About half the people who have a head or neck injury will get headaches after the injury has healed. These are called post-traumatic headaches. They can happen even after very mild injuries. Often there are other associated symptoms, such as dizziness and difficulty concentrating.

Post-traumatic headaches will usually start 24 to 48 hours after the injury, but can develop later. They usually feel like migraine or tension headaches. Also, certain areas of the head may be sensitive to touch.

The pain is typically treated when it is most severe. Then you wait. These headaches almost always go away over time. However, it may take a long time (up to six to 12 months) for the headaches to go away completely. In some cases, anti-inflammatory medications such as ibuprofen or tricyclic antidepressant medications such as nortriptyline may help. If you are not improving or if you are getting worse, call or email your doctor.