Headaches After An Accident – Causes and Symptoms

Headaches are one of the most common complaints among adults and the cause is not always clearly identifiable. When headaches arise after an accident, be it an injury sustained during a car crash or from a fall, it has to be assessed more closely. Sometimes a person who always suffered with headaches finds that it worsens after an accident.  There are several reasons why headaches may arise after an injury. But sometimes the cause is not always obvious and can continue for months or years for no discernible medical reason.

Post-Traumatic Headache

The term post-traumatic headache refers to head pain that arises after a injury to the head and neck. It may include neck pain which radiates or is referred to the head and experienced as a headache. The trauma to the head and neck may occur after an assault, fall, sporting injury or with a car accident. The headache typically starts within hours to days after the injury. However, the onset may sometimes be delayed. It is considered to be post-traumatic headache if the pain starts anywhere within 2 weeks after the head and neck trauma.

Chronic headaches and migraines

Although these headaches usually resolve within a few days to weeks, it can sometimes persist for long. If these headaches persist for more than several months it can enter a chronic phase. A person may then suffer with post-traumatic headaches for months and even years. Sometimes it can continue for a lifetime. Migraines may also be triggered by this type of trauma. Unlike headaches, post-traumatic headaches tend to start several weeks or months after the injury.

Read more on constant headaches.

Concussion Headaches

A concussion is an injury to the brain that affects the way the brain works. It is usually a temporary disturbance in brain function and many people do not even realize that they have a concussion after sustaining a head or neck injury. The cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) surrounding the brain prevents it from striking the inner walls of the skull during impact. However, a violent blow to the head or neck can provide sufficient force to cause the brain to strike the skull walls.

Symptoms

Apart from the headache which may sometimes not be overt pain but rather a compressing feeling in the head, these other symptoms may also be present:

  • Confusion
  • Memory loss usually for the period just before and during the trauma
  • Slurred speech
  • Dizziness
  • Ringing in the ears
  • Fatigue
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting

A temporary loss of consciousness can occur after the event. However, a concussion can still occur even if a person does not lose consciousness during or immediately after the traumatic event. Symptoms that last for months or years may be classified as post-concussion syndrome.

Muscle Strain Headaches

Muscle strain is the most common cause of headaches, be it non-traumatic or due to trauma. It is usually strain or spasm of the muscles of the head, neck and sometimes upper back that causes the headaches. Muscle strain is very likely to occur in these areas with trauma. Sometimes it may be a direct blow  o these muscles but at other times it can occur with awkward and abnormal muscle movements during the event. Whiplash is one such instance of the latter when it affects the neck muscles and ligaments. Muscle strain can also occur afterwards due to changes in normal movement as a result of the injuries sustained in the accident.

Soft Cervical Collar

Symptoms

Apart from the headache, other symptoms that may be present include:

  • Reduced range of motion of the head, neck and upper back.
  • Pain during certain movements.
  • Tenderness over the affected muscle.
  • Active trigger points (localized tender spots on the muscle)
  • Redness and swelling (sometimes)

Read more on headache causes.

Whiplash Headaches

Whiplash is a common type of injury in motor vehicle accidents. It occurs when the neck muscles and ligaments become strained by the sudden forward and then backward movement of the neck and head. This jerking action can also occur during an assault or with contact sports. Most of the time whiplash resolves on its own without any treatment needed beyond symptomatic relief. However, there are instances where some of the symptoms of whiplash can last for long periods of time. It largely depends on the severity of the whiplash which can be graded from 0 to 4.

whiplash

Symptoms

The headaches are usually at the base of the skull and may occur with the following symptoms:

  • Neck pain and stiffness
  • Visual disturbances
  • Dizziness
  • Fatigue
  • Irritability
  • Problems with concentration and memory
  • Difficulty sleeping

Read more on pain at the back of the head.

Fracture Headaches

A fracture of the skull bones or cervical (neck) vertebrae can also cause headaches. Cervical vertebral fractures tend to occur at the level of C2 or at the level of C6 and C7. The pain is usually in the neck and back of the head. A skull fracture is not common but when it does occur the pain is usually localized to the part of the skull bone that has been fractured. A brain injury can also occur depending the severity of the fracture which can be classified as simple. linear, depressed or compound.

Symptoms

Cervical vertebrae fractures are often considered under whiplash as a grade 4 injury. The signs and symptoms of skull fractures may vary depending on whether it is a simple, linear, depressed or compound fracture as well as on which of the skull bones are affected. Apart from a headache, the other signs and symptoms of a skull fracture may include:

  • Bruising behind the ears or under the eyes (raccoon eyes).
  • Bleeding from open wounds.
  • Bleeding through orifices – nose, ears or around eyes.
  • Confusion
  • Drowsiness
  • Visual disturbances
  • Slurred speech
  • Seizures
  • Stiff neck
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting

Pinched Nerve Headaches

Compression of spinal nerves at its root is commonly referred to as a pinched nerve. The nerve in question is compressed at the point that it leaves the spinal cord and may cause symptoms along the course it runs and part of the body that it supplies. Headaches are possible when the one of the cervical nerves are compressed.  The symptoms associated with  compression of these nerves at the level of the neck is known as cervical radiculopathy. Sometimes the trauma simply worsens a pre-existing verterbral problem thereby leading to a pinched nerve.

neck vertebrae

Symptoms

Cervical radiculopathy may lead to nerve irritation to the back of and partly to the top of the head. This is known as occipital neuralgia. Other symptoms of cervical nerve root compression includes:

  • Neck pain
  • Burning sensation and not overt pain
  • Pain and discomfort to the shoulders and arms
  • Tingling and numbness
  • Muscle weakness

The symptoms depends on the level of the nerve root compression.

References:

Whiplash and cervical spine injury. Patient UK

Post-traumatic headache. Robbins Headache Clinic

Skull fracture. NIH

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