If you have survived a traumatic brain injury, your post-accident life might be different than the daily routines you were accustomed to before the incident. Blunt force trauma and violent shaking are two of the most common causes of severe brain injury. If you were involved in a motor vehicle collision, you might now have an entire North Carolina medical team providing care for your condition, especially if you are suffering from chronic migraines.
Depending on the details of your particular case, you may have needed surgery after another car hit you, resulting in severe injury to your brain. The impact of a brain slamming up against hard skull bone has been likened to throwing a soft piece of fruit or raw egg at a brick wall. Surviving this type of injury is one thing. Living with the long-term effects of it is quite another.
What causes migraine headaches after a brain injury?
As your surgeon undoubtedly explained to you if you needed brain surgery after a car crash, it is no small feat to open a person’s skull and operate on the brain. That alone may result in headaches in the days and weeks that follow your surgery. It’s also possible that you might have tiny pools of blood or fluid inside your skull that are causing severe headaches.
Issues involving your neck or even medication your doctor has prescribed during recovery can also trigger migraine headaches. It’s always best to discuss your condition with your medical team to determine (if possible) exactly what is causing you to suffer migraines long after the date of the collision that caused your initial injury.
Migraine symptoms often mimic symptoms of initial brain injury
When you first sought medical attention after a collision, you may have exhibited symptoms that prompted an emergency room physician to run certain tests to diagnose a brain injury. Such symptoms are also common in people who suffer from chronic migraine headaches. The following list shows several of these symptoms:
- Sensitivity to light or sound
- Nausea or vomiting
- Dull pain or throbbing on one side of your head
- Auras (Seeing spots or bright light just before a migraine hits)
Even if you have developed a chronic migraine headache condition, it’s a good idea to seek additional medical care if your symptoms seem to be getting worse at any time. Your doctor and neurologist can adjust your treatment plan to try to help you alleviate discomfort as much as possible, as well as make sure there is no underlying, new issue that is causing your condition to worsen.
Have your migraine headaches interfered with your work?
As someone who suffers with chronic migraines, you no doubt understand how debilitating the condition can be. When a headache hits, you might need to lie down in a dark and quiet room for an entire day or more, which might force you to have to call off work. In fact, some people with your condition are permanently unable to return to the workplace.
Financial crisis that a severe brain injury and chronic migraine condition can cause may intensify your distress, especially if you have endured loss of an income. If another driver’s negligence caused the physical, emotional and economic damages you’ve suffered, North Carolina law allows you to seek restitution, which may help offset medical expenses and other financial problems associated with the collision that caused your injuries.