Headaches, Dizziness & Vertigo Raleigh

A person's head is one of the most vulnerable parts of the body that can be injured during an auto accident. Symptoms of a head injury may be subtle. Headaches and dizziness after an auto accident can be signs of a more severe head injury.

Headaches have been known to mentally and emotionally disrupt a person's life, and dizziness can turn ordinary activities into fairly difficult tasks. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), nearly 50 percent of people who are hospitalized after an auto accident leave the hospital with continuing headaches and dizziness, and just over 33 percent of that percentage still experience headaches a year after their auto accident.

What Can Cause Headaches and Dizziness?

Headaches can occur after an auto accident without enduring a head injury. For instance, whiplash can cause the muscles and other tissues in the neck and shoulders to become tense, which puts more pressure on the head and causes headaches to worsen. Essentially, any injury to the upper back (cervical spine) can cause added pressure to the head, resulting in headaches and dizziness.

Conversely, migraine headaches may be a direct result of a head injury. Head injuries can seem impossible to overcome without medication or painkillers. This is when dizziness becomes more frequent based on the constant pressure on the brain. The brain will absorb most of the impact when an auto accident occurs, and the head is struck.

Our Approach To Treating Headaches and Dizziness

When a patient suffers from headaches or dizziness, our physician will want to properly assess the patient's condition by reviewing X-rays or other imaging and performing a physical examination.

During the examination, the doctor will determine if the pain is intermittent or constant, what type of pain is occurring (e.g., stabbing, burning, etc.), what triggers pain, when pain is more likely to occur during the day, and how much pain the patient is in on a scale of 0-10. After understanding the extent of the pain and its root cause, our physician will recommend an effective course of treatment comprised of interventional pain management techniques, acupuncture, and physical therapy.

Don't let headaches or dizziness prevent you from participating in life! Schedule your appointment today.