changes such as memory loss or trouble concentrating

Among these symptoms that can stick around after a head injury, the most common one that people deal with are post-concussion headaches.  These headaches are different from person to person and may be related to a neck injury that happened at the same time as the head injury.

What Kinds of Headaches Happen After Injury?

Headaches are experienced by up to 90% of people after a mild head injury, and they are even more likely after an injury if you already have a history of headaches before the accident.

  • Tension headaches - tension headaches can be described as a tight, squeezing sensation, similar to that of a band that is tightening around the entire head.  Tension headaches are connected to stress and muscle spasms.

  • Migraines – a migraine episode involves a dull, throbbing headache that commonly happens on only one side of the head (though it can affect both sides). Other symptoms of migraines include nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light, sound, and smell, and visual changes that precede the headache (called an aura).

  • Occipital neuralgia - occipital neuralgia (ON) causes severe pain in the back of the head.  These types of headaches cause aching, pressure, stabbing, or throbbing pain because of irritation on the greater occipital nerve.

  • Cervicogenic headaches - this type of headache can be the result of an injury to the tissues of the neck.  Many of the spinal cord nerves branch off at the neck and travel up to the skull and scalp.  These same nerves can get irritated, leading to headaches beginning in the neck or shoulders and travelling to the back and top of the head.  Neck movements and shifts in the position of the head can worsen cervicogenic headache pain.

  • Rebound headaches - rebound headaches, or medication overuse headaches, are commonly set off by pain medication that is being used to treat headaches and over time becomes the cause of them. Rebound headaches happen after taking a medication consistently, and when you miss a dose or intentionally take less, the headache strikes.  Caffeine can also contribute to these types of headaches, particularly if you have regular, high caffeine consumption and you consume less than your normal amount (caffeine is a common ingredient in many over-the-counter medicines used for pain and headaches).

Attending to the Reason for the Headaches Can Bring Healing

If you have a history of head injury, even just a mild injury, then to begin your healing journey from any lingering symptoms it is imperative that you address the root cause.  When you experience an injury that leads to a mild concussion or even a sub-concussive force, it is highly likely that your neck is also injured.  Your neck carries the entire weight of your head. When your neck has sustained an injury, it causes spinal misalignment as well as soft tissue damage. This could be what’s behind your headaches, migraines, dizziness, and other post-concussion symptoms when they don't clear up as expected.

Upper cervical chiropractors are specially trained to focus on the alignment of the uppermost vertebrae, or atlas, that holds the head.  The atlas is uniquely shaped, and it also has the unique function in the spine of holding up the head and permitting its wide range of movement.  The way the atlas moves the skull in this way has everything to do with its relationship with the vertebra beneath it (called the axis),.  With all this mobility, the atlas can easily misalign during an injury to the head.

Upper cervical care provides particularly gentle and precise treatment.  We use digital imaging to get exact measurements of each patient's misalignment, down to fractions of a millimeter. Our precise and gentle adjustment technique is what makes our corrections hold in place for longer periods of time, giving your body more time to engage its natural healing process without interruption.  Many people who have headaches or migraines that are connected to an old injury and just won’t go away become exasperated with other care options that haven’t fixed the problem. It is reassuring to know that there is an option that can provide natural, lasting relief.

References:

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/post-concussion-syndrome/symptoms-causes/syc-20353352

https://americanmigrainefoundation.org/understanding-migraine/mild-closed-head-injury-headache/


To schedule a consultation with N8 Upper Cervical Chiropractic clinic, call (02) 8553-6218 or just click the button below.

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If you are outside of the local area, you can find an Upper Cervical Chiropractor near you at www.uppercervicalawareness.com.