Over the past few years, special attention has been drawn to the problems that current and former professional football players were having with severe migraines and other types of chronic headaches pain. What doctors found was a connection between repeated head injuries and chronic forms of headache pain.
It became apparent that sports injury headaches, post-concussion headaches and traumatic brain injury (TBI) headaches all had something in common. The resulting pressure on the brain could be debilitating and life altering.
POST-CONCUSSION HEADACHES
Post concussion headaches occur because of many factors. Most prominently is the pressure inside the skull and the decreased blood flow to various areas of the brain, resulting from inflammation in the lower parts of the head and the neck.
A concussion does not always cause damage to the bones of the skull. It does, however, have a direct impact on the brain. Though the brain itself is surrounded and protected by spinal fluid, if hit hard enough, your brain can hit the skull causing a concussion. The resulting headaches can be excruciating.
HEAD TRAUMA
Head trauma can occur in any number of ways. Sports-related injuries, automobile accidents, combat injuries and slip-and-fall injuries are just a few of the ways a person can receive a concussion or other serious head injury. Not all will result in a traumatic brain injury. Some, however, will cause serious chronic headache pain due to the changes that occur inside the skull.
The circulation of blood and cerebrospinal fluid inside the brain is important for proper function. When either is disrupted through pressure in the neck or a swelling of the brain or other tissues due to a head injury, the resulting posttraumatic headache pain must be addressed. Pressure within the spinal column that travels through the neck and up into the lower portion of the skull can also increase the risk of headaches.
MIGRAINES AND TBI HEADACHES
Traumatic brain injuries occur when a force that is external from the body injures the brain.
Migraines and TBI headaches can be very intense and last for hours, but there are ways to cope with the pain associated with both traumatic brain injuries and migraines. While most TBI’s result in some degree of permanent damage, the pain that results from them can be treated. Seeking medical attention will help you get back on the road to recovery and give you the opportunity to take your life back.
NATIONAL HEADACHE INSTITUTE
Residents of Coral Gables and Miami can turn to the National Headache Institute for answers when their sports injury headaches begin to affect their quality of life. Although we do not treat traumatic brain injuries, we do find ways to help our TBI patients deal with the intense pain associated with their condition. Whether your headaches are a result of head trauma or a sports-related injury, we have the tools to help you move past the pain and onto a better life. Please contact us today.
