Understanding Migraines: How Concussions, Neck, and Head Injuries Can Trigger Migraines

Migraines are a complex and often misunderstood condition. While common triggers like stress, sleep issues, dietary factors, hormonal imbalances, or genetics are often discussed, there’s one potential cause that is frequently overlooked—head and neck injuries. If you’ve done everything to address the usual triggers but are still experiencing unexplained migraines, it might be time to consider whether a past concussion or neck injury could be the root cause.

Overlooked Causes of Concussions

In the U.S., around 50% of concussions go undiagnosed, often due to subtle or delayed symptoms. Concussions aren’t just limited to high-impact sports or severe accidents; everyday situations can lead to concussions too:

• Falls: Slipping on ice or missing a step may not seem severe, but a quick impact with the head can lead to concussion.

• Recreational Sports: Sports like soccer and gymnastics carry hidden risks. Heading the ball in soccer or an accidental bump in gymnastics can cause head trauma.

• Low-Speed Car Accidents: Even without direct head impact, a minor car accident can jolt the brain, leading to concussion.

• Whiplash: Rapid head movements, like sudden braking in a car, can result in whiplash, potentially causing the brain to impact the skull.

• Household Accidents: Bumping your head on a cabinet or shelf may seem minor but could result in a mild concussion.

How Head and Neck Injuries Trigger Migraines

1. Heightened Nervous System Sensitivity

Head injuries can alter the brain's structure and function, making pain-processing pathways overly sensitive. As a result, even mild stimuli like bright lights or loud sounds can become overwhelming triggers for migraine.

2. Lingering Inflammation

Head trauma can cause inflammation in the brain and surrounding tissues. Even after healing, low-level inflammation may persist, irritating nearby nerves and increasing sensitivity to migraine triggers like light, sound, or stress.

3. Autonomic Nervous System Imbalance

The autonomic nervous system (ANS) regulates vital functions like heart rate and blood pressure. Concussions and whiplash can disrupt this system, leading to an overactive “fight-or-flight” response. This imbalance keeps the nervous system on high alert, making it easier for everyday stressors to trigger migraines.

4. Hormonal and Chemical Changes

Brain injuries can affect neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine, which regulate mood, sleep, and pain. Disruption in these chemicals may alter pain perception, leading to increased migraine frequency and severity.

5. Damage to the Brain’s Protective Barrier

A concussion or head trauma can weaken the Blood-Brain Barrier (BBB), which normally protects the brain from harmful substances. When the BBB is compromised, irritants can enter the brain, leading to increased migraine susceptibility.

6. Sensitivity to Future Injuries

Once a person has experienced a concussion, they may be more vulnerable to future head injuries, further sensitizing the nervous system. Athletes in contact sports like soccer or boxing, for example, face a heightened risk of chronic migraines from repeated head impacts.

7. Neck Muscle Tension

Injuries like whiplash or strained neck muscles can irritate nearby nerves and reduce blood flow to the brain. This tension can act as a direct trigger for migraines and may also exacerbate symptoms.

Do You Have Unexplained Migraines?

If you’ve experienced a head or neck injury, it’s possible that it affected your vestibular system (which controls balance) or your oculomotor system (which manages eye movement). These systems are closely tied to the brain’s ability to process sensory information and coordinate movement, and disruptions can contribute to migraines.

Signs that your vestibular or oculomotor systems might be impacted include:

• Trouble focusing while moving your head

• Difficulty reading or tracking objects

• Balance issues, especially when turning your head

• Dizziness or vertigo

• Nausea or motion sensitivity

If you experience any of these symptoms alongside migraines, it’s worth investigating how well these systems are functioning. 

Self-Tests to Investigate Past Injuries

You can do simple tests at home (with the help of someone observing) to check for lingering effects of a concussion:

1. Vestibular (Balance) Test

How to Perform: Stand on one leg for 10 seconds. Switch legs and repeat.

What to Look For: Difficulty maintaining balance or feeling dizzy could indicate vestibular dysfunction from a past head injury.

2. Oculomotor (Eye Movement) Test

Perform the following 3 tests:

• Follow a moving object, like a pen, with your eyes (slide:Test A)

• Shift your focus between objects at different distances. (slide: Test B)

• Move your head side-to-side while keeping your eyes fixed on one spot.

What to Look For: Jerky eye movements, trouble tracking objects, or losing focus can signal unresolved issues related to a concussion.

If you notice difficulties in either of these tests, it might be time to consult a neurologist for a deeper evaluation.

Steps to Take if Migraines Are Linked to Head or Neck Injuries

If a past head or neck injury may be contributing to your migraines, consider these approaches:

• Neuro-Acupuncture: This powerful treatment calms the nervous system, reduces pain sensitivity, and helps restore balance. By addressing inflammation and nervous system imbalances caused by injuries, neuro-acupuncture offers effective relief for migraines.

• Vestibular and Oculomotor Therapy: If testing uncovers dysfunction in balance or eye movement, these therapies directly target the problem. They can reduce migraine triggers and improve overall neurological function.

• Physical Therapy for Neck Tension: Specific exercises and manual therapies can ease muscle tension, enhance blood flow, and reduce nerve irritation in the neck, all of which can contribute to migraines.

• Stress Management: Chronic stress often exacerbates migraines. Practices like cyclic breathing, mindfulness, or guided relaxation can reduce stress levels and help prevent migraines.

Understanding the Connection: 

Migraines linked to head and neck injuries often stem from long-term sensitivity in the brain and nervous system. These migraines may not appear immediately after the injury, but their roots are well-documented. Recognizing this connection enables more effective treatments that focus on addressing the underlying cause rather than masking the symptoms.

Reference: 

1. Giza, C. C., & Hovda, D. A. (2014). The Neurometabolic Cascade of Concussion. Journal of Clinical Sports Medicine.

2. Defrin, R., et al. (2017). Pain sensitivity and its relationship to head trauma. Pain.

3. Lagman-Bartolome, A. M., & Lay, C., Journal of Neurology & Translational Research, 2015

4. Bazarian, J. J., et al., Brain Injury, 2008

5. McCrory, P., et al. (2017). Sports Concussion and Chronic Migraine Risk. British Journal of Sports Medicine.

6. Bigelow, R. T., & Agrawal, Y. (2015). Vestibular Dysfunction in Brain Injury. Seminars in Neurology