New research out of the University of Washington Medical Center suggests that many people who suffer traumatic brain injuries are plagued by headaches for years after the initial injury.

The study revealed individuals who suffer a TBI have a high and persistent prevalence of headaches for at least five years after the head injury, and the majority reach migraine-like proportions. They added that TBI patients appear to be up to five times more likely to experience regular headaches than the average person.

“Headaches after [TBI] should not be written off,” Sylvia Lucas, MD, PhD, clinical professor at the University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle, and lead author of the study, commented in a release. “This study sheds light on education needed among primary care providers and other practitioners caring for those suffering from [TBI].”

Dr. Lucas added that doctors and headache sufferers should be monitoring their headaches on a regular basis to see how they are responding to treatment.

“The frequency, intensity and impact on daily functioning should be recorded to better treat headaches. Suffering from intense headaches after an injury shouldn’t be the only option.”

Headaches After TBI

The findings were presented at the American Headache Society’s 58th Annual Scientific Meeting. Researchers collected data on headache prevalence, frequency and severity in the wake of a traumatic brain injury. Here’s what they found:

• The most common cause of traumatic brain injury was motor vehicle crash, accounting for 55 percent of all TBIs.
• Participants had a steady prevalence of migraines over the course of the study. 38 percent reported new or worse headaches at baseline, 37 percent at three months, 33 percent at six months, 34 percent a one year and 35 percent at five years.
• Headache severity remained consistent throughout the study. On a scale of 0-10, headache pain registered at 5.5 at the outset and 5.7 at five years.
• Participants had a notable impairment, as measured by the Headache Impact Test, with a mean score of 57.1 at three months and 56.5 at five years.
• At three months, half of the participants reported developing a headache several times a week or daily, which tapered off slightly to 36 percent by five years after injury.

Dr. Lucas said patients who suffer a TBI are dealing with headaches at a much more frequent rate than the average person.

“We’re supposed to be in the 6% range, and here we are in the 38% range.”

She said it’s tough to really study the effects of migraines because unlike other scientific topics, animal testing is rather useless, “because you can’t ask them [how they’re feeling].” Instead, we’re forced to rely solely on brain scans, patient interviews and previous studies.

Dr. Lucas concluded by saying the study was step 1 in an extended process to truly understand headaches and migraines after a traumatic brain injury.

“Step 2 is going to be much more difficult, and that is: How can we treat these? We have no evidence-based medicines as of yet, so we’re all treating these headaches by the seat of our pants.”