In the city of San Luis Obispo, a brain injury may lead to frequent or persistent headaches. A headache is the most common symptom of a brain injury. In fact, more than 30 percent of people who have suffered a traumatic brain injury report experiencing headaches long after the injury occurred. Headaches can make it difficult to carry out daily tasks and live life to the fullest.
Headaches after a traumatic brain injury occur for a variety of reasons. They may be caused by a small collection of blood or fluid inside the skull, or they may be caused by brain or skull injuries that have not healed. Headaches may also be a side effect of medication that is prescribed following a traumatic brain injury.
The type of headaches that people experience after a brain injury differ. The most common are:
- Migraines: dull, throbbing headaches on one side of the head. These headaches may be accompanied by nausea, sensitivity to light and sound, vision problems, and pain.
- Tension: these headaches feel like a squeezing sensation. A tension headache may be on both sides of the head or around the whole head. These headaches typically occur later in the day.
- Cervicogenic: these headaches start in the shoulders and neck. They may travel up and over the head, and moving the neck can make the headache worse.
- Rebound: this headache is caused by medications used to treat the original injury. They are similar to the headaches regular caffeine users experience when they don’t have caffeine for a day or more.
