Post-Traumatic Headaches
Post-traumatic headaches frequently occur in people with head and neck injuries, including closed-head injury and whiplash, regardless of the severity of the accident or injury. For example, one study indicated that headaches occur in up to 88% of people with mild head injury, while another study found that 60% of patients had headaches for more than two months following the initial mild to moderate head or neck trauma.
You may have post-traumatic headache or resulting post-traumatic syndrome if you experience the following symptoms after a head- or neck-related injury, accident or surgery. (Chances are you will not experience all, or even most, post-traumatic headache characteristics.)
Key Post-Traumatic Headache Characteristics:
- Headache, neck and shoulder pain
- Sleep disturbance
- Trouble thinking or concentrating
- Mood and personality changes
- Dizziness with or without vertigo (spinning sensation)