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It’s no surprise that car accidents are traumatic events that can cause many types of injuries. What might be surprising though is that your head hurts for several days after the accident, even if it didn’t actually hit anything.
Constant head pain after a car accident is not necessarily life-threatening but it does have a significant impact on your quality of life. That’s why it’s always important to see a medical professional for an examination after an accident, even if you don’t notice any pain after the accident.
The adrenaline rushing through your body can dull the pain and some symptoms take a few days to develop before you really notice them. By this time, treatment will be more difficult and it will be more challenging for you to connect your injury to the accident for insurance purposes.
What causes a constant headache after a car accident?
- Concussion — A direct impact to your head or your head jerking around in the accident can cause long-lasting and frequently recurring headaches related to a concussion. A concussion is the result of the kind of trauma involved in an automobile accident that causes your brain to collide against the inside of your skull. Concussions usually aren’t life-threatening but they cause head pain, mood shifts, nausea, confusion and they affect your ability to focus.
- Whiplash — The impact from an accident can cause your head to lurch forward and then back, which strains and tears the soft tissue in your neck. This causes tension and stiffness that puts pressure on the spine, which, in turn, puts pressure on the nerves running through your neck into your head. This can cause frequent and long-lasting headaches until you’ve recovered from your whiplash symptoms.
An orthopedic specialist can develop a treatment that helps you overcome the head pain caused by concussions and whiplash. However, if you have head pain after an accident that’s accompanied by the following symptoms, you may need to contact emergency medical services for immediate assistance:
- Loss of consciousness
- Bruising and swelling on the head
- Lacerations and blood loss on the head
- Confusion and slurred speech
- Severe pain
Visit the Florida Spine and Joint Institute for head pain treatment
Are you experiencing head pain after an automobile accident? You may need treatment for a condition like concussion or whiplash. Our orthopedic specialists at the Florida Spine and Joint Institute can perform an examination and provide the treatment you need. Contact our team today for more information about head pain treatment or to schedule an initial appointment.
