Did you know that there are over 5000 athletes in the country? Sadly, many suffer from traumatic injuries during their matches or training sessions. Do you happen to be among these individuals? If you are, you must be curious about how to make your head stop hurting. 

Notably, a significant fraction of athletes in the country develop migraines several weeks or months after suffering from traumatic injuries such as concussions. Have you ever wondered how this happens? 

Read on to learn how trauma-triggered migraines work and how you can potentially alleviate the pain and discomfort with the help of proven remedies like upper cervical care.

Migraine Headaches and Concussions in Athletes

Concussions are relatively common among US athletes. In fact, the latest reports reveal about 3.8 million cases of sports-related concussions in the country. Notably, most of these individuals develop chronic and recurring migraine headaches. 

Studies have yet to establish the exact connection between migraines and concussions. But, researchers have found several interesting facts that might come in handy for anyone with trauma-triggered migraines. Some examples of these things include the following: 

• Concussions don’t always cause loss of consciousness
• 95 percent of patients with mild TBI develop headaches, and two-thirds experience migraine symptoms
• Migraineurs who suffer from a mild TBI tend to experience worse symptoms after the injury
• Most cases of trauma-triggered migraines occur two weeks after the injury-causing incident
• The frequency and severity of trauma-triggered migraine attacks vary depending on several risk factors (age, comorbidities, hormonal fluctuations, etc.)

Until today, trauma-triggered migraine attacks are quite tricky to diagnose because of their resemblance with other health concerns. We strongly recommend paying attention to your symptoms and working with your physician, neurologist, or upper cervical doctor. Here are the indicators you should look out for: 

• Paralysis on one side of the body 
• Numbness
• Visual or sensory disturbances
• Odd food cravings
• Tingling sensation 
• Speech problems
• Memory problems
• Sleeping difficulties
• Trouble concentrating
• Vomiting and nausea

How To Make Your Head Stop Hurting After A Mild TBI

If you happen to develop trauma-triggered migraine due to your profession as an athlete, you may need to tap into proven remedies and techniques to cope with your symptoms. You have plenty of options available, including the following:

• Taking medications (acetaminophen, beta-blockers, anti-epileptics, antidepressants, etc.)
• Seeking an upper cervical chiropractic physician
• Limiting your intake of caffeinated beverages
• Getting enough shut-eye and limiting your morning nap times
• Skipping food products that trigger an allergic reaction or inflammatory response
• Doing enough physical activity to maintain optimal health
• Taking advantage of relaxation techniques like yoga and meditation
• Stretching your body now and then, especially during a long day
• Using ice or heat to manage the pain and calm your nerves
• Pacing yourself, especially right after you had a traumatic brain injury
• Exploring procedures like physical therapy, speech therapy, and nerve stimulation

Unlocking Better Health with Upper Cervical Care

We know how challenging it is to lead a busy and active life, especially when you’re an athlete. Things can get even more complicated when you recently have a concussion or mild TBI. Thankfully, there are plenty of ways you can manage your condition. 

We hope you can improve your post-traumatic headaches and migraine symptoms with the help of the tips we shared above. We also strongly suggest consulting with an upper cervical chiropractic doctor. 

Notably, many athletes with trauma-triggered migraines develop migraine symptoms because of misaligned neck bones. Unknown to them, their uppermost neck bones have shifted by a small fraction, causing them to experience migraine-triggering problems such as:

• Poor blood flow
• Reduced cerebrospinal fluid drainage
• Increased intracranial pressure 
• Trigeminal nerve compression
• Brainstem irritation or lesions
• Stiff neck muscles and joints 
• Brain chemical imbalances 

The unique structure of the topmost neck bones makes them highly susceptible to the blunt force caused by a traumatic injury. So, if you have a history of TBI or similar injuries, you likely have misaligned upper neck bones. 

It’s entirely possible that the key to finding the answers to your query “how to make your head stop hurting” lies in restoring your upper cervical spine balance. 

If you suspect having trauma-triggered migraines or notice symptoms of cervical bone misalignments, we strongly suggest seeking an upper cervical doctor. We also encourage you to schedule a visit to a local practice if your migraines don’t improve even after following our list of patient care tips. 

Doing so will help you confirm the presence of postural imbalances and start planning your next steps in adjusting your C1 and C2 bones. It will also help you better care for your spinal health and avoid complications that stem from postural problems.

Locate the Nearest Upper Cervical Practice

Upper cervical chiropractic has worked wonders for many individuals. It’s also a promising patient care option for athletes who frequently get injured due to physically taxing training routines and the highly competitive environment of the sports industry. 

It may be worth it to try the technique, especially if you have trauma-triggered migraines. You will need to consult a local upper cervical physician to check how far the C1 and C2 bones shifted and how long it might take to eliminate your postural problem.

There are plenty of upper cervical practices around the country. If you want to locate the nearest option, we strongly suggest browsing the Upper Cervical Awareness Doctor’s Portal. The directory features professionally licensed upper cervical chiropractors from various states. 

Locate a nearby practice today and start seeking help from a practicing upper cervical physician.

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