Headaches After a Car Accident: When to Worry and When to Get Checked in Loveland
Most headaches after a crash come from the neck. A few need the ER first. Here is how to tell the difference.
Headaches after a car accident are common, and most of them come from the neck. The same quick snap that causes whiplash can strain the joints and muscles at the top of your neck, and that often shows up as a headache a day or a few days later. But a headache after a crash can also be a sign of a concussion or something more serious, so the first job is knowing which kind you have.
This time of year, the first slick mornings show up in Loveland, and fender benders on Eisenhower Boulevard come with them. People walk away saying they’re fine. Then the headache starts.
First: When a Headache After a Crash Means the ER
I’ll be honest, this part matters more than anything else on this page. Go to the emergency room or call 911 for any of these after an accident:
A headache that is severe or keeps getting worse. Repeated vomiting. Confusion, slurred speech, or not acting like yourself. Unusual drowsiness or trouble waking up. Weakness, numbness or tingling that is spreading. One pupil larger than the other. A seizure. Clear fluid from the nose or ears.
Take it even more seriously if you’re older or take a blood thinner. None of those are a chiropractic question. They come first, every time.
You Don’t Have to Hit Your Head to Get a Concussion
This surprises a lot of people. Your brain can get jostled inside your skull from the whip of the crash alone, even if your head never touched anything. Signs of a concussion include a headache plus feeling foggy, trouble concentrating, being bothered by light or noise, dizziness, or just feeling “off.”
If that sounds like you, see a medical doctor to be checked for a concussion. If you come to us first and we see those signs on the exam, we’ll send you to the right place. That’s part of doing this honestly.
Headaches After a Car Accident That Start in the Neck
Here’s the deal. The joints at the very top of your neck share nerve pathways with your head. When a crash knocks those joints out of their normal motion, the muscles around them tighten up to guard and protect them, and the pain can travel up into your head.
Neck-related headaches tend to look like this. They start at the base of the skull and wrap up over the head, sometimes settling behind one eye. They’re often worse on one side. They get worse when you turn your head, after a long day at a desk, or after driving. And they usually come with a stiff, sore neck or tight shoulders.
They also tend to show up late. Adrenaline covers a lot right after a crash, and as it wears off over the next few days, inflammation and muscle guarding build. That’s why “I felt fine at the scene” doesn’t tell you much. I wrote more about that in the two-week trap.
What an Exam Actually Checks
Your spine protects your nerves, and your nerves control everything in your body. So the exam isn’t only about where it hurts. We check how each part of your neck is moving, test your nerves and reflexes, and screen for the warning signs above. If something points to a concussion or anything that needs medical care first, you’ll hear that from me directly.
If the headache is coming from your neck and care makes sense, the goal is to realign the spine and remove nerve interference so those guarding muscles can calm down. We have gentle, low-force options like a drop table and the Activator instrument, and massage therapy is right here in the office. You can read how we handle accident cases on our car accident injury page. If you’re wondering how long care takes, the phases of care page explains how we decide, with re-exams instead of guesses.
What to Do Until You’re Seen
Real quick, a few simple things. Don’t drive if you feel dizzy or foggy. Keep moving gently instead of lying in bed all day. Pay attention to whether the headache is getting better or worse, and write down when it started. If it’s getting worse, that’s an ER trip, not a wait-and-see.
The Insurance Side, Briefly
Colorado car policies include MedPay unless you turned it down in writing, and it pays for care after a crash no matter who caused it. In most accident cases there is nothing to pay up front: we bill MedPay directly, and with an attorney lien we are paid from the settlement. The full rundown is in does car insurance cover chiropractic in Colorado. This is general information, not legal advice.
You Don’t Have to Be in Pain to Get Checked
Plenty of people walk away from a bump with no headache at all, and that’s great. But feeling okay and functioning well aren’t always the same thing. An exam looks at how your spine is moving and functioning, not only at pain, and plenty of people get checked just to stay at their best: athletes, active adults, and busy parents who can’t afford to be laid up.
If you haven’t been in an accident and just want a baseline, our New Patient Special includes a consultation with the doctor, an orthopedic and neurological exam, and a report of findings.
A Simple Next Step
If you’ve had a headache since a crash, even a small one, don’t just wait for it to fade. Rule out the emergencies first, then call us at (970) 800-3486 and tell us you were in an accident. We’ll help with the insurance side while we take a look, so you can feel like yourself again.
Related Care at Aligned and Well
- Car Accident Injury Chiropractor in Loveland, CO
- Chiropractor for Tension Headaches in Loveland, CO
- Whiplash Injury Treatment in Loveland, CO
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Common Questions
Questions Patients Ask Us
Is it normal to have a headache after a car accident?
It is common. Many headaches after a crash come from the neck, where whiplash strains the joints and muscles at the base of the skull, and they often start a day or a few days later. A headache that is severe, getting worse, or comes with confusion, vomiting or drowsiness needs the emergency room right away.
Can a chiropractor help with headaches after a car accident?
When the headache is coming from the neck, often yes. An exam checks how the neck joints are moving and how the nerves are working, and screens for concussion warning signs. If anything points to a concussion or a medical problem, the right step is a referral to a medical doctor first.
Have a different question? Read the full list of patient questions or call us at (970) 800-3486.
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Ready to Feel Like Yourself Again?
You have put this off long enough. One thorough exam tells you what is actually going on and what it will take to fix it. Call us or send a request — we will get you in.