Headaches after a car accident can be a sign or symptom of a car accident injury that may need medical attention. While headaches might be normal after a car accident, that doesn’t mean they should be ignored. In fact, the severity and type of headache can help your doctor better understand your injury and develop the proper treatment approach so you can experience lasting relief. If you’ve been in a car accident, your nearby Snellville orthopedics doctor can talk with you about your headaches and determine if you’ve suffered a car accident injury.
Head and Neck Injuries After a Car Accident
Head and neck injuries are common with car accidents because of how your body can get shaken up and jostled around. While your seat belt restrains your upper body to the seat, your head and neck are not and can experience more injury because of it. Whether you’ve been in a rear-end collision or a multi-vehicle crash, it is possible that your head and neck have sustained some type of injury.
Whiplash
Whiplash is one of the 5 most common injuries sustained from car accidents because of how your head and neck are affected in the collision. Especially common when you’ve been rear-ended, your head and neck can suddenly get flung forward and then snap backward with the force of the accident. This can affect the spine and muscles in your neck. Your neck muscles are used to moving in a wide range, but when an accident takes you by surprise it can force your neck out of its normal range of motion, straining and stretching those muscles. A headache is a common symptom of whiplash and some people experience a more painful headache alongside tender, stiff neck muscles.
Concussion
A concussion is the most common example of a traumatic brain injury and can occur in many types of car accidents. Whether or not you were moving at a fast rate of speed, if your head hits the dashboard, steering wheel, or window with enough force it can lead to a concussion. When you hit your head hard enough it can cause your brain to collide with your skull, causing pain and bruising. If you’ve suffered a blow to the head during a car accident then you should get checked out by a car accident doctor as soon as possible because a headache is only one of many symptoms of a concussion that should be taken seriously.
Muscle Strains and Sprains
Muscle strains and sprains are common after a car accident, particular in your neck muscles or due to a whiplash injury. You can also sustain muscle strains and sprains in your neck and upper back through your shoulders that can cause painful headaches. Muscles and tendons are soft tissues and can stretch or tear in an accident, leading to significant pain and discomfort. The sudden force of the car accident may stretch your muscles and other soft tissues out of their normal range.
Spinal Injuries
Your spine runs from the base of your neck through to your tailbone and there are many types of car accident injuries that can affect your spine. Whiplash can lead to a spinal injury in your neck, also known as the cervical spine, like a herniated disc. A herniated disc occurs when the spongy, soft material that usually separates your vertebrae slips out of place or is forced out because of the collision. This can put pressure on nearby nerves, causing shooting pain and headaches that can last for days or even weeks.
Treating Headaches after a Car Accident
When it comes to getting lasting relief from a headache, talk with your Snellville orthopedics doctor about the pain and symptoms you’ve been having. Your doctor will provide you with an accurate diagnosis of your car accident injury, which will help identify what is causing your headaches and determine how to best relieve them. You can trust your Snellville orthopedics doctor at AICA Orthopedics to develop a treatment plan that will get at the root cause of your headaches and other symptoms so you can experience lasting pain relief. There is no one-size-fits-all solution for headaches after a car accident, and at AICA Orthopedics our team of car accident doctors will develop an individualized treatment to address your specific injury and symptoms. Call or visit us online to schedule an appointment with one of our Snellville orthopedics doctors and experience the lasting pain relief you deserve.