Having aches and pains in the head and neck is usually blamed upon stress, overtiredness, sleep disturbances, alcohol or caffeine, computer screens (1), genetics, hormones, environment, (2) medication overuse, trauma, posture (3) and sometimes dehydration. But, here let us keep it simple (4) and consider that muscles and joints can give rise to head aches and neck pains. I don’t think anybody would argue that migraines are more disturbing than headaches because a migraine is a headache plus a sensory disturbance (5); like needing a dark room to lay down in. Headache and a sensory disturbance is also within the pain referral capability of the upper spinal joints in the neck.

In the UK 4% of adults each year seek a GP appointment for their headaches whilst most self-manage (6) with almost everybody experiencing a headache at some point in their life (7). Yet, I’m not sure that pain modifying drugs are the only answer to self-management yet sometimes that is all time will allow.

In this blog I introduce the likely 6 who pair up and can give rather unpleasant headaches, around the eyes, in the eyes, across the forehead, in the ear and at the back or side of the head (8). The likely 6 are essentially two muscles called the Trapezius and the SternoCleidoMastoid (SCM).

Both the Trapezius and the SCM muscle pain referrals cover most tension type headaches and can also be part of migraines and Trigeminal Autonomic Cephalgias (TACs). They are involved in posture and are asked to keep your head up all day during your working posture. You’ll note that face tingling, pain in, behind and around the eyes across the forehead along the outside of the arm and across the upper back are all pain and discomfort regions affected by the SCM and Trapezius muscles. Loading already painful muscles is a delicate business and something that Lee can specifically help you with, easing the sore muscles leading to the tension that creates the headache you don’t want.

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References:

1. NICE, Final scope for the appraisal of botulinum toxin type A for the prophylaxis of headaches in adults with chronic migraine. August 2011
2. More than “just a headache” – The Migraine Trust – What Causes Migraines?
3. NICE, CKS: Headache Assessment Summary, Oct 2019 – ‘Precipitating Factors’
4. Only 2% of people seeking help from their GP will be referred to a Neurologist. Latinovic R,  et al (2006) Headache and migraine in primary care: consultation, prescription, and referral rates in a large population. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry77(3), 385-387.
5. Professor Peter Goadsby, Professor of Neurology, King’s College London; Director, NIHR- Clinical Research Facility, King’s College Hospital London; Trustee of The Migraine Trust.
6. NICE, CKS: Headache Assessment Summary, Oct 2019 – ‘How Common Is It?’
7. Steiner TJ, et al (2014) The impact of Headache in Europe: principal results of the Eurolight project. Journal of Headache and Pain 15(31).
8. Simons DG, Travell JG and Simons LS (1999) ‘Travell and Simons’ Myofascial Pain and Dysfunction. The Trigger Point Manual. Vol 1 Upper Half of the Body [2^nd edition Williams and Wilkins] SCM p308 and Trapezius p.278