FACT. Your brain can’t hurt.
Your brain can’t actually HURT. When we call it a HEADache, that is precisely what it is because your brain doesn’t have the ability to sense pain!
All of the tissues AROUND the brain are what actually FEEL pain. This includes your blood vessels, muscles and nerves within the scalp itself.
Therefore, headaches are REFERRED PAIN – and this is something we talk with our patients about literally every single day.
When you come to see us, very often we will ask you about your daily habits including computer/device usage, your water intake, your activity level, when your last roller coaster ride at Hersheypark was, where you hold stress or even clench your teeth. All of these details are relevant and incredibly important when it comes to beginning to TRULY understand the ROOT CAUSE of a headache.
Headaches aren’t an Advil or Excedrin deficiency. More often than not, we find that we can literally recreate our patient’s “headache” by locating trigger points in the upper shoulders and/or neck. Most of those muscles have REFERRAL patterns that include radiating up into your head, temples, face, etc.
Many of our patients begin to notice that they are CLENCHING their jaw during the day. Whether that is from stress or intense concentration, it activates several muscles including your SCM – and your SCM is notorious for referred headache in the TEMPLE, FOREHEAD and around or behind the EYE. (Other side effects of SCM activation are tinnitus, TMJ dysfunction, dizziness and more.)
There are many other causes of headaches – but it is ultimately important that time is taken to figure out the ROOT CAUSE before determining the proper course of care.
HFC had the pleasure of partnering with PSECU for a headache webinar that assisted employees in beginning to truly understand what a headache is, where they come from, and some of the little known options out there for treatment. If you feel that your Central Pennsylvania workplace may benefit from this crucial information, please do not hesitate to reach out to us or request an event.
We are now scheduling new patients experiencing Chronic Headaches and/or Migraines. Appointments can be scheduled online, or by calling us at 717.531.3411.