“Can head trauma cause serious problems?”
I hit my head and now it hurts. Can head trauma cause serious problems?
2 Answers
Yes, it can.
The brain tissue itself cannot cause pain. There are no sensory nerve endings in the brain, in other words, we don't feel our brains. Pain can come from the membranes around the brain (the meninges), the bone of the skull and the muscles and arteries over the skull. The most severe damage from head trauma is disruption of the nerves with impact. This can vary in degree, but usually causes changes in mental status or behavior, but is not painful. Bleeding around the brain, like from an aneurysm, (subarachnoid hemorrhage) is very painful, but is all over the head because the pain is due to irritation of the meninges. Bleeding into the brain tissue can happen, but with these there are symptoms more like a stroke, and they are painless. Lastly, depending on the site and force of the trauma, injuries to the skull and structures outside the skull can be problems. Skull fractures, bruising,lacerations or damage to eye and ear are possible. After a head trauma of any kind, it is most wise to have it evaluated. Usually a noncontrast CAT scan of the head is best.
