Headaches often follow trauma to the head. Did you know that it doesn’t have to be severe head trauma to cause headaches and other health issues? You may think of head trauma being done to football players when they tackle someone and end up unconscious. Or you may imagine someone being in a serious car accident and hitting their head on the windshield. While these scenarios can certainly cause head trauma and probably a concussion, minor head injuries can also do just as much damage. Interestingly, 1 in 7 daily chronic headaches are caused by head or neck injuries.
Now that we have seen how easily a concussion can happen, let’s discuss what the symptoms are and what causes them to occur. A concussion is defined as a traumatically induced disturbance in brain function, according to the American Medical Society. A concussion is a type of brain injury that is most often self-limited and at the lower end of the brain injury spectrum.
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Causes of Concussions Leading to Headaches
Competitive sports and recreational activities in the United States result in as many as 3.8 million concussions each year. However, as many as 50 percent of concussions go unreported. Concussions happen in all sporting events. The types of sports that see concussions most often are football, rugby, basketball, soccer, and hockey. Bicycle accidents, car accidents, and falls can also be to blame. Athletes who are young have a longer recovery time and might be more likely to endure a serious brain injury than adults.
If you think you have had a concussion, rest is important, but not just physically resting on the couch. Cognitive resting is important, too, in order for your brain to recover. This is especially vital for children. Even watching TV may be too much stimulation for the brain. Follow your doctor’s advice and remember that early intervention reduces the risk of long-term symptoms.
As discussed, headaches are the most common symptom to follow a concussion. As many as 86 percent of athletes have headaches after a sports injury. You may experience tension, cluster, or migraine headaches after a concussion.
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Symptoms of a Concussion Besides Headaches
The following symptoms may show up after you have endured a blow to the head:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Sensitivity to light
- Dizziness
- Problems with balance
- Sensitivity to noise
- Visual disturbances
- Loss of concentration
- Feeling dazed or stunned
- Numbness and tingling
- Fatigue
- Irritability
- Feeling “foggy” mentally
- Losing consciousness
- Difficulty remembering things
- Feeling confused about recent events
- Repeating questions
- Problems falling asleep
- Sleeping more than normal
- Drowsiness
- Feeling sad
- Being more emotional
- Nervousness
- Sleeping less than normal
- Forgetting recent conversations or information
- Answering questions slowly
It is important to remember you do not have to lose consciousness to have a concussion. Less than 10 percent of children who have concussions get “knocked out” or lose consciousness.
The Dangers of Concussions
It is a fact that concussions often go unreported. This means the person who has gotten injured is not getting enough time to rest and recover. If you endure a second blow to the head before the first one has fully recovered, further damage can occur. Some research points to the fact that this many make a full recovery of the brain take longer than normal and may result in prolonged problems. Repeated concussions can increase your risk for dementia, depression, and Parkinson’s disease later in life.
Most people fully recover from a concussion with the majority of the symptoms resolving within a few weeks of proper rest and care. However, in 10 to 20 percent of the cases, symptoms persist for longer than a month. This then becomes post-concussion syndrome (PCS). PCS can include symptoms which do not go away for weeks, months, or even years after a concussion. Some symptoms can become permanent. This is often when headaches become chronic and persistent. Doctors do not really know why some people have these symptoms while others recover fully from a concussion. It can be especially frustrating because standard testing, such as CT scans and MRIs, often come back normal. Further research reveals there are tiny changes going on at a microscopic level. The nerve fibers in the brain are disrupted due to the shearing or stretching force of the trauma. This can be one reason for post-traumatic headaches. Another reason follows below.
The Underlying Cause of Headaches and How to Find Help
When you endure a blow to your head or neck, it is very likely that your C1 or C2 vertebra move out of alignment. These bones are flexible, allowing your head to move in many directions. However, this also makes them vulnerable to misaligning more easily than other bones of the spine. These bones were also designed to protect the brainstem. This is where the problem may lie. If these vertebrae misalign, they put the brainstem under stress. This can cause it to send improper signals to the brain. Another thing that occurs with a misalignment of this sort is that it acts as a kind of blockage to the body’s natural flow of cerebrospinal fluid and blood. These fluids can pool in the brain, causing intracranial pressure and, in turn, headaches. Correcting this problem can bring relief. But, what is the best way to do this?
Upper cervical chiropractors have specialized training that helps them to find these tiny misalignments. They then use a particular type of adjustment that does not require them to pop or crack the spine or neck. Rather, it is a low-force adjustment to encourage the vertebrae to move back into place naturally. Patients have reported seeing relief in just a few visits. Other symptoms of concussions have been seen to go away as well.
To schedule a consultation with Upper Cervical Chiropractic San Diego, call 858-434-5926 or just click the button below.
If you are outside of the local area you can find an Upper Cervical Doctor near you at www.uppercervicalawareness.com.
