A concussion headache occurs when the brain is jolted against the inside of the skull. This can happen from blunt force trauma to the head, or from the neck, or when the head is violently shaken (like in a car accident). When the brain jostles against the skull, the nerve fibers in the brain are disrupted and a bruise can form, which leads us to a discussion of common concussion headache locations.
Common symptoms of concussion headaches are nausea and vomiting, double vision, eye sensitivity to light, and dizziness. Concussion headache pain is in the moderate to severe range, and can sometimes result in receiving medical tests to ensure it isn’t a more serious ailment.
To get a better understanding of this kind of head pain, it’s helpful to discuss some of the common concussion headache locations. This is beneficial because it can assist in identifying a headache that might require urgent medical attention.
Common Concussion Headache Locations
Frontal Area of the Head
The first of all the common concussion headache locations during and after a concussion is in the frontal area of the head. Sometimes called a “tension headache”, pain in this location is often caused by the body being violently jolted forward and then halting (also known as “whiplash” when in a car accident).
The pain radiates from the forehead to both sides of the head. This kind of pain is considered a slight to moderate range of pain, although it can last for hours at a time and can also reoccur intermittently. Tension headaches in relation to a concussion can also be caused by muscle spasms and tension in the neck and head. These types of muscle spasms can occur during and after trauma is inflicted.
Headaches that occur in the front of the head and the sides of the head are a common symptom of a concussion.
Cervicogenic
Another one of the common concussion headache locations is on the back of the head and down the neck, which is called cervicogenic. This name refers to the location in the neck, in other words, the cervical spine.
This particular area is vulnerable to trauma because of the proximity to the spinal cord and all the nerve endings that connect there. As you can imagine, any kind of trauma in this area is dangerous.
The pain with these kinds of headaches is usually considered mild to severe, and can be caused by similar traumas such as tension headaches, violent jolting of the head and neck during a car accident, or blunt trauma to the back of the head and neck.
The pain in this location often results in the sufferer seeking medical guidance, as the symptoms might also feel quite severe.
Side of the Head: Migraine
The third of the common concussion headache locations we will be discussing in this article can be found on one side of the head, which is called a migraine.
Migraines range in pain level from moderate to severe, and can last for extended amounts of time, from a day or two, to a couple weeks.
Common symptoms of a migraine include nausea and vomiting, fatigue, and difficulty concentrating. When the pain reaches severe levels, the sufferer is often unable to participate in daily activities and will need to seek medical treatment.
Although migraines are known to centralize on one side of the head, the pain can radiate towards the forehead and behind the eyes. In some cases, the pain even stretches down the neck and shoulders.
While some people might be used to experiencing these kinds of symptoms, if you’ve been in any kind of accident or had trauma to the head recently, it is very important to seek medical help.
Conclusion
Concussion headache locations can be found in various parts of the head. From tension headaches in the front, cervicogenic headaches in the back, and migraines on either side, it is clear from our investigation above that the brain is quite vulnerable to trauma.
As you can imagine, the brain isn’t used to moving around, so any kind of movement inside the skull can result in a number of undesirable symptoms. Concussions can be scary, but if you know how to identify them, you can be better prepared to deal with these kinds of symptoms, especially in an emergency.
Although in many cases concussions heal on their own, sufferers should check in with a doctor to ensure there isn’t a more serious problem.
Therefore, if you have experience any kind of trauma to the head, or if you have been involved in an accident, it is crucial that you seek medical attention to make sure that there isn’t any kind of underlying brain injury that might not be immediately obvious. Sometimes the trauma from an accident can also be emotional, and the body keeps you going for a while, so it’s always important to make 100% sure that you haven’t sustained any permanent injury.
