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Headache? It’s Not All In Your Head!
By
George
Pellegrino, LMT, CMTPT and Victoria L. Magown, CMTPT, LMT
Early in December, Stacey slipped on a wet floor while carrying four heavy
rubber mats over her left shoulder. As she went down, she hit her left
elbow and shoulder, as well as her left hip. As a consequence, she was
out of work during the holidays. This really put a strain on her
budget.
When she came in for treatment, she was suffering with left shoulder pain
and headaches. After we reviewed Stacey’s history and performed Range
Of Motion Tests, we were able to determine which muscles were involved.
The impact injured the upper trapezius muscle, laying down trigger points
that referred pain up into her head. (Illustration A) A Trigger Point
is a hypersensitive spot in a muscle that when stimulated, produces pain
that is referred in a predictable pattern usually away from the Trigger
Point.
Since Stacy came to MyoRehab within two weeks of her injury, treatment
time was substantially reduced. When an injury is still acute, muscles
have not had time to develop patterns of bracing and splinting, which
can lead to postural distortions the body uses to “accommodate”, or
“mask” pain.
Inactivating Trigger Points in the trapezius muscle relieved the
headaches within two treatments. Once her headaches were resolved,
successful treatment of her shoulder soon followed.
During treatment, Stacey was given a specific Home Exercise Program for her
neck, shoulders and upper back. It didn’t take long to get Stacey back
to work, pain free.
Robert, a truck driver, was involved in a motor vehicle accident causing a
whiplash injury to his neck. He came in with severe headaches
reminiscent of migraines he used to get in his late teens.
He felt his migraines were returning and feared he would have to resume
self-administered injections of Imitrex for relief. As a result of the
whiplash, the sternocleidomastoid muscle (pronounced
ster-no-cly-do-mast-oid - Illustration B) that checkreins excessive
backward movement of the head was injured.
His neck and head pain was consistent with Trigger Points in the
sternocleidomastoid. Trigger Points in this muscle can produce tearing
of the eyes, runny nose, nausea, dizziness, loss of balance, and
blurring and dimming vision, similar to migraine headaches.
After a course of treatment for his upper back and neck muscles, Robert no
longer had headaches and neck pain. He was delighted that his Home
Exercise Program kept him pain free and he didn’t have to use a drug to
accomplish this.
Injuries
to neck muscles that can cause headaches are not always the result of
trauma. Inappropriate head positioning, such as working at a desk with
the head turned to one side and projected forward to see documents or a
computer monitor can activate the splenius cervicis muscle (Illustration
C).
In
addition, falling asleep with the head and neck bent in a crooked
position, as with the head on the armrest of a sofa or sleeping on an
airplane can activate Trigger Points in this muscle.
Active
Trigger Points in the splenius cervicis will refer a diffuse pain
through the inside of the head that focuses strongly behind the eye and
sometimes to the back of the head. Some people experience numbness in
the back of the head with or without pain. Trigger Points in the upper
part of this muscle may cause blurred vision. These symptoms often
resolve immediately and completely with treatment.
Treatment also includes identifying and eliminating perpetuating factors
such as reviewing correct posture, workstation ergonomics, sleeping
positions and body mechanics. Modifications are made when necessary.
Sometimes, relieving head pain can be as simple as teaching someone how
to properly adjust their car seat.
Have a headache? It may not be “all in
your head”. Give us a call at MyoRehab
OR click here to set up your thirty minute consultation |
