A new headache after a car accident deserves medical attention. If you have emergency warning signs, call 911 or go to an emergency department right away. Otherwise, contact a medical provider as soon as you can to discuss the headache and the collision. A headache alone cannot tell you what injury you have or which treatment is appropriate.
When a headache needs emergency care
The CDC's adult concussion danger signs call for 911 or an emergency department right away if you have:
- A headache that keeps worsening and does not resolve.
- Repeated vomiting.
- Weakness, numbness, poor coordination, or seizures.
- Slurred speech or unusual behavior.
- One pupil that is larger than the other.
- Confusion, agitation, restlessness, or difficulty recognizing people or places.
- Loss of consciousness, marked drowsiness, or difficulty being awakened.
These signs require emergency care even if you already visited the ER after the crash. Do not wait for a routine clinic appointment. This list is not a way to rule out injury when none of the signs are present.
What if you did not hit your head?
A direct blow to the head is not required for a concussion. A hit to the body that moves the head and brain rapidly back and forth can also cause one, according to the CDC's explanation of mild traumatic brain injury and concussion.
That does not mean every post-crash headache is a concussion. Tell the medical provider what happened, including a sudden jolt, a possible head impact, or a gap in your memory. Let the assessment guide the diagnosis rather than using where the headache hurts as proof of its cause.
Our What Is a Concussion? guide introduces the term. The immediate question here is what assessment and follow-up your new symptoms need.
Getting assessed when there are no emergency signs
Contact a medical provider about a new headache after the collision, including one that starts later. Explain that it followed a crash and ask where and how soon you should be evaluated. MedlinePlus head-injury guidance advises contacting a provider for medical advice even with a mild head injury and watching for symptoms that can appear later.
Do not assume a headache is your usual migraine simply because you have had migraines before. Describe how this episode compares with your usual pattern, and mention any symptoms you have never had before. This gives the clinician information to assess; it does not establish a diagnosis.
An assessment may include questions about the accident, symptoms, memory, and concentration. A CT scan is not needed to identify every concussion; clinicians may use imaging when assessing the risk of bleeding after a head injury. The CDC describes the different purposes of concussion assessment and brain imaging. Ask what the examination or any test can answer in your situation.
What to tell the medical provider
Bring a brief timeline rather than trying to name the injury yourself. Useful details to discuss include:
- When the crash happened, whether your head struck anything, and what you remember immediately afterward.
- When the headache began, where you feel it, how strong it is, and whether it is changing.
- Any dizziness, nausea, vision changes, sensitivity to light or sound, or trouble thinking clearly.
- Changes in sleep, mood, or your ability to do everyday tasks.
- Neck or back symptoms that occurred with the headache.
- Earlier headaches or head injuries, your current medicines, and any care or tests you have already received.
The CDC symptom overview explains that concussion symptoms can involve thinking, emotions, sleep, and physical symptoms. Report what you notice without treating the list as a self-test. If someone who knows you has noticed changes, share those observations too.
If you already went to the ER
Follow the discharge instructions and arrange the recommended follow-up. Keep a copy of your visit summary, test results if available, and medication instructions so the next clinician can see what was assessed.
Some symptoms can appear hours or days after an injury, as the CDC explains. Tell your medical provider about a headache that is new since the visit or symptoms that have changed. Emergency danger signs still mean 911 or an emergency department right away.
For people diagnosed with a concussion, the CDC's recovery guidance advises telling a healthcare provider when symptoms are worsening or recovery is not progressing. An earlier visit does not remove the need to report later changes.
Questions for follow-up
Before you leave a medical appointment, ask:
- What changes mean I should return for emergency care?
- Who should I contact if the headache changes, and when should we follow up?
- What headache medicines are appropriate with my health history and current medicines?
- What instructions should I follow for driving, work, school, exercise, or sports?
- If symptoms continue, would a specialist assessment be appropriate?
Ask for written instructions you can refer to at home. The CDC's patient discharge handout emphasizes follow-up, communication about symptoms, and clinician guidance on returning to activities. Use your own clinician's instructions rather than an online recovery schedule.
Where Seasons Chiropractic fits
Medical assessment of a headache after a collision comes first. If you also have non-emergency neck or back concerns and musculoskeletal evaluation is appropriate after that assessment, you can review auto-injury care at Seasons Chiropractic in Taylorsville and our first car-accident chiropractic visit guide. Bring the medical instructions and records from your earlier care.
Chiropractors commonly evaluate musculoskeletal concerns, as NCCIH describes. A chiropractic appointment should not replace medical assessment of the headache or the follow-up your medical clinician recommends. Discuss any proposed care with the clinicians involved before choosing treatment.