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.