Headaches are common, and plenty of people complain of them often. However, if you have a harsh headache after a car accident, you should pay attention to this. While headaches alone do not have any special meaning to the body, there are times when the pain can be caused by something serious, such as an injury from an accident itself.
Also, headaches can develop after a car accident for a number of various reasons. Some of these indicate that there’s some damage done to areas of the brain. At the same time, others may be caused by stress or tension. However, one thing is for certain; if you have a headache, something is triggering the pain.
Common Causes of Headaches After Car Accidents
There are several known causes of headaches after a car accident. you may wonder how long do headaches last after a car accident? Well, this is because pain can be caused by any of these reasons. Possible reasons for this include:
Whiplash Headache:
Whiplash is a common injury that generally occurs in car accidents. When a person’s neck is forced to move quickly forward or backward, whiplash can occur. This type of pain generally starts from the back of the head to the front of the head. It can even progress to your shoulder if it is bad enough. Headaches can be very painful, and can become more intense when the victim tries to turn or move them. The exact reasons why this happens are that there can be tears in the tendons that connect muscles to bones, sprains in ligaments and muscles, and injuries to nerves.
Fractured Skull or Fractured Spine:
Sometimes after a car accident, you can fracture your skull or spine. This is very serious and can be very dangerous too. If you have a headache after an accident and any of these symptoms, it is necessary to get medical attention right away. In addition to fractured skull or spine may cause bleeding within the brain or spinal cord. Again, this is a harsh and potentially life-threatening injury. In addition, handling should be done as early as possible.
Brain Bleeding Headaches:
If you have bleeding in the brain after a car accident, it can cause headaches. This is because the blood vessels are deep in the brain where they can burst from violent motion during an accident. You will need immediate medical attention if you believe you have a brain hemorrhage after an accident.
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI):
Another possible type of headache is because of an injury to the head itself. For example, a car accident is undoubtedly traumatic, and it can cause brain damage. This, in turn, causes headaches that can range from mild to harsh. When your brain is injured in an accident, it can cause headaches. This is because there are tiny vessels located within the brain that can burst when jostled. This is a serious injury that requires immediate medical attention.
Tension Headaches:
Stress and tension can even cause headaches. For example, when you experience lots of stress because of pain from an accident, it can trigger this kind of headache. This is because there’s the muscles inside your head and a neck that strains when you get stressed. If the strain becomes too much, it can result in headaches. Tension headaches generally go away on their own after a few days or weeks of relaxation.
Post-concussion headaches:
This type of headache can occur if an accident has caused a concussion to the head. A concussion is a sort of brain injury, and if you have one, it can cause headaches. It can even affect your neck and shoulders. The trauma experienced in a car accident can easily lead to a concussion, and this is why you need to watch out for the development of headaches after the injury. If you have this kind of headache after an accident, it’s best to talk to your doctor to determine if there’s harsh damage.
If you have been in a car accident and have a headache, it is advisable that you see a doctor instantly. Maybe nothing; However, if you do not seek help when it happens after an accident, then there is a good chance you will be doing more damage to your body and brain. This can delay proper treatment and only make your condition worse and tougher to treat.
