Post traumatic headaches, next to whiplash injuries, are the second mostcommon injuries following a car accident. These are usually due to rear end collisions in which theneck is often injured (sometimes referred to as whiplash). Many cases of post traumatic headache will resolve within days to weeks but there are cases in which patients suffer from the symptoms for months, years or even their lifetime (in extreme cases). Headache symptoms can be due to: whiplash or neck problems, facet joint irritation, muscle related, disc related, or may be more insidiously related to traumatic brain injury or post-concussion syndrome in which case a qualified Neurologist should be consulted.

Conway and Loris Chiropractor Car Accident Doctor
Since many post traumatic headaches are related to neck, or Cervical Spine, injury, a thorough evaluation of the neck should always be performed. These headaches can feel either like "Tension" type headaches or more severe "Migraine" type headaches. They can originate from under the base of the skull (sub-occipital) and involve the the front (frontal) and sides (temporal) of the head sometimes affecting the jaw (temporomandibular), and eye sockets (orbital). Patients with whiplash related headache often also get shoulder pain and touching the big trapezius muscles over the back of the neck and shoulders often provokes pain or headache. There are often tender spots or trigger points in these muscles.

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