Following a car accident, with or without loss of consciousness, it is not uncommon for victims to suffer from either a short term or long term headache. Headaches can be classified into two main categories: Primary and Secondary. A primary headache are headaches without a known cause. The headaches include migraine and tension type headaches or stress headaches. The onset of these headaches would usually be prior to and unrelated to a motor vehicle accident, but can worsen after the motor vehicle accident has occurred.
What are Secondary Headaches?
Secondary headaches are due to a secondary cause, such as a motor vehicle accident. These headaches include cervicogenic headaches, which is pain referred from a source in the neck and perceived in one or more areas of the head and/or face. This headache is commonly connected with whiplash associated disorder where the muscles, tendons and/or nerves in the neck have been injured as a result of the trauma. Another type of secondary headache common with motor vehicle accidents is a post-traumatic, or post-concussive headache, whereby the traumatic brain injury as a result of concussion is the source of the pain.
It is absolutely possible for someone to have more than one type of headache, as they do not necessarily occur completely separately from one another, but proper diagnosis of the headache(s) will result in more appropriate treatment methods.
Your chiropractor, or other healthcare provider, should assess your headache. First they will make sure your headache is not the result of some more serious underlying cause. They should also be asking questions to figure out whether the headache was there prior to or only after the accident, what its key distinguishable features are, and if there are any triggers associated with it. They may also ask you to track your headache using a journal or other assessment measures, to determine if the headache is progressing.
Concussion Management
A Post-concussive headache should be treated as a part of concussion management and may resolve quickly without intervention, or may last for a number of years. These headaches should be managed as a part of the concussion management plan you and your health care provider come up with together.
For migraine, tension-type and cervicogenic headaches there is good evidence to support the use of spinal manipulation and/or mobilization to decrease the frequency, intensity and duration of a headache, as well as complete resolution of symptoms. Rehabilitation exercises and soft tissue therapy can also be provided by your chiropractor to help decrease the frequency and severity of the headaches listed above. Home management strategies can also be given in order for the headache to continue to improve outside of the office. Treatment for headaches can run from 6 weeks (cervicogenic headache) up to 6 months (tension type), with treatment for migraines usually lasting around 8 weeks.
For more information please visit: www.404chiro.com
Submitted by: Dr. Heather Bailey, B.H.K., D.C.
We welcome Dr. Heather Bailey as a member of the Crash Support Network and thank her for her support.
The Crash Support Network is a unique website consisting of an online support group, a Crash Survivor Blog written by a survivor, our Sharing Our Recovery Newsletter, informative articles and a Virtual Crash Memorial. Our website is based on relationship-building and puts the needs of survivors first by creating a helpful resource for victims and survivors of motor vehicle crashes.
