Concussion & Post-Trauma
Post-Concussion Headache
Headache continuing after a concussion, often with a neck component.
Neck injury frequently accompanies head injury, since the forces that cause a concussion also move and load the neck. Neck-related headache can persist even after other concussion symptoms have settled.
This does not rule out other causes of ongoing headache after head injury, which is why medical follow-up remains part of the picture alongside any neck evaluation.
Why this matters
Separating the neck-related component from the rest of the headache picture is useful, both for understanding what is happening and for deciding what kind of care might help.
People are often relieved to find a specific, identifiable contributor rather than an open-ended, unexplained headache.
The brain & nervous-system connection
Where the nervous system fits in
Upper neck sensory input converges with head sensory pathways in the brainstem, which is part of why neck problems can produce headache patterns that feel like they belong to the head alone.
Evaluating neck movement, muscle tension, and joint findings helps clarify how much of the headache picture may be neck-related.
What we look at
We look for patterns, not a single test
- Detailed health history and consultation
- NeuroInfiniti Stress Response Evaluation
- Posture and movement
- Balance and coordination testing
- Eye movement or neurological screening when appropriate
- Grip or motor-function testing when appropriate
- Palpation and spinal function
- Other examination procedures based on the individual
Not every person receives every test. What we perform depends on your history, your age and what the examination shows as we go.
Scope of care
What this does — and doesn't — mean
What we do
- • We evaluate chiropractic and musculoskeletal function.
- • We look at nervous-system-related functional findings that fall within our scope.
- • We assess movement, balance and coordination findings.
- • We measure stress-response patterns with the NeuroInfiniti evaluation.
- • We make individualized chiropractic care recommendations and re-measure over time.
What we don't claim
- • We do not diagnose, treat or cure diseases.
- • Chiropractic care is not a treatment for dementia, Alzheimer's disease or other neurological diseases.
- • Chiropractic care is not a replacement for medical care, testing or medication.
- • No outcome is promised. Results vary from person to person.
This is a concern where medical evaluation, imaging or co-management may be the right first step. Dr. Mike Geran will say so plainly if that is what the history and examination suggest.
Common questions
- Will I be adjusted on the first visit?
- Generally no. The first visit is an evaluation visit. Dr. Geran reviews the findings and makes recommendations at the follow-up visit.
- Do I need imaging before I come in?
- Not usually. If your history or examination suggests imaging is needed, we will say so and help arrange the right next step.
When medical evaluation may be needed
Concussion is medically managed. Worsening headache after head injury requires urgent medical care.
- Sudden, severe, or worsening headache
- Headache with vomiting, confusion, or drowsiness
- Headache following a new head injury
Related at Foothills Chiropractic
- Balance & Coordination — Balance is a whole-nervous-system task. It is also one of the easier things to measure and re-measure.
- Ankle Instability — A repeatedly rolling or unreliable ankle, usually following earlier sprains.
- Atlantoaxial Instability — Excessive movement between the first two neck bones — a medical finding requiring caution.
- Auto Accident Injury — Musculoskeletal injuries following a motor vehicle collision.
Think Foothills Chiropractic might be right for you?
Start Here walks you through what the process looks like, so you can decide whether taking the next step makes sense for you.