What To Do When You Wake Up With A Headache

Photo by Carolina Heza on Unsplash

I woke up this morning with a headache. You know the kind that starts in the back of your neck and then moves to your jaw and spreads behind your eye? You know the kind that makes you reach for an ibuprofen so that you can get through your day? UGH!!!  The kids want breakfast, the dog needs to be walked and I need to get everyone dressed, packed and out the door… And I just want QUIET!

Sounds familiar? Headaches are very common. According to World Health organization 50% of population suffers from a headache disorder which is characterized by recurring headaches and includes tension headaches, migraine headaches and cluster headaches.

Over the years I have worked with many patients who suffer from headaches. Interestingly most tension headaches are posture related. Most people who have a headache disorder have rounded shoulders and forward head posture. This is so common in our culture as we spend a lot of time sitting, working on the computer or staring at our phones.

When the head is sitting slightly forward compared to the plane of the shoulders it is increasing the load on the muscles of the upper back and neck. The muscles on the back and front of your neck are trying as hard as they can to keep the 14-20 lb ball of brain on your shoulders. Over time they stiffen up and become rigid. The muscles then develop trigger points which in turn refer pain to the jaw, the front of the head or behind the eye.

When treating patients with headaches I am able to reproduce their headache just by touching certain muscles.

For the headache to get better these trigger points need to be released and the tight muscles need to be taught to relax.  Although stretching and massage can help, it is not enough to get rid of headaches.
The root cause of a headache disorder is the rounded shoulders and forward head posture and needs to be corrected. You need to teach your head how to stay on top of your shoulders rather than to migrate forward. The tiny little postural muscles which connect one vertebrae to the next have to be strengthened while keeping your spine in correct alignment.

One of my patients had headaches for 40 years. Her headaches came on several times a week and she always had to carry ibuprofen with her. When the headache came on, she would have to lie down on her bed and turn of the lights. One day she just had enough and started looking for help. Her friend was a patient of mine and this is how we got to know each other.

I saw her twice a week for few weeks and the frequency of headaches dropped. Then she came in once a week for a couple of weeks and headaches have stopped.  Not only did she get rid of headaches her lower back pain decreased and she feels stronger than before starting her treatment.

If you or someone you know is suffering from headaches, I shared some of my favorite tips with you in a free download: “7 Ways To Lessen The Severity Of Your Headache Without Taking Medication.”

So back to my own morning headache… I overcame my desire for ibuprofen and did this quick technique which completely eliminated my headache. You can watch it here.  https://youtu.be/n3m4pUQS5N4.

Do you want to explore this further or want to talk about your particular situation? Click here.

Here is to you headache free summer! This month we will be doing education series on headaches and how to prevent them. Stay tuned and follow us on Facebook

Best Wishes

Elena