Central Forehead Pain

At a spot located between my eyebrows and approximately half-an-inch up I feel a deep, tingling pain. Pressure and menthol substances like Vik's Vaporub, while I find Tylenol and Advil to have little effect.

Normally, I only feel the pain when laying down, and the vaporub helps. Sometimes I have to apply pressure with awkward hand positions, and during the really bad times I feel it sitting up.

I can feel my pulse in the area of my forehead when I touch it and it's particularly bad, and it almost feels like the muscles are having spasms.

Any ideas? This has been for two years straight now with some ebs and flows to when it hurts standing up, but consistently when laying down.

BnotAfraid said...
Could be sinus.

I suggest you make an appointment with your doctor for a check up.

Feel better soon.
Trina

I did have an appointment, I went to see a neurologist and had a CT Scan done, but they couldn't find anything wrong, sinus or otherwise.

Turns out to be stress induced headaches. A long time chemical imbalance manifesting itself as pain.

It is wonderful that you have found that medication may help your headaches, but there may be more that you can do to find relief.

Stress causes us to tighten our muscles. Tight muscles can develop trigger points, which are hyperirritable spots in the muscle that can refer pain to other areas. There are five muscles in the head and neck that can refer pain/discomfort to the forehead:
Sternocleidomastoid (clavicular head),
Sternocleidomastoid (sternal head),
Semispinalis capitis,
Frontalis
Zygomaticus Major.

Here is a web page that discusses these muscles:
www.massagetoday.com/mpacms/mt/article.php?id=14447

Here is a web page that shows some self-massage techniques for these muscles:
/www.muscle-joint-pain.com/pain/headaches/headache-forehead/

In addition to the medication and doing what you can to learn to manage stress, you might consider massage. You need a good massage therapist who has training in medical type massage, not just spa massage, if possible. Also, you do NOT want somebody who thinks deep massage is the only way! Start gently. Work on your neck, shoulders, and back will be important. You'll only want a little work on your face/head in any one session, especially to start.

You might also consider physical therapy, with a therapist trained in trigger point work. In addition to massage, stretching, and specific exercises, the physical therapist may also be able to do biofeedback for headache relief/prevention. This is a wonderful way to learn how to relax the facial and neck muscles, and learn what postures and habits create tension in your muscles.

If the pain gets worse sometimes when you lie down, try a different pillow. Some nights I have to raise my head a little by putting a folded towel under my head on top of the pillow. Different numbers of folds (in half, in thirds, in quarters) work best on different nights. Experiment. You also may need to gently massage the SCM muscles in your neck, as they can cause this discomfort lying down. Again, a massage therapist or physical therapist can teach you to do this.

Best wishes for feeling better!

Robin

Post Edited (ReadingTeacher) : 6/24/2018 10:57:53 AM (GMT-6)