Archive for the ‘Tension Headache’ category

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Why Do I Constantly Get Muscle Tension In My Neck And How Can I End The Pain And Soreness?

January 24th, 2011
Matthew Bellinger asked:




Do you often wake up with a stiff neck? Feel like you always have soreness across the shoulders? Notice you can’t turn your head like you should be able to? Sometimes feel the tension going right up into your head, causing a headache? Or even find it often difficult to work on the computer or drive for a long period without having your neck tension increase?

Many people suffer from tightness, spasm or sore muscles in the neck. Often times if you feel the neck you can find hard nodules which are knots in the muscles or what I call trigger points. It is very common.

Usually the source of the problem actually stems from the neck spine and nerves in the neck. Why is this so? Well, to start, the nerves control our muscle function. If there is pressure on nerves in the neck your muscles are not getting proper communication, so they get imbalanced and don’t work like they should. Next, a spine that is misaligned will not only contribute to possible direct pressure on a nerve by a spinal bone or bones misaligned but also it can create an uneven ness in the spine so that the muscles are not balanced. For example, if your spine is not straight u and down from the front to back and has a curvature to the side then the side the curve is toward has a constantly stretched and tense muscle. The opposite side will have a shortened muscle. Simply because of mechanics you may be able to tilt more to one side whereas the other side is limited.

Let’s take another example of the forward head. From the side view our spine should have smooth flowing curves. The neck should have a C-curve of 40-60 degrees. This keeps the spinal cord relaxed and the nerves that come off it free of interference. It also allows your spine to with stand the forces of gravity at it’s best. It has been shown that for each inch of forward head drift or carriage can cause 10+ more pounds of gravitational forces pressing down on you. Not to mention those muscles in the back of the neck that now have to work harder to hold the head up and in alignment.

So you can see from just two examples how misalignments can cause tension on the muscles and/or put pressure on the nerves causing pain and blocked communication of the brain and spinal cord to those muscles.

How can I get rid of this neck pain and tension?

Fix the cause – the unwanted misalignments and nerve pressure.

Get your spine treated by a Chiropractor or Osteopath. A Massage Therapist or Physical Therapist can help as well. The Chiropractor or Osteopath can adjust or manipulate the spine into it’s best position. They may also use muscle stretches or trigger point release techniques as does a Massage Therapist or cervical traction, electric muscle stimulation or postural exercises that a Physical Therapist may do as well.
Be aware of your posture – remember posture is a window into your spine. If your posture reveals a forward head carriage for example then your spine has lost some of the normal curvature and is out in front of your center of gravity. Make sure your work station is ergonomically correct and also be aware of things that increase neck tension and stress.
Sleep with a good neck pillow. I recommend one with support for the normal cervical curvature (normal neck alignment). Arc4life offers a wonderful neck pillow called the Cervical Traction Neck Pillow. Forward head posture is the most common misalignment I see. A good cervical neck pillow or cervical traction can help correct this problem without much effort at all.

So, correct the root cause – pressure on the nerves and misalignments and you will correct the muscle soreness, tension, trigger points, and muscle pain.

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Neck Tension Headache

January 22nd, 2011
Stewart Goh asked:




According to the medical practitioners the neck tension headache is mainly caused by the constant tightening of the muscles that are involved. This kind of pain spreads gradually. As the headache starts spreading you can experience it along with the neck pain in the shoulder region.

You can feel the effected neck muscle turning sore when you touch it. The neck muscles feel tender and in one particular exact point the pain will be more distinct when pressure is applied on that part.

This particular point is referred to as the trigger point in medical terms. The trigger point is defined as a spot which when “activated” will tend to set off the neck tension headache.

According to the recent medical research and studies in this particular field, it is said that the neck tension headaches may be caused by the changes taking place in the trigger point. These changes lead in the production of fibrous materials that tend to take the place of muscle tissue instead.

It is also responsible for causing the pain experienced by the people suffering from it when they affect the nerves and capillaries in the pain area.

The most common symptoms experienced while suffering from neck tension headaches are the neck and shoulder pain along with acute pain at the trigger point and a repetitive aching soreness at the areas between the shoulder blades. Not only is that, as the pain becomes too severe it also leads to restricted movement of the neck.

Proper relaxing techniques and avoiding the stress-filled situations is the best way to prevent the developing of neck tension headaches. One should take regular breaks from work and do some stretching exercise to help loosen muscles in tension or by gently massaging the tensed muscles.

Other than the above, taking healthy food and maintaining healthy lifestyle is a must. Apart from medication acupuncture is considered to be one of the best options for an effective treatment of neck tension headaches.

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Severe Headache Pain – Don’t Let it Go Unchecked

January 14th, 2011
Douglas Hanna asked:




This article includes vital information about severe headache pain and its underlying causes. It is important that you read this article clear through to the end so that you will understand what might be the underlying causes of your severe headache pain. That way, you will be able to get the treatment you need to manage your headache pain or even end it forever.

Don’t let them go unchecked

Do you suffer from frequent headaches? If so, the worst thing you can do is let them go unchecked and just try to tough it out. If you do this, you can suffer a huge decrease in the quality of your life. Plus, severe headache pain can be an indicator that your body is out of balance.

Your body may be sending you a message

Your body is most likely telling you that something is wrong if you’re having severe headache pain. This is because pain is your body’s way of sending you a message. If you’re being affected by pain, you need to take notice because the headache pain may be an indicator that there is some underlying cause with which you need to deal.

