Head sensitivity after concussion: what to know

After a concussion, the head may feel tender, pressured or unusually sensitive to touch, light, sound, screens or busy environments. Headache, dizziness, nausea, slowed thinking, poor concentration, irritability and disturbed sleep can occur alongside it. Symptoms may fluctuate with mental or physical effort. A gradual return of symptoms after activity is a reason to reduce that activity and discuss the pattern with a clinician. Sensitivity alone cannot show whether recovery is progressing normally, so the injury, examination and symptom trend matter.

Keep activity gentle and increase it in small stages, stopping before symptoms become clearly worse. Use a quiet, dim environment for short periods if light or sound is uncomfortable, but avoid staying in complete darkness all day. Keep regular sleep and meals, drink fluids, and limit alcohol. Do not return to contact sport, risky work or driving until a clinician says it is safe. Record the injury date, symptoms, triggers, medicines and any change from the previous day. A GP consultation can help assess persistent symptoms and plan follow-up.

Seek emergency care for increasing severe headache, repeated vomiting, a seizure, fainting, unusual difficulty waking, confusion, new weakness or numbness, slurred speech, unequal pupils or worsening balance. Seek prompt advice if symptoms steadily worsen, fail to improve, or return sharply with ordinary activity.

Ask when to progress activity, work, study or exercise; whether your medicines are suitable; how sleep and screen exposure should be managed; and what follow-up is needed for headache, dizziness or concentration changes.