Headaches
Tension Headaches
If you are suffering from
general
stress headaches, my usual course is a full body relaxation
massage, with deep tissue and trigger point massage to the
shoulders, neck, scalp, and face. A deep tissue massage to the scalp will
relieve tension in muscles you didn't even realize you had, and
a light, relaxing scalp massage is de rigeur to turn you
into a relaxed puddle of bliss before you have to return to the
real world.
Trigger points that cause tension headaches
tend to accumulate around the shoulders (levator scapula,
trapezius, rhomboids) and neck (the scalenes, the suboccipital
area, and especially the sternocleidomastoid). If you clench or
grind your teeth at night, we'll work on your jaw muscles; if
your TMJ pain is bad enough and if you
request it, I am trained to work on the medial and lateral
pterygoid muscles inside your mouth.
Migraine Headaches
Migraines are another animal entirely, and
once they are under way they don't respond as well to massage.
A
cold stone massage on the back of the neck sometimes helps (see
hot stone massage for the exact
opposite). Migraines can sometimes be prevented by regular
massage to relieve stress. Migraines also cause stress, so you
get some relief from any relaxation massage. We would want to
deactivate any trigger points on the muscles listed above as
well.
If you're not sure if you have migraines, then you probably
don't. I've never had one, but I'm told that if you have one,
you KNOW! In addition to severe head pain, migraines often cause
changes in vision and sometimes changes to the other senses.
Don't suffer
Call Tranquility Time at
214-395-8000 to get some
relief from your headache pain. You deserve it!
For more information, please see the
Tranquility Times newsletter for November,
2008.
