Severe headache after roller coaster

[ErinPT]

I am 18 years old and in seemingly good health.  I live in the Orlando area and go to the theme parks here every few years and love roller coasters. I have always been able to ride even the most extreme ones multiple times without any side effects. Today though after riding multiple coasters, I experienced a headache like never before. It was very painful and encompassed mainly my forehead area and front side of my head. It was sharp and throbbing and I had to lay down on a bench for 20 mins before it went away, and even hours after it did go away I still could not nod or shake my head without feeling a tinge of pain and tightness in my temple areas. Should I be alarmed by this or is it just a symptom that will pass?

[Dr Santos]

Hi,
How are you? Are there other symptoms present? Patients where headaches develop for the first time in association with a ride on a roller coaster (or other events that cause violent movement of the head with no direct trauma to the skull)  may indeed be attributed to a possible subdural hematoma. It is important that imaging studies like CT scan or MRI of the head should be done to rule this out. A roller coaster  ride can induce marked rotatory and other positional changes of the brain and can cause tensile and shearing stresses; cortical veins may tear leading to the hematoma. Take care and do keep us posted.

[selmaS]

  Hi, when ever u have a HA after participating in an activity u should lean on the side of caution and seek a drs advice.

There r conditions that lie dormant and an activity like this, ot a fall or a MVA can awaken or trigger symptoms...they many times start with a HA.

  Good luck and do post an update

  "selma"

[salhav]

I agree with allmymarbles, the same thing happened to me after riding coaster one time.

[allmymarbles]

Perhaps from the snapping and irregular motion your brain was banging against your skull. I guess that might cause swelling. I would see a doctor about this.