Whatâs causing debilitating, post-COVID-19 headaches? Doctors have a theory Share Updated: 11:08 AM EST Mar 2, 2021 Julie Dolan Share Updated: 11:08 AM EST Mar 2, 2021 Hide Transcript Show Transcript CONDITION OF A QUADRIPLEGIC WHEN THE PANDEMIC FIRST HIT MOST OF THE SEVERE SYMPTOMS REPORTED WERE RESPIRATORY, BUT THE MEDICAL DIRECTOR OF HEADACHE MEDICINE AT NORTON NEUROSCIENCE INSTITUTE SAYS THATâS CHANGING NOW AS ESSENTIALLY A YEAR HAS PASSED AND WEâRE SEEING PEOPLE WHO HAVE LARGELY RECOVERED FROM THE SIGNIFICANT INITIAL ILLNESS. WEâRE SEEING A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE HAVING SOME LONG-TERM NEUROLOGICAL CONSEQUENCES NAMELY A LOT TO DO WITH HEADACHE DR. BRIAN. PLATO SAYS, THESE ARENâT JUST PERIODICAL HEADACHES. THEYâRE PERSISTENT AND OFTEN FORM AROUND THE NASAL AREA AND EYES, SO WHATâS CAUSING IT? HE SAYS THERE ARE A FEW THEORIES SOMETHING THAT IS LOOKING INTERESTING IS THE ASSOCIATION BETWEEN THOSE WHO HAVE LOSS OF SMELL SO IF YOU TAKE LOSS OF SMELL AS A SYMPTOM OF COVID HALF OF INDIVIDUALS WHO EXPERIENCE LOSS OF SMELL WILL HAVE PROBLEMS WITH HEADACHE WHEREAS IF YOU TAKE THOSE WHO DO NOT HAVE LOSS OF SMELL. ITâS LESS THAN 20% NOT ALL HEADACHES OR LONG TERM. IN FACT MOST LAST WEEKS RATHER THAN MONTHS, BUT DR. PLATO SAYS HEâS EXPECTING SOME RECOVERIES TO TAKE YEARS DUE TO POTENTIAL DAMAGE TO THE NERVOUS SYSTEM PARTICULARLY THE TRIGEMINAL NERVES IN SOME CASES MEDICATION LIKE STEROIDS CAN HELP IN SOME INSTANCES WERE HAVING, YOU KNOW SOME SUCCESS IN TERMS OF REDUCING. SOME OF THE SYMPTOMS AND PERHAPS MAKING IT MORE MANAGEABLE, BUT THEN IN SOME CASES, YOU KNOW, REALLY NOT HAVING THOSE THOSE BREAKTHROUGHS THAT WE WOULD LIKE DR. PLATO SAYS THEYâRE CONTINUING TO AGGRESSIVELY TREAT SYMPTOMS BY TESTING NEW MIGRAINE MEDICATIONS ON THE MARKET IN THE MEANTIME. HEâS ALSO HOPING TO LEARN MORE ABOUT A DIRECT CAUSE