Headache guide · 7 min read
Concussion Headache Treatment: What Works
Headache is the most common concussion symptom — and the most common one to linger. The key fact most people are never told: “post-traumatic headache” is not one thing. It's an umbrella over several distinct headache types, and treating the wrong type is why so many concussion headaches don't improve. Effective treatment starts with figuring out which one (or several) you have.
The four common types of post-concussion headache
1. Migraine-type
Throbbing, often one-sided, with nausea, light/noise sensitivity, and worsening with activity. The most common persistent type — especially in people with a personal or family history of migraine. Responds to the full migraine toolkit: trigger management, acute medications used early and sparingly, and preventive options (including well-evidenced supplements like riboflavin and magnesium — see our nutrition guide) when frequent.
2. Tension-type
Band-like, pressure quality, both sides. Driven by stress, poor sleep, and sustained screen posture — all abundant after a concussion. Responds to sleep repair, movement, stress management, and pacing more than to pills.
3. Cervicogenic (neck-driven)
The force that concussed your brain also whiplashed your neck. Pain starting at the skull base and wrapping forward, worse with neck positions, often with reduced neck motion. This type does not respond to headache medication — it responds to skilled manual therapy and targeted neck rehabilitation. It's the most under-diagnosed of the four.
4. Medication-overuse (rebound) headache
The trap: using OTC pain relievers (ibuprofen, acetaminophen) or triptans more than ~10–15 days per month teaches the brain to generate daily headaches. If you've been taking something “most days” for weeks, this may now be the main problem — and the fix is a supervised taper, not a stronger drug.
What actually helps, step by step
- First 48 hours: relative rest, hydration, dark-and-quiet as needed; OTC pain relief is reasonable but count the days you use it from day one.
- Week 1 onward: gentle daily aerobic activity below symptom threshold — exercise is legitimate headache treatment after concussion, not a risk to be avoided.
- Fix sleep aggressively: irregular sleep is the single most reliable headache amplifier. Consistent schedule, no alcohol, screens off before bed; melatonin has reasonable evidence post-injury, particularly in youth.
- Identify the type(s) using the descriptions above — then match treatment: migraine toolkit, neck rehab, stress/sleep work, or a medication taper.
- Persistent or frequent headaches (beyond ~4 weeks): preventive therapy from a clinician — options range from riboflavin/magnesium to prescription preventives — plus treatment of the co-drivers (vestibular dysfunction, visual strain) that keep headaches fueled.
When to see a specialist — and which kind
See someone promptly for red flags (thunderclap headache, worsening pattern, neurological symptoms — emergency department). Otherwise: if headaches persist past two to four weeks, escalate past “wait and see.” Neurologists and headache-medicine specialists handle migraine-type and preventive medication; physical therapists with cervical and vestibular training handle neck-driven headache and dizziness co-drivers; multidisciplinary concussion clinics coordinate all of it — usually the fastest path when several types overlap. Many of the clinics in our directory list headache and migraine care as a dedicated service — filter for “Headache/Migraine” to find them near you.
Find a concussion specialist near you
Search 3,214 verified concussion clinics and specialists across all 50 states — filter by services like vestibular therapy, vision therapy, and neuropsychology.
Frequently asked questions
How do you treat a headache from a concussion?
Short-term: relative rest, hydration, and sparing OTC pain relief. Beyond the first days: daily sub-symptom aerobic exercise, strict sleep regularity, and treatment matched to the headache type — migraine management, neck rehabilitation for cervicogenic headache, or a supervised medication taper for rebound headache.
Why do I still have headaches months after my concussion?
Usually because the specific headache type was never identified: persistent post-traumatic headaches are most often migraine-type, neck-driven, or medication-overuse — each needing different treatment. Untreated vestibular and visual problems also perpetuate headaches. A headache specialist or concussion clinic can sort the drivers apart.
How long do concussion headaches last?
Most resolve within days to a few weeks. Headaches persisting beyond four weeks are considered persistent post-traumatic headache and respond best to type-specific treatment — they should not be waited out indefinitely.
Educational content only — not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Reviewed by Jon MacKay, PharmD, BCACP against current clinical guidance; last updated July 2026.