Should I Visit the Hospital After Bumping My Head?
Hello everyone!
On Sunday afternoon, around 3 to 4 PM, I accidentally bumped the back right side of my head. Fortunately, I didn’t experience any of the usual severe symptoms associated with head injuries, such as dizziness, loss of consciousness, or vomiting; just localized pain in the impacted area.
A few hours later, however, I developed a very intense headache along with a slight feeling of nausea. I suffer from chronic migraines, which can flare up due to various factors. I suspected the current weather conditions—which typically trigger my migraines—and the recent bump might be contributing to my discomfort. Usually, my migraines manifest primarily on the left side, around my temple and eyebrow, but this time the pain was more generalized, and it intensified when I moved, stood up, or even blew my nose, which is not uncommon for me during a migraine episode. I took some pain relief medication and managed to sleep through the night without any problems.
The next morning, I still had a slight headache, but it improved as the day went on. I only took one ibuprofen for menstrual cramps, not for my headache, and by around 9 to 10 PM, the pain had completely subsided.
Later in the evening, while I lay down, the pain did not escalate. However, when I slept on my right side that night, I experienced a mild headache again. This time, it was centered in the front and sides of my head, on both the left and right, as well as the back near where I had the injury.
There’s no significant swelling where I hit my head, although the specific area is tender to the touch. We examined my scalp but did not notice any noticeable bruising.
I understand that head injuries can carry serious risks, so I’m seeking advice: do I need to visit the hospital for further evaluation? Is it possible that the discomfort I felt while sleeping stemmed from pressure on the injured area, causing pain to radiate to other parts of my head?
Thank you very much for your guidance!
WellnessFamily MedicinePreventive Medicine