Post-traumatic headaches
 

I know several people on this forum have significant post-traumatic headaches (myself included). Mine are constant and worsen with most activity, particularly visual stim and physical activity, but also light and noise. I was hoping to compile in this tread a list of

1. Headache type (if known, otherwise describe).

2. Treatments (effective or not)

3. Other pertinent information, such as whether they ever resolved.

I have head aches frequently. A busy day can cause a head ache for the entire next day. I take 1000 mgs of Tylenol (acetaminophen, paracetamol). If my head ache is bad, I add 1000 mgs of aspirin at the same time.

Lately, most of my head aches are between the temples and forward, sometimes with a pain between my eyes. I can relax and reduce the intensity sometimes. Other times, my only escape is to sleep.

For me, a busy day can be as simple as intense conversation after 8:00 pm or a lot of online posting or any other common stressor.

I rarely use anything stronger than Tylenol/aspirin, maybe once a year (Tylenol w codeine).

I have been dealing with Post Concussion head aches since 1995 (12th concussion) or so. Neuro tried a few meds that did not help, just made me feel confused.

I have found that I need to pace my activities through out the day. Any intense peaks in activity will be problematic.

My headaches usually start on the left side of my head and then radiate across from temple to temple. When they are really bad, the base of my neck hurts.
They are usually accompanied by a "carsick" feeling.


The headaches are usually brought on by stressors like holding a long conversation, or getting emotionallly overwhelmed, or being around a lot of people.


Tylenol and Ibuprofen were starting to not work so the doctor prescribed Amantadine, which strangely enough, worked to alleviate my worst headaches (I was having constant pain and now the headaches are event-related).


I am slowly weaning off the Amantadine now, so we will see what happens...I will go back to Tylenol and Ibuprofen as needed.


Usually I just watch my level of activity and try to tailor my day to avoid strenuous activity or overstimulation.

Thanks, Mark. Post-traumatic headaches seem a mystery to medical professionals. They are perhaps a huge limiting factor in my recovery and are not going away. Unlike you, I have not had 12 concussions--just 1, possibly 2. I am very frustrated. Just trying to get some more info.

I tried amantadine but it did not have an effect. How long did you take it before noticing a difference?

It was about a week. It is strange because I know it is an anti-viral/Parkinson's drug, but it worked! I am so sorry it didn't work for you because it was a Godsend for me.

I hope you can find something that helps in future posts, because headaches are so problematic if they are uncontrollable :( I never had issues with headaches before my concussions, so I never understood this until now!

:hug:

Glad it worked for you! Nothing has worked for me at all. Most of the drug have bad side effects. Like you, I never had headaches before my concussion.

Persistent headache info
 

Hi Wakey,

I'm 3 months post-concussion – it was my first notable concussion, and was thrown off a horse. I was alone, but think I landed somewhere near the base of neck, lower part of my head. MRI was negative. My main PCS symptom is persistent headaches, secondary issues of fatigue, foggyness and some other minor cognitive things. But the headache is by far the worst part.

1. Headache is combination of feeling immense presssure in my head, throbbing radiation from the base of neck and up the back of my head, and on bad days sharper pains around my temple and ear. 95% of the time on the right side.
Any physical activity (i.e. walking up stairs) increases headache.

2. Seeing Osteopath 1x week, Chiropractor 2x week.
I see the Chiro on Mon/Tues and he does gentle adjustments using an "arthrostim" – NO neck manipulations or cracking.
Osteopath is on Wednesday, with no treatments for the next few days after as to not interfere.

3. I'm no where near recovered, and not entirely sure how effective my treatment is... but was noticing good improvements for about 3 weeks, like having 2-3 days at time with almost no headache – have hit a plateau (headache for the past 6 days) which they all said was normal – hopefully back on the upward trend soon.

Chiropractor said he can still feel inflammation and issues at my C1/C2, but that I'm holding adjustments better than I was before.

Osteopath said that the plates in my head are feeling much more flexible. Said I need to increase water intake, and start taking electrolytes. I am on a vitamin regime similar to the ones I've seen posted here.

1. headaches starts back left, where I got hit. It will progress to complete head at its worst..

2. Aleve 2 to 4 tabs daily. For worst headaches 2 tabs of oxycodone in a 12 hr period.

3. Quiet low stimulus environment. I really like jazz music. Not the kind with a lot of brass but the more introspective type. So music at a low level helps me relax. I also use ice and a heating pad as well.

I had migraine-like headaches pretty much solid for the first six months after my concussion. Medications during this time were vicodin with tylenol (can anyone say rebound headache) and tramadol. Other non-medication solutions I found were ice packs on head and neck alone or accompanied by (for a really bad headache) putting feet in hot water.

The first preventive medication I tried was elavil (amitriptyline). This helped quite a bit but made me very groggy and sleepy. When I started becoming accustomed to it and we tried to raise the dose, it made me too dizzy and I had to back off it.

I had vision therapy, which also helped reduce frequency and intensity of headaches.

After amitriptyline, I started on topamax, which greatly reduced the headaches. I still had imitrex for breakthrough headaches.

The headaches finally stopped when I stopped taking imitrex (which can also cause rebound headaches), and reduced inflammation throughout my body by switching to a whole foods vegan diet, doing hydrotherapy, and taking algal DHA/EPA.

I still take the topamax daily at bedtime. I have tried to taper off it once, but the headaches started to come back. I do also get headaches if I get loose with my diet and eat too much eggs, dairy, or junky processed/sugary foods.

Hope this helps! Follow-up questions are welcome.