My migraines seem to be the result of a combination of stress and hormones, linked to a mobile assemblage of environmental issues such as humidity, excessive noise or dehydration.
For some unlucky people however, migraines (and other headaches) are the result of a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI).
According to the Flint Rehab website, “A TBI is an injury to the brain that occurs as a result of a bump or blow to the head or from blunt or penetrating trauma. During the impact, the brain crashes back and forth within the skull resulting in bruising, bleeding, and the shearing of nerve fibers known as axons.” This crashing causes the brain to swell, and if the swelling is not treated, “parts of the brain can become starved of oxygen and other nutrients, leading to brain cell death.”
Yikes.
The site then states there are 8 main TBIs (original links maintained to their website pages if you need more information):
- Concussions
- Contusions
- Brain hemorrhages
- Intracranial hematomas
- Coup-contrecoup brain injury
- Diffuse axonal injury
- Penetrating brain injury
- Second impact syndrome
On another website, Brainline.org, they investigate the headaches that occur after a TBI. “Headache immediately following a head injury usually clears after minutes or days but sometimes headaches may persist for months or rarely years. The long-term headaches are called post-traumatic or post-concussion headaches.”
As the article notes, we intuitively understand that if we bang our head it will hurt: we will get a head-ache. Given enough time, that ache, like most bump-aches, should subside. But for some people, it does not go away, and they are left with more long-lasting side-effects of their injury.
When MRIs and CAT scans are done, they suggest that most patients are given the all-clear, and the assumption is made that the headaches are a form of psychological PTSD.
BUT
The website goes on – “microscopic studies have shown disruption of the nerve fibers in the brain due to the stretching or shearing forces of the trauma. Other subtle changes have been noted in brain functioning.”
According to the article, potentially permanent injury IS done at a MICROSCOPIC level which can lead to long-term headaches.
Here’s a short (3 minute) video (from another site) which explains the cellular damage that spreads through the brain which can cause long term changes [CAUTION – animal research is referenced]:
[Video source: University of Maryland School of Medicine]
Back on the Brainline.org website, they note that treating TBI headaches is “symptomatic” which means every patient is assessed, and treated, based on their individual symptoms.
In a separate article on the same site, they note that whilst tension headaches are the most common form of head-ache after TBI, migraines can also occur, especially if your family has a history of migraines.
Their suggestions on how to manage TBI migraine are similar to general migraine management: avoid stress and triggers, stay hydrated, rest in dark silence when you need to, keep a diary, speak to your doctor about appropriate medications, and consider alternative methods of treating your pain such as acupuncture and massage.
Curious to know a bit more?
Here’s a website (by a law firm) that contains a lot of extra helpful information about both the physical and emotional effects of TBI. Towards the end of their notes, they recommend self-care as a priority for improving your wellbeing after a traumatic event:
How Trauma Affects the Brain – The Lanier Law Firm
In terms of Social Media links, I don’t often do shoutouts because I can’t possibly scroll through every thing they’ve ever posted to make sure there’s nothing offensive, but by a strange coincidence, just yesterday The Brain Health Community followed me on my Instagram page. They post about living life to the fullest after TBI and with an upcoming book to be released… so I’m taking the advice from the Universe and posting their link here: The Brain Health Community (@thebrainhealthcommunity)
If you want to get technical rather than social, there’s a journal paper from a study in Taiwan that showed that patients with TBI were often at risk of developing migraines as an after-effect of their injury (although the numbers seem quite low (less than 1%) if I’m reading them right):
When you spin the research the other way around however, 44% of people with migraine apparently reported a history of TBI:
Sigh.
TBI is a giant subject and one that I’m not qualified to cover in detail – but it was worth researching because it reiterates that we are all different, our causes, symptoms and treatments are not a “one size fits all” pain-situation, AND it is quite empowering to know that there might be microscopic reasons our brains are malfunctioning that is not detectable in those “all clear” tests we keep doing.
Headaches and migraines are no fun – but the idea that they came from a bump on the head makes them even more distressing.
Hope everyone is OK today.
I’m thinking of you.
Take care taking care of your noggin, Linda xx
[PS – Disclaimer – I am not a doctor, medical student or scientist – my notes are based on my best understanding of what I read and do NOT act as an endorsement of the websites or their material/products. Please see a trained healthcare professional for individual advice about your medical condition.]
The Mindful Migraine 
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