Post-Traumatic and Post-Concussion Headache
A headache that begins after a head injury or concussion. For many people it fades, but for some it lasts for months or longer.
What is post-traumatic headache?
Post-traumatic headache is head pain that starts after a head injury, in someone who did not have that headache before. The International Headache Society defines it as one that develops within seven days of the injury, or within seven days of regaining consciousness. It is one of the most common and most disabling effects of a concussion.
A concussion is a mild traumatic brain injury that changes how the brain works for a time. It can come from a blow to the head, or from the head being whipped quickly forward and back, as in a car crash. That sudden motion can move the brain inside the skull. Fewer than 10% of people with a concussion lose consciousness, so many people do not realize they had one. Later, they may not connect a new headache with the earlier injury. Even a fairly minor injury can lead to post-traumatic headache.
Common symptoms
The headache can be mild or severe, and it can come and go or be constant. Most often it looks like migraine. Sometimes it looks more like tension-type headache. You may notice:
- Throbbing pain that gets worse with activity
- Sensitivity to light and sound
- Nausea or vomiting
- Dizziness
- Trouble sleeping and tiredness
- Poor concentration and memory problems
- Mood or personality changes, such as feeling down or nervous
Who is more likely to get it
Any head injury can lead to this headache, but some things may raise your risk:
- Having migraine before the injury
- A family history of migraine, even if you never had it yourself
- Being female, which is still being studied
When headaches last for months
Many people with a concussion and headache still have headaches one, three and six months later, and some for years. In one long-term study of people with a traumatic brain injury, 35% still had post-traumatic headache after five years. Ongoing headaches after a head injury are a reason to see a doctor, and early care may lower the chance that headaches become long-lasting.
How it is diagnosed
See a health care professional soon after any head injury, even if you were not knocked out and did not hit your head directly. A doctor will ask detailed questions about your headache, such as whether you have nausea or sensitivity to light and sound, to work out which type of headache it most resembles. That helps guide treatment.
A headache that changes with position, such as one that changes a lot between standing and lying down, can point to a different problem: a leak of the fluid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord. A headache specialist can help sort out these other causes, especially if your symptoms are severe or your health history is complicated.
Treatment options
No medicine has been designed and approved just for post-traumatic headache. Doctors usually treat it like the headache it looks most like, most often migraine. Researchers are still studying whether this is the best approach.
- Medicines. Options the sources name include migraine medicines, antidepressants, anti-inflammatory medicines and propranolol (a blood pressure medicine also used to prevent migraine).
- Behavioral care. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT, a type of talk therapy that changes how you respond to pain) and biofeedback may help some people alongside other care. More research is needed.
- Rehabilitation. Concussion recovery may include physical therapy, occupational therapy and gentle exercise kept below the level that brings on symptoms. Getting the headache under control makes this active recovery easier.
Try not to treat yourself every day with over-the-counter pain relievers or caffeine products. Using them often can cause medication overuse headache, a pattern where frequent pain medicine leads to more headaches. Getting care early, and not returning to activity too soon, can also lower the risk of another injury.
How Dr. Park can help
Dr. Hannah Park is a dual board-certified, fellowship-trained headache medicine neurologist with over 10 years of specialized experience, and she has lived with migraine herself. She treats post-traumatic and post-concussive headache that has lasted three months or longer.
Every patient starts with a 90-minute new patient consultation with Dr. Park ($520): a full history review, a neurological exam, a diagnosis and a personalized treatment plan. The practice focuses on targeted injection treatments rather than a cycle of prescription medications, and does not prescribe opioids. In-office options include the occipital nerve block ($395), the SPG block ($289, no needles) and other peripheral nerve injections. Dr. Park will talk with you about whether any of these fit your situation. See services and fees.
Appointments are Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., usually within days. The practice is direct pay with no referral needed.
When to get emergency care
A severe headache can begin hours to days after a mild or moderate head injury because of bleeding near the brain. Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room if, after a head injury, you have a new or worsening headache (even if earlier scans and exams were normal), a sudden severe headache, new weakness, trouble staying alert, confusion, vision changes or trouble speaking.
Related
Sources
This page summarizes patient information from these organizations, in our own words. It is general education, not medical advice.
- Understanding Concussion and Post-Traumatic Headache, American Migraine Foundation
- Concussion, Migraine and Post-Traumatic Headache, American Migraine Foundation
- Post-Traumatic Headache and Concussion: Q&A with Dr. Amaal Starling, American Headache Society
- Concussion, Migraine and Post-Traumatic Headache, American Headache Society
- The Complete Headache Chart, National Headache Foundation
- When Is a Headache an Emergency, National Headache Foundation
- Thunderclap Headaches, American Migraine Foundation
Last updated October 27, 2026.
Still getting headaches months after a concussion?
Every patient starts with a 90-minute new patient visit with Dr. Park.