Post-Traumatic Headache

What is Post-Traumatic Patient Tips Headache?

Headache is the most common symptom after a concussion. It is also called post-traumatic headache. Posttraumatic headache can affect your ability to go to school, work, do your daily activities, and interact with others.

Post-traumatic headaches can feel different for each patient. Some headaches feel like a migraine, others feel like a tension-type headache. In most people, headaches stop after a few days or weeks. Sometimes they can last for months or longer.

How is Post-Traumatic Headache Diagnosed?

Make sure to tell your primary health provider if you are having headaches after your injury.

Your primary healthcare provider may ask several questions to better understand the type of headaches you have:

• How often do you get headaches?
• How long do they last?
• Where do you feel the pain?
• How strong is the pain?
• What type of pain you feel (e.g., pressure, throbbing, stabbing)?
• Do you have other symptoms (e.g., nausea, vomiting)?
• Does anything trigger your headaches (e.g., time of day, activity)?
• Is there anything that helps relieve the pain?
• Have you had previous headache treatments?
• Do your headaches affect your ability to function?

How can I manage my headaches?

What can I do to help prevent headaches?

Sleep - Make sure to get regular sleep. See the Section on SleepWake Problems if you have trouble falling or staying asleep.

Eat regular meals - Try not to skip meals and do eat at regular times. Try to have protein at every meal.

                               Drink water regularly - Drink 4 to 6 glasses of water every day. Try to avoid caffeine drinks such as coffee, tea, or soft-drinks. Also avoid diet drinks that contain the ingredient aspartame.

Avoid stress - Try relaxation activities to help you deal with stress, such as yoga, meditation and exercise.

Get regular exercise - If your primary healthcare provider says you can start to exercise start slowly and increase your effort gradually. Exercise might look different for everyone; you might go for walks, go swimming, or use exercise machines. If exercise triggers a headache, reduce your effort or try a different activity.

How can I deal with my headache without medication?

Here are some things you can do to help your headaches:

• Apply a cold or hot pack to your neck or head
• Tie something tight around your head (e.g. scarf)
• Stretch and self-massage your head, neck, and shoulders and/or see a registered massage therapist (RMT)
• Do breathing exercises
• Go to a quiet place
• Lie down
• Do visualization or other mindfulness-based exercises
• Use a calendar or headache diary to track your headaches.