Only a medical professional can say for sure if your headaches are a symptom of a TBI or unrelated. For example, something as simple as not drinking enough water or not getting enough sleep can cause chronic, recurrent headaches.
In this article, you’ll learn more about post-traumatic headaches and TBIs, how long they might last, treatment options, and more.
Post-Traumatic Headaches and TBIs
There are many different types of recurrent headaches that you can experience after hitting your head. Here are some of the most common types of headaches that might indicate a TBI.
Tension Headaches
Tension headaches are the most common post-traumatic headache after a head injury. As the name suggests, they originate from a band-like pressure around the head, which usually stems from the muscle strain suffered during the injury.
While these types of headaches usually go away after your muscles heal from the injury, they can also become chronic if there was severe muscle damage.
Migraines After Head Trauma
Migraines after a TBI are among the most unpleasant and severe headaches you can get. These can cause throbbing pain, light sensitivity, visual disturbances, nausea, or a combination of all these symptoms. They can last for hours or even days.
Many people who were already prone to migraines find that they worsen after a head injury.
Cervicogenic Headaches
Not all headaches occur because of damage to the head. This is the case for cervicogenic headaches, which originate from damage to the base of the neck.
Tight muscles or misaligned vertebrae result in an intense headache at the back of the head, which sends shooting pain across the top of the skull to the forehead, eye, temple, and ear area.
Rebound Headaches
Rebound headaches occur when pain medication is the only thing stopping you from experiencing discomfort.
In these cases, you start feeling more intense sensations every time the medication wears off, creating a cycle of incremental pain that gets worse over time. This is one reason many medical professionals are hesitant to prescribe pain medication for headaches.
Cluster Headaches After a TBI
TBIs can sometimes cause cluster headaches, which consist of small clusters of pain most common around the eyes, nose and/or temples. Cluster headaches will typically present on one side or the other (not on both sides). These types of headaches can be some of the most intense and painful headaches that are experienced. This can be a sign of nerve damage and dysfunction, so it’s important to seek medical attention right away if you’re experiencing these symptoms.
How Long Headaches Usually Last After a TBI
Unfortunately, headaches after a concussion or other head injury can potentially last for a long time.
Headaches after a TBI can last for very different lengths of time. For some people, they fade within weeks. For others, they continue for months, years, or even decades.
Because there are so many factors affecting whether or not you have headaches after a TBI, and because headaches themselves aren’t very well understood, it’s very hard to put a time limit on them.
Why Do Post-TBI Headaches Occur?
After a traumatic brain injury, headaches can result from a variety of factors, including nerve damage, disrupted blood flow, and inflammation.
The brain’s healing process can also contribute to recurrent headaches, making it difficult to predict when symptoms will subside. Additionally, stress, sleep disturbances, and muscle tension from the initial injury can make pain worse or cause headaches on their own.
Potential Treatments of Post-TBI Headaches
Managing post-TBI headaches often requires a combination of medical treatment and lifestyle adjustments.
Depending on the type of headache, medications like anti-inflammatories, muscle relaxants, or migraine-specific drugs may provide relief. Physical therapy can also help by addressing muscle tension and improving posture to reduce strain on the neck and head.
Additionally, alternative treatments such as acupuncture, massage therapy, and biofeedback have been effective for some TBI patients. Identifying triggers, such as certain foods, stress, or sleep disruptions, can also play a big role in headache prevention and long-term management.
Other Common TBI Symptoms
Headaches are just one of the many symptoms that can result from a traumatic brain injury. Many individuals also experience the following common symptoms:
- Dizziness
- Memory problems
- Mood swings
- Slurred speech
- Difficulty concentrating
- Cloudy or blurry vision
Sleep disturbances are also common, with some people struggling with insomnia while others experience excessive fatigue. Sensory issues, including light or noise sensitivity, can also manifest and may persist long after the initial head injury.
Other Causes of Recurrent Headaches
Chronic headaches have many other possible causes. Many are simply the result of lifestyle issues, including:
- Excessive exercise
- Dehydration
- Eating processed foods
- Lack of sleep
- Bad posture
- Stress
- Not eating enough
Other recurrent headaches can, in rare cases, be a symptom of more serious conditions such as sinus infections, meningitis, glaucoma, or even a brain tumor. Because the possibilities range from minor to serious, it’s important not to self-diagnose.
Unfortunately, the list of all potential causes is much longer than this. This is one reason why it’s so important not to try to self-diagnose and instead see a medical professional.
They’ll look at all of your symptoms, including your recent head injury, and will be better able to determine if you’re possibly experiencing the symptoms of a TBI or something else entirely.
