NORMA:
I have had headaches everyday for over two years. Took migraine medications, no help, chiro,no goo, needles in neck for pain, no good,ct scans, nose,ear and throat doctor no help, had a stress test on heart noblockage,I had been taking thyroid medication for ten years and they took me off of it and checked later and said ok but now my thryoid test can back a litle low so taking snythroid 25mg. Also not eating gluten products right no to see if that helps but my neck is hurting so bad and shoulders but I had a shoulder surgery in N0v 2010 but haven;t exercised it like I should but had headaches all the time before the surgery. I haven;t had a allergy test done yet. I am so depressed and cry alot because the headaches are everyday and I can;t enjoy life with my grandchildren. It takes so much away from quality of life. I have had dry eyes for the past month and still red. I am in bad shape.

DR SHAPIRA RESPONSE:DEAR NORMA,

I AM SORRY TO HEAR HOW SEVERE YOUR HEADACHES ARE. NEUROMUSCULAR DENTISTRY MAY BE THE ANSWER YOU ARE LOOKING FOR. I HAVE FORWARDED YOU THE NAMES OF 2 TOP PRACTITIONERS IN YOUR AREA.

YOU DID NOT TELL ME ABOUT YOUR HISTORY PRIOR TO THE STAR OF YOUR HEADACHES WHICH CAN HELP IN UNDERSTANDING YOUR HEADACHES. HAS A DOCTOR USED VAPOCOOLANT SPRAY AND STRETCH. YOU SAID YOU HAD NEEDLES IN YOUR NECK, WAS THAT TRIGGER POINT INJECTIONS TO TRY AND RELIEVE YOUR PAIN OR WAS IT ACCUOUNCTURE? I FIND I CAN RELIEVE MOST PATIENTS PAIN WHILE IN MY OFFICE. SOMETIMES DIAGNOSTIC BLOCKS CAN BE HELPFUL IN UNDERSTANDING WHERE THE HEADACHES ARE ARISING.

YOU SAID THAT CHIROPRACTIC TREATMENT DID NOT HELP BUT DID YOU SEE A NUCCA OR A/O CHIROPRACTER.

THE FACT THAT CAT SCANS ARE NORMAL ARE GOOD. MOST PAIN IS REFERRED FROM MUSCLES. IT SOUNDS IKE THEY HAVE RULED OUT ORGANIC DISEASE.

I CAN ARRANGE TO SEE YOU AT MY ILLINOIS OFFICE IF YOU PREFER. I CAN ONLY HANDLE 1 LONG RANGE PATIENT /WEEK. THIS WEEK I HAVE A PHYSICIAN FROM DENVER BUT NEXT WEEK IS AVAIABLE.

OUT OF TOWN PATIENTS ARE USUALLY SEEN FOR 4 CONSEQUTIVE DAYS AT INITIAL VISIT SEQUENCE.. MON- THUR.

Trigger point injections are an essential part of TMD, Migraine and Headache treatment for many patients

The importance of this study though extremely limited is that it explains why understanding Myofascial Pain and Dysfunction is essential when chronic pain problems including neck pain, headache and TMD disorders. In this study a single injection in the trapezius muscle (shoulder) gave significant reduction in pain in the masseter region along with reduction in EMG values.

There are hundreds of trigger point areas. It is essential to see a physiian or dentist who understands Myofascial Pain and knows how to preform trigger point injections as well as trigger point deactivation with vapocoolants.

Treating patients with drugs and not addressing underlying causes of pain is like painting your ceiling every time it rains instead of fixing where your roof leaks. Neuromuscular Dentistry is used to create a healthy environment where trigger points do not return.

Pain. 1993 Dec;55(3):397-400.
Reduction of pain and EMG activity in the masseter region by trapezius trigger point injection.
Carlson CR, Okeson JP, Falace DA, Nitz AJ, Lindroth JE.

Department of Psychology, College of Dentistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington 40536.
Abstract
In this open, uncontrolled trial, 20 patients with upper trapezius muscle trigger point pain and ipsilateral masseter muscle pain received a single trigger point injection of 2% lidocaine solution (without epinephrine) in the upper trapezius muscle. Following the trapezius injection, there was a significant (P < 0.001) reduction in pain intensity ratings for pain in the masseter region. In addition, there was a significant (P < 0.03) reduction in EMG activity in the masseter muscle. Overall, however, a significant relationship between EMG activity in the masseter and the self-report of pain was not found with the present data set. These clinical findings support the contention that sources of deep pain can produce heterotopic sensory and motor changes in distant anatomical regions.

PMID: 8121703 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Trigger points and referred pain

Dr. Shapira, Thank you for taking the time to answer my question. This answer is one that has help me know what is definately going on in my head and given me a posible remedy to my misery. THANK YOU!!!

The sore spots are from tender muscles and trigger points that cause the headaches.

Neuromuscular dentistry can frequently correct the problem that causes both the headaches and the muscle pain.