Headaches After Head Injuries — Post-Traumatic Headaches

I'm years out from my TBI & I've actually declined in function. I'm now in multiple forms of OT & PT, but so far nothing has stopped my headaches. I used to be very active, but in the last year and a half, my decline has accelerated to the point that I can't manage my work, thus I freelance when I can, but it's really messing up my life. My neuro is lovely & says things take time, but as someone who has always been a perfectionist (I was able to push myself so hard for several years, that I actually did more to hender my progress) and now, it's a good day if I can go to the grocery store. I don't have a question. I'm just frustrated & sad. I've lost a lot & now my parents, who've been a big help, are older (I'm only 29) and my father is terminally ill, my mum has Parkinson's. I'm afraid for my own future. I have a trust fund, but I want to add value. I've always worked. I've yet to apply for disability because I want to do everything on my own, but I'm afraid I can't... More than that, I don't know how I can help my parents when right now, I need more help than my mum.

8 years ago, I fell on ice and suffered moderate head trauma, neck trauma, and back trauma. It is hard to grasp how your life can change in just a few seconds. I do not remember all of what happened. The back pain was so bad, I ignored the head and neck issues until weeks later, I started slurring words, forgot things I had taught for decades, called things by the wrong name, and kept losing things. I went to the ER with excruciating head pain. The doctor diagnosed me with post-concussive syndrome. I had never heard of this before. Saw Neurologist who advised meds would not really help migraines triggered by the trauma. He told me to try Migravent which you can buy online and to take COQ10. I had PT for almost a year. I struggled through each day to keep my job. I felt like I got my life back and could live with limitations, but things got worse recently with ear, jaw, face, ahead, and neck pain. My family doctor prescribed Xanax. I did not want to be chained to meds with serious side effects. I started going to a wonderful, gentle, thorough chiropractor who found 3 severe vertebrae issues in my neck. Immediate improvement. I also found a massage therapist who specializes in head trauma. She does cranial sacral therapy which has been so healing. I wish I had found the chiro and massage therapist 8 years ago. If you are suffering, please consider alternative therapy. It has been such a blessing and given me hope again.

I was in a bad RTA when I was 18. Hit by 2 cars. My right eyebrow hit a curb causing a serious brain injury. I'm now 36 and suffer with sever migraines and problems with my memory and balance. Doctors refuse to do scans and I continue to worsen

For the lady who fell off her horse and had a knot on her neck. Have you thought of seeing a NUCCA doctor. I have heard that people with such injuries can find some resolve from their symptoms. It is a cervical specific technique with no force with great results.

When I was 16 I fell off my horse busted my head open had 16 stitches and a concussion with a large knot on my neck. Now I am 59 and I have had migraines ever since then. Been to a neurologist and they did a cat scan which showed I had 5 white spots where I busted my head open. He gave me migraine meds which I stopped taking because it did not help. I don't know if I need to go back and see if anything has changed since then. I just can't stand theses headaches anymore. I don't have them all the time but enough to say they hinder me sometimes. Any advice?

I was born in 1962 in 1964 I was placed on a tricycle on a patio in front of a set of steps with a concrete slab at the bottom to this day the blood stain is still in that concrete. 300 stitches to the head and a full concussion out for days ( I don't even know how long) many other small head trama during child hood shook and slapped and knocked even knocked out. 3 major auto accidents as an adult with head neck and spine injury twice. A blow to the head by a pounding fist of nasty ex husband. Knocks on the head due to accidents later as an adult a suitcase fell in an airplane hit the side of my head. I have walked into doors . Fell and hit my head 3 times when I was dehydrated due to illness. Now I wake every night same time and can not get back to sleep nasty head ache light and sound bother me more every year and my family tells me my personality is impossible to live with now (although I would say many of the family are way worse than I am) Acupunture seems to be the solution overall that works for just about everyone so I will try that when I get the money to pay for it. I take too many pills and liver is going because of it. But depression and losing the will to live is all part of this as well so sometimes that feels like so what this is no life to live. You can not participate in almost anything without getting so sick that your down for days. 

I had a very bad head injury last year an I had two brain bleeds an a skull fracture and now I'm having headaches everyday but they are barley noticeable

My son was thrown from a vehicle September of last year. He suffered a broken back and sever head trauma. He was unconscious several times and he still deal with some memory loss. He is having sever headaches much worse than a migraine. I'm calling doctor tomorrow because I as mom feel there is more wrong. Has anyone else had this?

On Sunday June 12th I was rear ended at about 75 mph causing my car to spin and jump over median coming to stop nose of car pointing south in north bound lane with on coming traffic. Within 24 hour started feeling mussel issues upper back, neck and major headache that does not allow me to get a full night sleep. I just want to drill hole in head a let pressure out. The entire left side of body is best up. But headache been making me a miserable person to the people I love. Have no desire for sex or motivation. I was taken out of work and now have to wait to get better to get my pay what is up with that..I have been seeing  chiropractor But no progress with headache . Going to have MRI this week can't live like this.

