Knowledge
What is Post-Traumatic Headache (PTH)?
Medicinsk godkendt artikel
Post-traumatic headache, colloquially called PTH, is persistent headache that has arisen in the immediate context of a trauma (blow) or shaking to the head or neck.
Approximately 25,000 people are affected annually by a concussion. The vast majority recover completely after days to weeks.
Approximately 20-30% develop a chronic headache (PTH) that lasts more than 3 months.
PTH affects more women than men and is more commonly seen in the young and older part of the population.
PTH cannot be diagnosed with blood tests and rarely by a scan, so the diagnosis is made based on the description of symptoms that you provide.
In the context of a concussion, it is believed that there are some transient changes in the functioning and metabolism of brain cells, as well as in the brain's ability to process sensory impressions.
In chronic PTH, the prognosis is difficult to predict. In some, symptoms will subside over months to years, while others will experience persistent symptoms.
PTH can significantly affect quality of life.
There is no medical treatment specifically targeting PTH., but in certain cases medications for other headache types can reduce pain intensity and seizure frequency.
Medical treatment is chosen based on which headache symptoms are described and thus which diagnosis they most resemble, typically migraine or tension headache. Preventive medication can reduce the frequency and intensity of the pain in certain cases.
If there is muscle soreness and/or tension around the neck or head, it may be appropriate to be assessed by a physiotherapist for exercises or relaxation, for example.
It is often beneficial to have conversations and support to find tools to manage living with persistent headaches as well as avoid getting into a medication overuse (MOH) that can potentially worsen your symptoms.
