You may expect to suffer from headaches after a car accident– after all, it’s a stressful experience and you may be struggling to deal with the logistics of the aftermath. Not only can headaches be painful and annoying, but they can actually be a sign of more severe injuries that occurred as a result of your accident. If you’re suffering from this, you may be wondering when it’s a big enough concern to see a doctor and who to see. The short answer is- see an expert as soon as you notice the headaches, and a neurologist is usually a good choice.
What Does a Neurologist Do?
A neurologist is a medical doctor who has undergone specialized training in diagnosing, treating, and managing disorders of the brain and nervous system. This can often include chronic conditions like Alzheimer’s disease, ALS, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, or Parkinson’s disease, but neurologists also work with traumatic injuries to these systems. In the case of a car accident, they are usually looking for any brain injuries or sudden changes to the spine that may have impacted the nervous system.
Should you visit a doctor after an accident? As specialists, you may be sent to a neurologist after visiting your primary care physician or a general accident doctor. You can also go straight to a neurologist for immediate care.
Neurologists are able to perform a range of tests that can help diagnose the cause of headaches after a car accident. This includes diagnostic scans you may be familiar with like computed tomography (CT or CAT scans), magnetic resonance imaging (MRIs), or electroencephalography (EEG). They may also perform nerve conduction studies or lumbar punctures. Most neurologists do not perform surgery or other invasive techniques and will refer you to a neurosurgeon for that service.
Types of Common Headaches After a Car Accident
Not all headaches are created equal, and there are a number of forms that may appear after an accident. Symptoms can differ slightly and indicate different levels of risk. Some common example include the following:
- Post-Traumatic Headaches: This is a general term for a headache that results from trauma to the head or neck after a car accident. Symptoms typically appear quickly and can be short-lived or long-term. They may be harmless but can indicate further damage to the brain.
- Concussion Headaches: A concussion is a mild form of traumatic brain injury that occurs when the head strikes a hard surface or moves in such a way that the brain strikes the skull. These headaches may present as migraines, with accompanying nausea, sensitivity to light and sound, confusion or dizziness, or ringing in the ears. Most concussions heal on their own but some cases are more severe and require treatment.
- Whiplash Headaches: Whiplash is a common car accident injury that occurs when the neck muscles and ligaments are strained by sudden, forceful movement. This can lead to pain and headaches, beginning at the base of the skull. These headaches often appear days after the accident occurs.
- Fracture Headaches: If the neck or skull is fractured, it can lead to intense headaches that typically begin in the back of the head or the neck. Symptoms may also include nausea, confusion, stiff necks, slurred speech, or even seizures.
- Pinched Nerve Headaches: When a car accident causes disc herniation or other spinal issues, a nerve can become compressed at the root. This includes nerves in the cervical spine the can irritate the greater occipital nerve at the base of the skull, leading to pain, tenderness, burning, numbness, or tingling from the base of the skull up the back of the head.
When to See a Neurologist
If you are suffering from headaches after a car accident, the best general rule is to see a neurologist as soon as possible. Not only is documenting injuries early important for insurance, but being proactive about any treatment can make recovery shorter and easier. It may even prevent the need for more invasive treatment in the future. Especially when brain injuries are a possibility, getting a diagnosis quickly can prevent serious issues from coming up down the line.
Even if your headache is mild, if it is accompanied by any behavioral or cognitive changes, issues with any of your senses, or a loss of consciousness at any point, immediate care should be your first priority.
