If you have ever had a serious neck or head injury you may know what a post-traumatic headache is. This type of headache is a common occurrence after a serious injury like a concussion, whiplash or a serious blow to the head. Usually the headache pain may only last a few days but in some cases the pain can linger for months and sometimes years. There is even a rare chance you may not experience a post-traumatic headache until months after the initial injury.
Post-traumatic headaches are usually accompanied by other symptoms besides the headache pain itself:
*Dizziness
*Memory Disorder
*Depression
*Sleeping Problems
*Difficulty Concentrating
*Vertigo
*Migraine Headache symptoms such as light sensitivity nausea and vomiting
*Blurred Vision
*Anxiety
*Fatigue
*Behavior Disorders
The risk for experiencing post-traumatic headaches after a head or neck injury is increased if you are already a migraine sufferer. People who have a strong family medical history of headaches and migraines may develop chronic headaches.
They key to treating a post-traumatic headache is physical therapy. Chiropractors can help treat this type of headache successfully. If your post-traumatic headache symptoms include quite a few of the ones listed above you may need a more aggressive form of treatment. Abortive medications are usually given within the first three weeks of the headache onset and if the pain continues longer preventative medications may be introduced.
When talking to your doctor about any post-traumatic symptoms you may be experiencing be sure to tell your doctor about the pain location. Your doctor will also need to know information like the pain severity, frequency of the headache, time of day the headache occurs and if you are experiencing any of the symptoms listed above. This information can help your doctor greatly in your treatment options. If you choose to see a chiropractor first then let that person also know the same information. With the correct diagnosis and treatment post-traumatic headaches can be treated successfully.

