Trauma Induced Headache

Post-Traumatic Headaches are very common in people following trauma to the head and neck area. This includes both closed-head injury and whiplash. Unfortunately, due to lawsuits, lawyers, and some dishonest people, post-traumatic headache syndrome has become a very controversial type of headache .Both acute and chronic post traumatic headaches are seen in patients. There is no question that acute post-traumatic headaches do occur. These headaches usually occur within one week of injury. Symptoms, in addition to head pain, may include nausea, light and sound sensitivity and concentration and memory problems. Studies have shown that post traumatic headaches are a very common occurence after accidents. Studies have shown that 88% of people with mild head injuries will complain of headaches. These are people who were not severly injured. Acute Post-traumatic headache syndrome is seen most often as the result of car accidents in which the victim is rear ended. In most of these patients, the headaches generally resolve on their own within days or a few weeks.

Months and even years after an injury, chronic post-traumatic headaches can persist. This is where the controversy exists.This usually occurs with patients that have suffered more severe trauma. A study found that 60% of post-injury patients had headaches for more than two months following head or neck trauma. Chronic post-traumatic headaches are those that start with the first two weeks of the trauma and remain for at least two months following the injury. Rarely, a patient will have headaches long after the trauma has occured.

A banker who oversses two humdred branches in Northern California, Jiim is 50 years old. While waiting at a stoplight, Jim was broadsided by a women who lost control of her car trying to "make the light" before it turned red. Jim suffered a dislocated knee, separated shoulder and unfortunately a concussion. His concussion lead to chronic fatigue, chronic headaches and loss of concentration. Since Jim is a banker, he constantly works with numbers. It took him 8 months before he could return to work, and he still occassionaly has problems. "The pain I can deal with, it's the reversing numbers that has kept me out of work for so long. I just can't seem to focus sometimes."

A individual with a pre-existing headache conditon is much for likely to develop a chronic post-traumatic headache problem. Many patients have neck and posterior occipital (back of the head) pain, especially in rear end car accidents. Other characteristics include : sleep disturbances, trouble concentrating, mood swings, changes in personality and dizziness with or without vertigo.Finding headache relief for these patients can be difficult.

What is it about these types of injuries that results in post-traumatic headaches? When the head moves suddenly forward and then backward, in a whiplash motion, it causes the brain to move in a circular motion. This results in a stretching of the nerve fibers(axons) in the brain causing injury to them. This damage to the nerve fibers, even if minor, can have a lasting effect on the brain's function. The brain releases chemicals around the nerves which affects their functioning, thus causing pain. Often it is just a matter of time before the condition improves. Headache treatment for Post-traumatic headaches is improving as time goes.

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A distinctive approach to the treatment of Headaches using Neuromuscular dentistry. Botox is a temporary fix, Neuromuscular dentistry is a long term headache solution.

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