Headaches After a Car Accident
Headaches after a car accident in Little Rock or North Little Rock?
The onset of post-traumatic headaches are very common following a car accident. They are real and can be very debilitating. We hope you find the following information useful on your path to healing and recovery following a motor vehicle accident in Little Rock or North Little Rock.
Bottom Line:
Post-Traumatic Headaches Post-traumatic headaches are headaches that begin after a serious trauma such as a car accident. These headaches are very often quite painful and debilitating, and they can start immediately or very soon after a trauma. These types of headaches can also start days, weeks, or months after an auto accident. The severity of the accident often has little to do with the severity of the headaches, as even low-speed crashes (as low as 4 miles per hour) can result in quite painful post-traumatic headaches.
Why Do These Traumatic Headaches Occur?
There are two mechanisms of injury at play during a car accident that can cause post-traumatic headaches.
- First, a victim can suffer a blow to the head by striking her head against the window, steering wheel, or any other hard surface inside the vehicle. These blows to the head can cause a mild traumatic brain injury (a mild concussion) and/or post-traumatic headaches.
- Secondly, the mechanism known as the “acceleration-deceleration” injury occurs in many automotive crashes where the victim’s head whiplashes violently back and forth. The brain smashes around inside the skull, again causing a mild traumatic brain injury and/ or post-traumatic headaches.
What Are Some of the Different Kinds of Post-Traumatic Headaches?
Cervicogenic Headaches, Migraine Headaches, Tension Headaches, Cluster Headaches, Musculoskeletal Headaches, Vascular Headaches, Chronic Daily Headaches, Occipital Headaches, Chronic Facial, TMJ Headaches
What Are Some Signs and Symptoms of Post-traumatic Headaches?
After a motor vehicle accident, the victim may begin to notice his/her headaches are more frequent and/or more severe than ever before. The headaches can start immediately or begin weeks after an accident. The symptoms may include, but are not limited to: Painful tightness and/ or pressure about the forehead or on the sides and back of the skull A dull, achy head pain Loss of appetite Tenderness to the back of the head, scalp and neck muscles Any of these symptoms can last anywhere from 20 minutes to an entire week (or even up to a month)
What Are the Best Treatment Options for Post-Traumatic Headaches?
It is important for victims of motor vehicle accidents to be seen by a doctor within the first 14 days. Chiropractic physicians can evaluate your type of headache and refer to the necessary specialist for treatment. Most of the post-traumatic headaches experienced are vascular or nerve related, and can easily be treated without drugs by a chiropractor. Occipital, Cervicogenic, Migraine, Cluster, TMJ/Facial, Musculoskeletal, Tension, and Daily Chronic headaches have all shown positive results when subluxations (simple misalignments of the joints causing nerve pressure) are restored to normal.
Call On Us!
If you, a friend, or loved one is experiencing chronic or post-traumatic headaches; please have them come to one of our chiropractic offices for a complete and complimentary evaluation. Our Little Rock and North Little Rock chiropractors will determine the cause and explain the treatment plan for getting rid of these painful headaches once and for all. Please visit our homepage for our closest and most convenient location to you.
Little Rock: 501-313-2844
North Little Rock: 501-353-1781