Headaches
Headaches strike in various ways and might be labelled tension headache, mirgraine or cluster headache. Impaired eyesight and nausea often accompany the migraine. Whatever the form the effect can be truly debilitating as sufferers will know. There are of course many reasons for headaches. However assuming all serious medical issues have been ruled out it is highly likely that the problem has a muscular source, and that trigger points within specific muscles are in part or even wholly responsible. For this reason we have a high level of success in treating this problem.
TRIGGER POINTS AND HEADACHES
There are FOUR PRINCIPAL MUSCLES that are likely to harbour trigger points that invariably contribute to headaches: the trapezius, sternocleidomastoid, suboccipitals and temporalis, shown in the diagrams above. These should all be examined for trigger points during a treatment. There are also the spinal muscles to consider that attach to the skull and the vertebrae at the back of the neck and which are put under much tension in every day life. Trigger points within these muscles can contribute to migraines and severe headaches that pierce the back or top of the head or they can produce a tight band of headache around the side of the head.
RESOLVING HEADACHES WITH TRIGGER POINT THERAPY - NOT DRUGS!
I have seen patients who have suffered from migraines ranging from the past year to 20 to 40 years of their life! As the muscular source is not not always understood by the medical profession they will list their medications and pills to pop as soon as the headache strikes telling me that that is their only way to cope. Often this accompanies hours or even days resting in a dark room. With correctly applied trigger point therapy relief can be sought in as few as 1-3 treatments. I strongly advise, on the success we have had on treating patients with trigger points causal to headaches, that you find a knowledgable therapist who can help you put the pills away. I have seen complete cessation of headaches after years of suffering, as well as great improvement and only occasional recurrence, which is equally relieved by further trigger point therapy. .
It must be remembered that other contributing factors should be taken into consideration when dealing with any chronic pain, not least with headaches. For example:
POSTURE - Poor posture such as sitting at a desk or driving with slumped shoulders can cause a multitude of problems. Rounded shoulders cause the pectoral muscles to shorten which in turn causes a continual stretching on the upper back muscles. These back muscles remain on permanent tension and as a result will invariably develop trigger points.
A POOR SLEEP POSITION - lying on the tummy with arms placed up above the head, shortens upper back and neck muscles over night which can then compromise posture during the day, muscles remain contracted, function incorrectly and so develop trigger points.
HORMONES - many women suffer headaches during their menstrual cycle. This is very often due to the fact that trigger points exist but are lying dormant, referred to as 'latent' trigger points - i.e. not actually referring pain. Hormonal activity however can activate trigger points and so headaches become prevalent at this time. Eliminating trigger points often has a high success rate in eliminating headaches for ladies of all ages who suffer from monthly migraines.
"Thank you Lucy, after suffering from migraines for many years and reaching a point of two a day, you have given me my life back". Auvernier, Switzerland, December 2015
