How Concussions Can Leave You with Lingering Headaches

Concussion is a mild form of head injury where the person is knocked unconscious for a short time. They usually go to a hospital to be checked out and are released after a few hours. Most people go back to work a day later and carry on as normal.

I was concussed a week ago and I still feel terrible. What’s going on?

Sadly, for many people, the symptoms can continue for a couple of weeks. For an unfortunate few, they may continue for much longer than that. This can be a scary time. The person may become anxious and then depressed, fearing that there is permanent damage and they will never feel well again. It may affect decisions about their future. Friends and family may start to suffer from ‘compassion fatigue. There is good news – these side effects won’t last forever. If you look after yourself properly while you’re recuperating, there should be no long-term effects.

Common symptoms in the first two weeks following concussion:

Headache

Straight after the injury, you will have a headache from the bruising sustained during the injury. This is normal and expected. If you push yourself too hard, too soon, you will suffer further headaches caused by stress and fatigue. You can get rid of this sort of headache by resting but it’s better to prevent them by taking it easy. Headache medication won’t generally help with this. If the headache is severe and continuous, see a Doctor.

Dizziness

A blow to the head can sometimes upset the balance organs in your ears and you may find that in the early days, any sudden movement of the head can make the room spin. It can also feel like a sense of unreality or floating. Both of these will get better over time – but it can be alarming if you’re not expecting it.

Vision problems

Your sight may be blurred and you may find that you dislike bright light. It can help to wear sunglasses – even indoors if necessary. Again, these symptoms should lessen with time but if they don’t – see your Doctor.

Fatigue

You must listen to your body. If you feel exhausted, even after doing very little, you must rest. If you try to carry on, you will feel more tired and prolong your recovery.

Lack of concentration

If you are tired, this is the first thing to go. You may be able to remember what happened a year ago – but not why you opened the refrigerator. Your brain is temporarily downsizing to allow itself to heal. Again, listen to it and rest.

Being clumsy

The knock to your head can sometimes temporarily cause problems with your spatial awareness. You may bump into people, drop things or trip over easily. If this happens to you, don’t drive until it passes off and your awareness and reactions have returned to normal.

Feeling irritable

Concussed people can lose their temper over very little and snap at family or workmates. This can be very distressing for everyone. It is because your brain is recovering and limiting its resources to the essentials of survival. Extra functions like self-control and politeness aren’t on that list and so you blow! If this is affecting you badly, take more proper time to recover. It will improve!

How long will this last?

Most people will have one or more of these symptoms following a concussion. They are usually resolved after a fortnight. But in one person out of ten, the symptoms will continue.

If you still feel bad three weeks later – or your symptoms are severe – you should see your Doctor.