5 Types of Headaches You Might Experience After a Car Accident

Jun 16, 2021

5 Types of Headaches You Might Experience After a Car AccidentWhen you’ve been in a car accident, one of the first things you’re likely to do is assess your body for any serious injuries. You may immediately notice bleeding, broken bones, or joint dislocations, but other injuries will not become apparent until later. One sign that you suffered injuries during your accident is a headache that appears hours, days, or weeks after the initial event. While this may seem like a mild symptom, headaches can be a sign of serious injuries and require assessment by a chiropractor in Tucker.

One reason a visit to the chiropractor is important is so they can determine the type of headache you are suffering from and how best to treat it. Below are some of the common headache types to be on the lookout for after a car accident.

Pinched Nerve Headaches

Signs and symptoms: Pain, numbness, or tingling that begins at the base of the skull or other body parts is the telltale sign of a pinched nerve headache. The base of the skull, or another site of the injured nerve, may also feel tender to the touch or have a burning feeling.

How it happens: Formally known as an Occipital Neuralgia Headache, the compression of a nerve after an injury like a herniated disc can cause this type of headache. Movement in the spine can cause compression, or pinching, of the spinal nerves, which travel up the back and into the head as the nerves communicate with each other. The location of the impacted nerves will impact which part of the body exhibits symptoms.

Post-Concussion Headaches

Signs and symptoms: These headaches have migraine-like symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light and sound, confusion, insomnia, or trouble with balance and coordination.

How it happens: Concussions are common car accident injuries, resulting from a strong blow to the head or a jolting back and forth movement of the head that causes the brain to crash into the skull. This has a bruise-like impact on the brain that is normally mild, but it is still considered a traumatic brain injury that requires attention. Also known as Post-Concussion Syndrome, this type of headache is very likely to have a delay before symptoms appear.

Fracture Headaches

Signs and symptoms: There may be physical evidence of this type of headache, like a lump or dent on the head. A fracture can also cause intense and persistent pain, dizziness, or even a loss of consciousness.

How it happens: Like other bones, the skull is susceptible to breaks or fractures during a car accident. These injuries are more serious than most other broken bones and are one of the most severe causes of headaches possible. Pain may be localized to the injury site, but can also spread to the neck or back of the head. These need immediate attention and can be life-threatening if not addressed properly.

Post-Traumatic Headache

Signs and symptoms: The characteristic pain in a post-traumatic headache is a pulsating pain that begins in the neck and radiates to the head. This may be accompanied by migraine-like symptoms including dizziness, nausea, and sensitivity to light or sound.

How it happens: This is a more general classification of headaches that are a result of injury or impact to the head and neck that cannot be called a concussion or whiplash. This diagnosis is often paired with a brain injury that may be mild or severe. A post-traumatic headache is very likely to have delayed symptoms that appear days or even weeks after the collision occurred. A trip to a chiropractor in Tucker is able to identify these injuries before symptoms appear and allow you to get treatment early.

Whiplash Headaches

Signs and symptoms: What does whiplash feel like? Since the injury is rooted in the neck, the pain will likely begin there and radiate up to the head. You may also notice difficulty sleeping, problems with concentration and memory, or dizziness.

How it happens: One of the most common injuries sustained during a car accident is whiplash, in which a rapid back and forth movement stretches soft tissues in the neck beyond their normal capacity, straining or tearing them. This damage can be relatively minor and resolve easily, but it can also require months of treatment like physical therapy for a full recovery. Headaches are often a symptom of this injury.

If you are suffering from any of these signs or symptoms, contact a chiropractor in Tucker today to begin addressing the root cause of your pain.

SHARE:

Contact Us

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.