Causes of post-traumatic headaches

Patients with who have had head trauma may develop a stubborn headache later. Post-traumatic headaches are often accompanied by other symptoms including dizziness, vertigo, difficulty concentrating, memory disorders, depression, behavior disorders, and sleep alteration. This collection of symptoms together with headache is commonly called post-concussion syndrome. The severity of the symptoms does not depend on the severity of the head injury; even a trivial head injury can be enough to cause headaches.

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The headaches associated with the post-concussion syndrome can be similar to a migraine headache (occurring with nausea or vomiting), a tension-type headache, or both. The headache symptoms and soft-tissue injuries may be effectively treated with mild analgesics and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs over the initial weeks. A short course of physical therapy might help. If the headache is very bad or is associated with anxiety, depression, or cognitive difficulties, more aggressive intervention may be necessary.

Regardless of treatment approach, patients are encouraged to return to normal activities as soon as possible.