I'm an automotive instructor at High School in Ontario, Canada. On October 22nd, 2015 a jack stand under a vehicle failed and as a result a pick up truck fell roughly 5" on the top of my skull. My head bled profusely but eventually stopped. I was the only person under the truck as my students were watching the demonstration. Long story short is that I required stitches, new prescription glasses because it changed my vision, and to this day, June 19th, 2016, I still have headaches everyday, for the past 3 nights they've be waking me up between 3-4 am and I can't sleep. The Tylenol 3s have no effect on me anymore. My favorite place to hang out is in my basement in total darkness. Any quick movement of the head causes  a dizzy spell, in January I passed out from turning my head too quickly and landed on the concrete floor. I've been working 1/2 days for months now and there's no signs of relief. I'm 58 years old, 1 year from retirement and I'm living the life of a mushroom??? Rob

Hello All,

Former Military. Had multiple physical concussions. The brain needs certain rest. I didn't read or play video games 6 following months after incident. exercise proper nutrition and sleep hygiene. The Ketogenic diet is a proven and healthy diet for those with epilepsy or seizures/brain trauma. Healthy fats protect the brain and heart. I stay away from high fructose corn syrup, soda, caffeine, etc. I have consistent results. Not the worst headaches and manageable. This is a discipline.

Take care, all.

I was in a car accident when I was 18, I'm 45 now. I hit the windshield and had stitches on the bridge of my nose, on my cheek, lip and ear on the right side of my face as I was a passenger in the car. It was an old car, before seatbelts, so we were not wearing restraints. I have had headaches/migraines for many years. Been thru hormone therapy, diet classes, many medications, the side effects of all of those, alcohol abuse to self medicate, problems at work that goes with all of this. People who don't have these types of issues don't get it. I am sober now, on a good balance of medication, will always have to deal with the paranoia, confusion, ringing ears and pain. I have the scars on my face. I understand what all of you are going thru.

Today, I got hit in the head with a slinky and want to know if it's normal to have a small headache afterwards.

Thank you all for sharing your stories. I was in a car accident in 2013 and like many of you, I suffer from a constant state of trying to accept that this is my new norm. I sleep a lot. Suffer from confusion, forgetfulness irritability anger depression and the list goes on. I experience what I have dubbed as "involuntary napping" where i could be sitting somewhere reading something or watching tv and the next thing I know I'm waking up. I no longer drive at night or go very far from home. I feel like I do not even know who I am anymore and cannot trust what is in my mind at times. I feel like i get lost in my own mind sometimes searching for the words to speak or to respond to a question. The hardest part of all of this is others think you are the same as you were before the accident. Famous line "well you look fine". I want to scream. I can only hope that I have more good days than bad at this point. On my good days I run myself ragged because I have so many days where I am incapable of doing anything. Reading all these comments I finally don't feel crazy and I find comfort in knowing I am not alone. I'm SO SORRY you all suffer as I do... I would never wish this on anyone!

I'm experiencing the same things you are. But my insurance company has said I'm fine to go back to a normal life.. disbelieving I am having chronic headaches..

I don't know if it's in my head or its just be but ever since I was in an accident about two years ago my head has been recently hurting and since then I haven't checked my head for a CT scan. It was a bad car accident, both of my parents passed away including my uncle and my 16 year old cousin I survived including my little brother, my nephew and two of my other cousins. But my head has been hurting and I'm just nervous if I do have something but I haven't gone to check myself.

My husband has been dealing with these headaches for almost 6 years now.  Some days they're tolerable and other times he won't even come out of the bedroom he hurts so bad.  He suffered a TBI after a big rig accident he was in.  He was cut off by a Mercedes in upstate New York and he hit the brakes on a wet, icy road and the truck rolled three full revolutions before landing on the drivers side.  His head hit every square inch of the cab and he hasn't been right since.  Even doctors at UMass haven't been able to help.  Amitryptilline hasn't helped him at all.  I wish doctors would spend more time researching this for those of you and your loved ones who are suffering with this.

Please look into nuerofeedback and also cranial sacral massage therapy

to the last comment--- please Call Dr Mark Gordon at Millenium Health Care in Orange County California. He treats from a distance as well. Its Very common to have a hormonal imbalance which sounds like what you have, after TBI and he does specific testing and treatment. Can turn your life around! I'm currently starting there

I am 4 weeks removed from a fall where I hit my head. Didn't black out, thought I was okay at the time. Next day vomiting, dizzy and realized I had a concussion. CT scan was clean and doctors kept telling me I would be better in a few days with dizziness being my main symptom. Now I get daily headaches and definitely have reached the point of frustration where there seems to be no end in sight. Wasn't more than a very occasional pot smoker prior but now I find marijuana to be the thing that helps me the most with the headaches. Anyone else medicating with marijuana?

Our four year old granddaughter has a linear skull fracture. We've gone through a few days of hospital treatment, and she seems to be recovering normally. The thing we can't find info on is the fact that she wakes periodically from headaches in her sleep. Any suggestions on where to look to research this would be greatly appreciated.

The most helpful thing for me is chiropractic adjustment which includes cranials.  If you have not been referred to a chiropractor, just know that everyone with a brain injury should be examined and evaluated by a chiropractor, usually an Applied kinesiologist), because they can help you without drugs. You will never be 100% the way you were because brain cells have died.  You can, at least, get closer to the 100% with spinal and cranial adjustments.  In my case, the pseudo-bulbar affect is almost gone, I don't hardly ever scream at the top of my lungs anymore.  I certainly walk better.  I still use a cane for feeling where the ground is, but my balance is much better and my gait patterns are more steady.  My eyesight is still problematic, however, I no longer have saccades and I can read music and play the piano at about 75% of my expertise prior to my TBI injury.  Head pain is less often, thinking thoughts is easier and less confused.  Hope to continue improving is in my heart.  Chiropractic care is what helps me.  Medical drugs gave me terrible side effects including suicide tendencies which are not in my nature.  So, no drugs for me.  Chiropractic care is giving me back my life.  I highly recommend it for every person with brain injury of every age.  It is certainly worth a try.

As a fellow head injury person struggling with various physical and psychological symptoms I can unequivocally state that trauma and damage to the substructure of the impact area is a reality even if it is yet undefined.