Still Hurts: Headaches After Traumatic Brain Injury

Almost everyone has had a headache. Young or old, no one is spared from that notorious head pain or pressure.

And while a good night’s rest or a hearty meal can banish a headache, there is a type of head pain that persists. People who sustained a traumatic brain injury (TBI) report of headaches after treatment. And while post-TBI headaches are expected, research on their frequency or progression and impact on daily living is scarce.

Image source: verywell.com

A recent study by Dr. Sylvia M. Lucas of the University of Washington Medical Center hopes to shed light on post-traumatic headache. Findings show that among the 316 patients with prior moderate to severe TBI, “38 percent reported new or worse headache, with 37 percent reporting the same at three months, 33 percent at six months, 34 percent at 12 months, and 35 percent at 60 months.”

Migraine-like pain is how 59 percent of the patients described their post-TBI headache. And as researchers followed up with respondents over a period of five years, they found that the average head pain remained high. Patients also reported that their post-injury headache affected their overall well-being. Mean Head Impact Test-6 scores of respondents, in fact, ranged from 57. 1 at three months to 56.5 at 60 months. As for the frequency of their headaches, 50 percent of the respondents reported daily or weekly head pain three months after their injury. The percentage of respondents, though, who still experienced a regular headache 60 months after their injury, dropped to 36 percent.

Image source: dailymail.co.uk

While some people may treat these post-TBI headaches as an ill effect of their injury, it is still best to consult with their physician if the pain lingers and worsens over time.

More discussions on headache and its many forms can be accessed on this Dr. Melanie Novak, M.D. blog.