Like other kinds of pain, a car accident headache is your body’s way of saying something is wrong. If you ignore headache symptoms or numb them with medication, your body won’t get the care and healing it needs. Over time, your injuries could get worse, impacting your career and daily life.
In this article, we’ll cover common types of headaches after a car accident, how serious they are and when to know if you should see a doctor. If you have personal injury protection (PIP) insurance, you must see a doctor within 14 days of an accident to use your insurance benefits.
Not sure how to treat a headache from a car accident? In most cases, seeing a doctor is the first step you should take. Not every injury shows up at once, so it’s important to get checked after an accident. If you’re unsure whether your symptoms are serious enough to see a doctor, find the answers you need here.
If you have a constant headache after an accident, you should see a doctor immediately. A headache after an accident could mean that you have strained or sprained muscles, a neck injury, bone fractures or a concussion. While some headaches are simply a result of minor physical or emotional stress, others can signal a serious underlying problem.
Yes, you should always have a doctor examine you if you experience a headache after an accident. Minor accidents can still lead to injuries like neck strain, which is a common cause of a headache following a car accident. For a full and fast recovery, you should see a doctor.
Even if you don’t hit your head in a car accident, you can still be injured. For example, whiplash can cause a bad headache after a car accident. If you have a post-accident headache, your body is trying to tell you there’s something wrong. Even if you didn’t hit your head in the accident, you should see a doctor for assessment and treatment.
Knowing what kind of headache you have can help you get the proper treatment. Learn more about these common types of headaches following a car accident:
This kind of headache is caused by strain on your neck from an accident. It’s also called a cervicogenic headache because “cervical spine” is the medical term for your neck. You may have a whiplash headache if you’re experiencing:
You may need chiropractic care or physical therapy to relieve the symptoms of a whiplash headache. Because this kind of headache is related to neck tension, it can impact your ability to work for a while. Seeing a doctor can help you heal faster than waiting out the symptoms on your own.
Your muscles may be sore, tense or strained after an accident. This can cause a tension headache, which can feel like a tight band around your head. Other symptoms of a tension headache include:
If a tension headache caused by an accident lasts for more than a few days, you need to see a doctor. You can help relieve the symptoms of a tension headache with chiropractic and physical therapy treatments. Medical attention can help your muscles relax and heal more quickly, saving you from prolonged pain.
If you hit your head during a car accident, you can develop a post-traumatic headache. If you have a concussion from hitting your head, a post-traumatic headache can be part of your symptoms. However, this kind of headache doesn’t always mean you have a concussion. Symptoms of a post-traumatic headache include:
Other common symptoms include nausea, sensitivity to light and sound, mental fog and fatigue. If you’ve hit your head in an accident, your neck may also be stiff and sore. If you’ve hit your head, it’s extremely important to see a doctor for diagnosis and treatment. Head injuries can be serious and need special care.
Migraines can be triggered or made worse by trauma like a car accident. People experience a wide range of symptoms when they have a migraine. Common symptoms of a migraine can include:
In addition to head pain, you may experience nausea, sensitivity to light and sound and difficulty concentrating. Although some people can still function with a migraine, many people have to wait it out before they can perform normal tasks again. Seeing a doctor is important for diagnosing and properly treating migraine symptoms, especially if they are new or unusual.
This type of headache can sometimes be triggered by trauma like having a car accident. They are called cluster headaches because they occur in painful bursts multiple times a day. Cluster headaches can last for weeks to months. Common symptoms of a cluster headache include:
Other symptoms include restlessness, facial swelling and watery, red eyes on the side of your face with the headache. If an accident triggers cluster headaches or changes their pattern, you should see a doctor for diagnosis and treatment. Cluster headaches can interrupt your daily life, but treatment can help reduce their frequency and severity.
Finding integrated treatment after auto or workplace accidents can be challenging. At Complete Care, we offer comprehensive injury care services in Central Florida. Our services include care for concussions, neurology, diagnostic imaging and X-rays, spine and orthopedics, and injury care and rehab.
Get assessed and treated quickly, all at the same location. To make treatment accessible for you, we offer walk-ins, same-day appointments and telehealth appointments. Although Complete Care doesn’t accept major medical insurance, we do accept PIP insurance and self-pay options.
We have helped thousands of people recover from car accidents. Request an appointment with us today!
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