Ouch! My Head Hurts !
Every one of us, at some point, has experienced a headache, be it a slight pain in the temples that comes and goes or a debilitating migraine that banishes the sufferer to the confines of a dark bedroom for hours or even days on end. Headaches are a part of adult life, and can stem from many neurological disorders and a plethora of non-neurological causes.
Commonly, a head injury occurs due when there is a trauma to your blood vessels, scalp, skull or brain. In some cases, the symptoms do not immediately flare up, making it difficult to tackle the issue. Injury to your head may range from a mild headache or a bump or may even cause traumatic brain disorder. Head injuries are classified into two categories:
- Internal: Injury to your scalp
- External: Injury impacting your skull, brain, or blood vessels
Head injuries are common among children and teens and can be easily healed by physical therapy. A physical therapist offers you a customized treatment plan based on the severity of your injury, physical health and medical history.
Head Injury Causes
A few potential causes that lead to an injury your head include:
- Physical hit or assaults
- Accident falls
- Sudden loss of balance while walking
- Vehicle accidents
- Injury caused while playing football and other sports activities
In most cases, your skull safeguards your brain from getting injured. However, in some cases, the impact is so high that it severely impacts your brain causing life-threatening head injuries.
Head Injury Symptoms
A key to treating any kind of injury is to first learn about its symptoms. People with a head injury may experience different symptoms depending on two categories as mentioned below:
Symptoms Of a Mild Head Injury Include
- A mild bump or a bruise
- Headache that vanishes within a couple of days
- Mild fever and dizziness
- Bleeding
Symptoms Of a Severe Head Injury Include
- Unbearable headaches lasting for hours
- Short term memory loss
- Vomiting and sudden rise in body temperature
- Loss of consciousness or balance
- Significant bleeding
- Weakness or numbness
- Clotting of the blood
- Excessive bleeding
- Blurred vision and difficulty in hearing
- Chronic pain while talking
Head Injury Treatment
When you consult a physical therapist for Head injury treatment options, he may suggest simple physical therapy exercises to regain your strength and balance.
Apart from stretching and balancing exercises, your physical therapist may also advise some aerobic or cardio exercises that are highly beneficial for your patients with head injuries. Swimming and jogging are the common aerobic exercises recommended.
Common Types Of Headaches
- Pressure or tightness around both sides of the head or neck
- Throbbing pain
- Pain that is steady and not throbbing
- Pain that is not worsened by activity
- Pain that increases or decreases in severity over the course of the headache
- Tenderness in the muscles of the head, neck, or shoulders
How Do We Treat Head Pain
Your physical therapist will recommend treatment modalities based on initial examination, any underlying conditions, and in certain cases, any recommendations your physician might make. Direct Access makes it possible for you to see a physical therapist without the need for a prescription.
For best head injury treatment in VA, visit RVA Physical Therapy
Direct Access
More information on direct access can be found here: https://www.rvaphysicaltherapy.com/direct-access/