Headaches can be caused by many things

It is important to understand that severe headache pain by itself is not life threatening. And it can be brought on by many things that are easy to treat or even prevent.

For example, the pain of migraine headaches is extremely severe. What’s worse, is that there is no certain cure of migraine headaches but they can be stopped or, in some cases, totally prevented with the various medications now available.

Sinus problems and pressure

Do you have sinus problems that may be causing your headaches? If so, this condition can often be treated using nothing more than over-the-counter decongestants. O if you have really severe sinus problems, you can probably cure then with prescribed antibiotics. Again, the key is to determine the underlying cause of that severe headache pain and then treat this and not the headaches themselves.

Do you live a stress-filled life?

A stress lifestyle can be the cause of headache pain for some people. If this is true for you, just slowing down and taking better care of your body may help you end your headache pain. In that case, what you need to do is work to improve the lifestyle you lead.

Talk to a healthcare provider

It’s important to talk to a healthcare provider no matter what you think may be causing your severe headache pain because in some cases, your headache pain may be caused by disease.

Your healthcare provider will examine you, ask you questions and probably order tests to determine if you are suffering from some disease. If so, he or she will be able to then provide a course of treatment that will cure both the problem an your headache pain.

Don’t let fear stop you from getting relief

Don’t let fear keep you from getting to the bottom of severe headache pain. The only way you can get the treatment you need is by understanding what is causing them. If you have to deal with headaches on an ongoing basis, you’ll be glad you finally came to grips with them. You won’t have` any more days spent in bed or filled with the stress caused by severe headache pain.

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Simple Steps for Tension Headache Relief

January 12th, 2011
Paul Bacho asked:




Did it ever occur to you that tight muscles are responsible for your tension headaches?

For example, do you spend your days hunched over a computer terminal or
stooped over a drill press?

Do you slouch at your desk?

Are you on the phone all day with a phone crooked between your neck and ear?

If so, you’re practicing poor posture, which is causing your neck and shoulder
muscles to tighten up.

Remaining in a poor posture for extended periods puts a strain on already
tense muscles. Fatigue sets in as blood flow decreases, resulting in knots and
muscle spasms. This causes even tighter muscles and more severe symptoms,
which cause tension headaches.

Unless you take action, they will plague you more often and become
progressively worse.

Fortunately, there are several simple steps you can take to help prevent this
vicious circle:

1. Sit up straight and stand up straight. In other words, assume the military
position: shoulders back, head up, chest out, stomach tight.

2. If you sit all day, get a chair with good back support.

3. Bring your work surface closer to you. For example, if your job involves
stooping down to your work station, elevate it on a platform so you don’t have
to bend down so low.

4. Take several breaks during the day to perform a series of stretching and
isometric exercises. These can be done sitting or standing.

a. With your hands behind your back, gently pull your shoulders back and
maintain this position for one to three minutes.

b. Turn your head halfway to the right (or left). Then drop your head forward
until you feel slight tension. Let the weight of your head gently stretch the neck
muscles. Go slowly – no pain! Hold this position for up to two minutes, then
turn to the opposite side and repeat.

So what should you do if you’ve already got a tension headache?

1. Perform the previously mentioned stretching exercise in 4a.

2. Apply moist heat on your neck and shoulders – a towel soaked in very warm
water, for example (if moist heat is impractical or isn’t available, use dry heat).

3. Get someone to give your neck and shoulders a deep tissue massage.

These simple steps will help you if you suffer from occasional tension
headaches.

If you have chronic tension headaches, visit my web site for more detailed
information.

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Treating a Migraine Tension Headache Naturally – 5 Great Methods

January 12th, 2011
Sean Saunders asked:




A migraine tension headache can become just as unbearable as a regular migraine headache, although it is not as debilitating. What makes it unbearable is the fact that it can occur with great frequency. It is also referred to as a muscle contraction headache because that is the sensation you feel when you get it. It is as if there is a band of pressure around your head, which can sometimes be accompanied by nausea. When these symptoms come on, you need to know how to get rid of them naturally and quickly. Here are some of the easiest ways to do just that.

Deep Breathing — By inhaling and exhaling very deeply and slowly, you will start to feel the tension lift from your head. Eventually, the headache itself will go away. Remember, there is actually some muscle contraction taking place that causes this headache, so deep breathing will help in the relaxation process.

Inhale Aroma from Oils — Certain oils like peppermint oil and lavender oil have the type of aroma that will help to ease tension in your head and body. You can inhale them directly or by placing a few drops in a bowl of warm water and putting that to your nose. The relaxation will start to set in once you have inhaled the aroma a few times.

Stretch the Neck Muscles — By stretching the neck muscles as well as the upper back, you will start to give your neck and head the relief and relaxation they need to contribute to reducing your tension headache. You can simply turn your head to the left and right while keeping your shoulders relaxed. This contributes to easing the tension and subsequently getting rid of the migraine tension headache.

Get a Massage — Get a friend, loved one, or even a professional to give you a shoulder and neck massage, which will help to ease the tension and pressure contraction in the head.

Exercise — This does not necessarily mean going into the gym and doing a one-hour routine. If you are able, try brisk-fully walking around your home or office for 10 to 15 minutes. Simple and natural exercise helps to relax muscles, so you can expect to get relief for your migraine tension headache that way.

A migraine tension headache can be annoying and irritating, but it can be easily treated so long as you use the natural migraine remedies listed above.

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