Headache After Car Accident
Millions of Americans complain of headaches each year. Headaches can be caused by a variety of factors, including stress and hormone abnormalities. However, if you have been in a car accident and you begin to get persistent headaches either right away or soon after the incident, it is quite likely that you were hurt in the collision. What should you do as a result?
You should never ignore a headache after a car accident. Doing so could result in more severe health problems later on. Here are the different symptoms that can result from head injuries and why they should never be disregarded.
Post-Traumatic Headache
Post-traumatic headache is typically brought on by head and neck injuries sustained from a vehicle accident or other severe incident.
A headache caused by neck discomfort that radiates to the head might be present. The headache normally develops hours to days after the injury, however, it can occasionally take longer.
Post-traumatic headaches can be a sign of brain damage, so if you have them, your condition may be more serious than you realize.
If you don’t seek treatment for post-traumatic headache, you may suffer permanent brain damage, affecting your mood and emotions. This can have long-term effects on victims’ personal lives and relationships.
Concussion
A concussion is a brain injury that changes how the brain functions. It is typically brought on by a blow to the head or a rapid, forceful jolt.
The cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) that surrounds the brain shields it from the inner skull walls upon impact. However, a severe head or neck impact might force the brain to strike the walls of the skull, which would result in bleeding.
Concussion-related migraine headaches frequently include symptoms including nausea (sometimes accompanied by vomiting), light and sound sensitivity, disorientation, dizziness, and ringing in the ears.
Sometimes they are accompanied by anxiety, slurred speech, sleep issues, and memory loss (during the moments right before and after the trauma). The post-concussion syndrome may also be used to describe this brain injury. This requires immediate treatment. The most severe repercussion after suffering a concussion is death.
Other Head-Related Injuries
Muscle Strain
Muscle strain is brought on by a strain or injury to the neck, head, or upper back muscles. The rapid impact to the neck and head that occurs in an automobile collision may tear or harm the soft tissue, straining or spasming the muscles.
In addition to a headache, a muscle strain can cause the afflicted muscle to become sensitive, lose some of its range of motion, or become red and enlarged.
Whiplash
Whiplash is due to an abrupt force being applied to the head and neck. When the head and neck move suddenly and forcibly (both forward and backward), the muscles and ligaments in the neck become stressed, resulting in whiplash headaches.
The soft tissue may be strained by a violent jerking motion. The headaches, which are often around the base of the skull, may also be accompanied by neck discomfort or stiffness, visual abnormalities, exhaustion, dizziness, and trouble focusing and remembering. They may also make it difficult to fall asleep.
Fracture
Fracture headaches result from a skull or neck fracture. The pain is typically concentrated near the injury site or in the neck and back of the head. Although it is uncommon, brain damage might potentially contribute to a headache that won’t go away.
The symptoms might be severe and include nausea, disorientation, a stiff neck, slurred speech, and even seizures, depending on the nature and severity of the fracture. If you don’t seek treatment, you risk your overall health and can result in permanent disability.
Pinched Nerve
Pinched nerves occur because of the root’s compression of the spinal nerves. Upper cervical (neck) nerve roots may be pinched or the greater occipital nerve may be irritated during a car collision due to the compression of the spine or disc herniation (nerve at the base of the skull).
Pain, discomfort, burning, numbness, and tingling from the base of the skull up the back of the head may be experienced when these nerves are squeezed. It is often sensitive to touch.
What to Do If You Have a Headache After a Car Accident
Even if your headache is not very bad or if it goes away with over-the-counter pain relievers, you should still seek medical attention. The only way to pinpoint precisely what is causing your symptoms is to visit your doctor for medical attention. A thorough assessment is necessary for an accurate diagnosis.
After being properly assessed by your doctor, the appropriate drugs and a pain management strategy will be recommended. It’s crucial that you don’t self-medicate because the treatment for injuries sustained in a motor vehicle collision differs depending on the diagnosis. Therefore, get plenty of rest and allow your body to heal after your car accident.
Once diagnosed, compile the essential paperwork to submit to your insurance provider or attorney. Your attorney can then offer advice on how to ensure that you receive all the legal rights and compensation to which you are entitled.
Legal Representation for Your Car Accident Injury
After a vehicle accident, injuries may arise for a number of reasons. Some of these reasons, as you’ve learned, are more severe than others. That’s why you should never ignore a headache after a car accident. Ignoring an injury after a car accident could put your health and financial situation in jeopardy. Contact Heritage Accident Lawyers for a reliable, knowledgeable car accident lawyer to assist you with your case.