Mechanical allodynia induced by traumatic brain injury is independent of restraint stress

•Periorbital and paw allodynia are induced by traumatic brain injury in rodents.•Periorbital sensory changes were greater on the side ipsilateral to the injury.•Mechanical allodynia is independent of restraint stress.•A stress response induced by head injury is species specific.•Rodent models of TBI are useful to study headache and stress after head trauma. This study identifies the relationship between a test for post-traumatic headache and a marker for acute stress in rodent models of traumatic brain injury. C57BL/6 mice and Sprague Dawley rats were divided into Controlled Cortical Impact (CCI) injury, craniotomy (CR), and incision groups. Periorbital and paw allodynia were evaluated using the von Frey test prior to injury and up to four weeks post-operatively. Serum corticosterone was evaluated in groups with and without mild restraint. Periorbital and forepaw thresholds, but not hindpaw thresholds, were reduced in CCI and CR mice compared to incision (p