Neck Pain After Hitting Your Head: Understanding the Connection and Finding Relief

It’s a situation many of us have found ourselves in at some point: a seemingly minor knock to the head that ends up causing pesky neck pain. Sometimes, it happens immediately; other times, it takes weeks for the pain to show up.

Either way, neck pain is common after a head injury, and the treatment isn’t always as straightforward as you may think. This article will address all aspects of neck pain after hitting your head and help you navigate the therapeutic landscape so you don’t waste time and money trying to find relief. Let’s dig in.

My Experience With Neck Pain After Concussion

I’ve personally dealt with this exact problem before. I was skiing and got cut off by a reckless teenager. After hitting the deck I got pretty bad whiplash as my head hit the hard snow beneath. I felt a little dazed and out of it for a while, but I kept skiing and didn’t think much of it.

Weeks later, I started getting a stubborn headache at the very top of my spine. I went to a chiropractor and massage therapist and tried many things at home.

There was no relief—not even a little. I kept searching, and it wasn’t until I found someone to address my eyes that the headaches went away. This was a huge surprise because, at the time, I had no concept of how my eyes could affect my headaches.

4 weeks of vision therapy and viola!!

Let’s take a look at why this could happen.

Why Does This Happen? The neck/eye connection.

When you hit your head, even if it’s just a minor bump, the force can travel downwards and affect your neck. Here’s the panoramic view:

– Whiplash Effect: Think of your head as a tetherball on a rope. When a force impacts it, your neck becomes the rope, whipping forward or backward. This sudden movement can strain muscles and ligaments, like in a car accident.

– Rotational Forces: Similar to the whiplash effect, an injury where the head rotates on the body can create forces that travel through the brainstem and down into the neck. Many brain areas that control your eyes and balance live here, making them susceptible to injury.

– Compensations: If I injured my brainstem, which controls vision and balance, why would that affect my neck? The simple fact is that your brain will do anything it can to maintain visual fixation.

This means if your injury affected your ability to follow objects in your environment or you developed a vestibular condition called “nystagmus,” your brain struggles to keep objects in focus.

Since you need to keep objects in focus to survive, the easiest way for the brain to hold your gaze steady is to lock up the muscles in your neck to keep things even and constant.

This kind of neck pain doesn’t respond to massage, chiropractic chiropractic, acupuncture, or manual therapy.

Signs to Watch Out For

Okay, we’re going to play detective here. If you’ve had a head bump coupled with neck pain, keep an eye out for:

– Persistent or worsening headaches

– Dizziness or lightheadedness

– Limited range of motion in the neck

– Tingling or numbness down the arms (an indicator to seek medical attention)

-Trouble reading or focusing on small objects

-Motion sickness in the car

-Anxiety in busy visual environments like the grocery store

When to See a Doctor

While a bit of neck stiffness is standard after a head bump, there are moments you shouldn’t brush off:

– If neck pain persists beyond a couple of days without improvement

– When the pain is severe or accompanied by neurological symptoms, like those tingling arm sensations

– If there was a loss of consciousness at the time of injury or shortly after

-Progressively worse symptoms like double vision, spontaneous vomiting, or significant changes in heart rate.

Figuring it All Out

Below are ways to determine what kind of care you need. The hardest part of these injuries is figuring out the best place to get care. Below are some tips we’ve gathered over the years that will help cut through a lot of the noise.

Eye tests: Here are a few tests to determine the extent to which your eyes are involved in your neck pain.

How to perform: Before you start, take an inventory of your symptoms. Use this as a baseline to see how each test affects your neck pain.

1: Smooth pursuit test: Hold your thumb out before you and move it from side to side 10 times. Take note of symptoms. Do the same thing up and down. Take note of symptoms.

2: Saccades. Hold your thumbs out in front of you, one at each ear. Move your eyes quickly back and forth for 15 seconds. Take note of symptoms. Do the same thing up and down with thumbs at forehead and chin. Take note of symptoms.

3: Convergence/Divergence: Hold your thumb before you and follow it as you bring it toward your nose. Note any symptoms.

If any of those tests worsen your symptoms, take note and see a vision specialist. If you look up “vision therapy near me,” you’ll find providers who can assess and treat ocular dysfunction.

4: Vestibular-Ocular Tests: Look at an object and move your head side to side like you’re saying “no.” Keep your eyes on the dot, and notice any symptoms. Do the same thing, moving your head up and down like you’re saying “yes.”

If this made you feel symptomatic and you also feel dizzy or off balance when your neck hurts, your injury likely affected your vestibular system. Vestibular PT or functional neurology will likely help if this is the case.

If you perform these tests and nothing changes, it’s likely an isolated neck issue and traditional manual therapies will probably work just fine.

General Advice 

– Rest: Listen to your body. It’s asking for a time-out. Avoid strenuous activities that could exacerbate the pain.

– Gentle Heat Therapy: Warm up that neck with a heating pad or a warm compress. Heat helps ease muscle tension and improves blood flow.

– Ice, Ice Baby: Initially, try icing the area for 10-15 minutes to reduce swelling, especially soon after the injury.

– Hydration and Nutrition: Keep hydrated and nourish your body. Water helps with lubrication and recovery, while magnesium-rich foods help soothe muscles.

– Gentle Stretches: Slow, gentle stretches can help increase your neck’s range of motion. Be kind and slow to your body—no forcing!

Preventative Measures Moving Forward

Accidents are a part of life, but here’s my two cents on staying ahead of them:

– Head and Neck Awareness: Be more mindful of your surroundings, especially in tricky spaces. Prevention starts with awareness!

– Strengthen Your Neck: Exercises that bolster your neck muscles and promote good posture can offer some protection against future injury.

– Consistent Sleep Posture: Maintain a supportive sleep setup. Invest in a good pillow, as quality sleep reduces neck strain.

Conclusion: Listen to Your Body

Remember, each experience is unique. My experiences have taught me that tuning into your body’s signals is crucial, and early intervention can make a difference. If you’re struggling with neck pain after a head injury, listen to that inner voice urging you to take action, and when necessary, hop over to the doctor for a professional assessment.

Navigating neck pain doesn’t have to feel isolating. Let’s keep sharing stories, solutions, and support because one thing is clear—you’re not alone in this journey. Together, we can continue to heal, one careful and caring step at a time.

This article provides you with helpful insights. Remember to always prioritize seeking advice from healthcare professionals for your specific situation. Stay safe, and take care!

If you have questions about neck pain after a concussion, click here to schedule a complimentary consultation with one of our doctors. We’ve treated hundreds of complex neurologic cases and can help piece together the missing pieces in your recovery.

*Note: The information provided in this article is for educational purposes only and does not constitute a doctor-patient relationship. Patients should consult their medical provider or primary care physician before trying any remedies or therapies at home.