Return to graphic version of TBI and Headaches
Infocomic Main Characters
Man: A middle-aged White man with slicked back dark hair.
Boss: A middle-aged White woman with dark hair cut in a chin-length bob with bangs.
Dr. Kruse: An older White woman with shoulder-length hair tied in a ponytail who wears glasses.
Infocomic Story Description
Traumatic Brain Injury and Headaches
More than 30% of people have headaches for some time after their injury.
A man speaking to the reader says, “Almost a full year after my traumatic brain injury (TBI), headaches were still affecting my life.”
He is in the park, taking his small dog for a walk. “So, I talked to Dr. Kruse about it. She helped me figure out how to prevent them. But I’m getting ahead of myself. Here’s what was happening.”
The man is now at the office, working at his computer. Moments later, he becomes frustrated with a jammed copier. “Why does it always jam when I have a headache?” he thinks. A clock shows the time changing as the day progresses into the afternoon. The man returns to his computer, rubbing his head.
Pain from headaches can cause frustration, making it hard to focus and remember.
The man asks his boss, “Can I leave early? I have a bad headache.”
His boss responds, “Another one? Maybe these are from your injury?”
He admits, “I hadn’t thought of that!”
She suggests, “Maybe you should talk to your doctor.”
In the first 1–2 days after your TBI or concussion, bleeding is still a concern. You should go to the emergency room right away if you have a headache and if:
- the pain continues to get worse,
- you vomit or feel nauseous from a headache,
- you have weakness in an arm or leg or trouble speaking, or
- you feel increasing sleepiness.
Later, at the doctor’s office…
The man says, “I’m afraid the headaches are from my injury. Do you think something is wrong?”
Dr. Kruse tells him, “Well, they could be from your TBI. But I’m mostly concerned that the pain is interfering with your life.”
He asks, “So, what can we do?”
She replies, “I can’t treat your headaches until we know what type they are.”
He says, “There are different kinds of headaches?”
“Oh, yes!” Dr. Kruse responds. “There are lots of types of headaches. But four are common after TBI.”
Migraine Headaches
People may be sensitive to light and sound, and they often feel nauseated or vomit. Many people get a “warning” signal before a migraine. This is known as an “aura.” Seeing bright lights or spots are two common auras.
Migraines happen when a part of the brain becomes very sensitive. This can send ripples of throbbing pain to other areas. Migraines are usually on one side of the head.
Tension Headaches
Tension headaches come from muscle spasms or tension and usually happen later in the day. You typically feel pain on both sides or around the entire head.
Cervicogenic Headaches
Nerves in your neck and at the base of your head run to your skull and scalp. They can carry pain signals to other parts of your head.
Moving your neck or holding your head in certain positions can make the pain from cervicogenic headaches worse.
Rebound Headaches
If you regularly consume caffeine from sources like coffee, tea, or energy drinks, you may get a headache if your usual intake decreases. These caffeine headaches are also known as rebound headaches.
Rebound headaches can also happen if you miss a dose of some medications or have too much pain medication.
Back in the doctor’s office…
The man asks, “So… how do we know what kind these are?”
Dr. Kruse responds, “I’d like you to keep a headache diary, so I have good information about what’s happening.”
“A headache diary?” The man asks.
“Yes,” Dr. Kruse answers. “Here’s a sample. Just fill in the boxes every day with info about your headaches. We’ll go over it together after 2 weeks.”
Two weeks later…
The man is back in the park, speaking to the reader.
“Dr. Kruse was able to tell by examining me that my headaches weren’t due to bleeding. The info from my headache diary showed that stress caused my headaches. I have tension headaches. Knowing this helped us to develop a treatment plan.”
In the park, the man stands before some friends enjoying a picnic of wine and cheese.
“Wine or cheese can be triggers for migraines. For some people, MSG is a trigger. But there are different triggers for different headaches. Not having coffee can cause rebound headaches, but for other people, having coffee can be a trigger.”
“I still get headaches but now that I know my triggers, I get them less. The two most important things I did were talking to Dr. Kruse and keeping a headache diary.”
AUTHORSHIP AND ILLUSTRATION
This infocomic was written by Silas James and Ayla Jacob and illustrated by David Lasky, in collaboration with the Model Systems Knowledge Translation Center. Portions of this infocomic were adapted from the factsheet series titled Understanding TBI, which was developed by Thomas Novack, PhD, and Tamara Bushnik, PhD in collaboration with the Model System Knowledge Translation Center (https://msktc.org/tbi/factsheets/Understanding-TBI). Portions of this infocomic were also adapted from materials developed by the University of Alabama Traumatic Brain Injury Model System (TBIMS), Baylor Institute for Rehabilitation, New York TBIMS, Mayo Clinic TBIMS, Moss TBIMS, and from “Picking up the Pieces After TBI: A Guide for Family Members”, by Angelle M. Sander, PhD, Baylor College of Medicine (2002).
Source: The content in this infocomic is based on research and/or professional consensus. This content has been reviewed and approved by experts from the Traumatic Brain Injury Model Systems (TBIMS), funded by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR), as well as experts from the Polytrauma Rehabilitation Centers (PRCs), with funding from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
Disclaimer: This information is not meant to replace the advice of a medical professional. You should consult your health care provider regarding specific medical concerns or treatment. The contents of this infocomic were developed under a grant from the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR), Department of Education (ED; grant number: Grant #H133A120028); and a grant from the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (grant number: 90DP0082). NIDILRR is a Center within the Administration for Community Living (ACL), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The contents of this infocomic do not necessarily represent the policy of NIDIRR, NIDILRR, ACL, ED, or HHS, and you should not assume endorsement by the federal government.
Copyright © 2017 Model Systems Knowledge Translation Center (MSKTC). May be reproduced and distributed freely with appropriate attribution. Prior permission must be obtained for inclusion in fee-based materials.