What Causes Headaches After a Car Accident?

Headaches are one of the most common effects people experience after a car accident, and while they’re sometimes a standalone condition, they’re often a symptom or side-effect of a deeper issue. If you’re experiencing headaches after a car accident, know that treatment is possible. And the first step to effective treatment is identifying the cause of your headaches.

Below, we’ll cover four common causes of headaches after a car accident—and discuss your options for recovering. Our Atlanta car accident lawyers can help you demand justice for a recent injury.

Top 4 Causes of Headaches After a Car Accident

1. Whiplash is an extremely common car accident injury resulting from the “whip-like” motion of the upper body being thrown forward. Although the back itself can be affected, in most cases it is the neck that suffers. Our Atlanta personal injury lawyers know that whiplash can cause tears in the muscle and tendons of the neck, and that pain can radiate up into the skull. In particular, headaches accompanied by neck stiffness are extremely likely to be caused by whiplash.
2. Head injuries. If you hit your head in any way during a car accident, headaches are to be expected—and they may be severe. However, the headaches themselves are just a symptom. In many cases, a blow to the head could cause a concussion, which is a form of brain injury. Concussions and head injuries need to be dealt with immediately by a medical professional. If left without proper treatment, swelling in the head or brain could cause not only more severe pain, but potentially permanent brain damage. If you may have hit your head, or aren’t sure if you hit it, get emergency medical treatment.
3. High blood pressure. It’s less common, but some patients experience a spike in blood pressure after a car accident. High blood pressure (hypertension) leads to excess blood in the head and, in almost all cases, to headaches. Aspirin can be used to control these headaches, however, make sure you have confirmed that nothing else is wrong. It’s worth seeing a doctor.
4. Fibromyalgia is a set of symptoms that tend to include unexplained pain, especially headaches, that may last for months or longer. While it’s unclear that car accidents “cause” fibro, we do know that it’s not uncommon for patients to develop fibromyalgia after a car accident. If your headaches have no clear physical cause, and are accompanied by a sense of “brain fog” and fatigue—or aches in other parts of the body—they may be part of fibromyalgia.

Headaches are one of the most common symptoms and injuries after a car accident. However, headaches can also be caused by psychological conditions. The trauma of the event and the stress brought on by dealing with the aftermath are just some of the psychological factors that can trigger physical pain.

All of these causes can be treated, but treatment is different for each one. The best thing you can do is see a doctor to determine the exact cause of your headache and the best way to get rid of it for good. And then see an Atlanta head and concussion injury accident lawyer—this is the best way to make sure that insurance will pay for ALL of your recommended treatment.

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