Table of Contents
- How People Describe This Pain Pattern
- How You Activate and Intensify This Pain Pattern
- Self-Care – Getting Relief on Your Own
- Musculoskeletal Anatomy Behind Your Pain
- Therapy Notes for Massage and Bodywork
Want to skip ahead?
Here’s a link to my post about
getting relief on your own.
How People Describe This Pain Pattern
There are 3 or 4 patterns that come off the trigger points in the temporalis. Each one has a band of pain that extends upward and associated sensitivity in the upper teeth. Like the bands of pain, the trigger points in the front create sensitivity in the front teeth, and the trigger points in the back create sensitivity in the back teeth.
Here, you’ll find information about the two trigger points that are closer to the eye.
People complain of a headache as they trace their hands up and down the side of their head. Temporalis always supports the jaw while awake, so this headache is often constant and really bothersome.
They may also complain of getting a headache when wearing a headband, hat, or helmet. I have a particularly large head and would get these when trying on motorcycle helmets when I was younger. It probably saved my life. Mom would’ve killed me if she found out I had bought a motorcycle.
Tooth Pain
They usually don’t complain about tooth pain unless the massage therapist asks. It just doesn’t seem like that is something about which someone should complain to the bodyworker.
When I ask, they often say that they have sensitive teeth and that it is just because they’re a little more sensitive than most people. They often remark that they use “that toothpaste” for sensitive teeth. When I ask them to get more specific, the headache pattern and sensitive teeth almost always match the referral illustrations.
By the way, sometimes this comes after dental work or when dental work is needed. If the tooth is sharply sensitive, loose, or had recent work, consult your dentist. Also, consult them if you get relief but the pain returns after eating or sleeping.
How You Activate and Intensify This Pain Pattern
Hit on the Head
The most common problem is that the person has had a blow to the head in a vehicle accident, sports injury, or fall. One client bumped her head on a cabinet while putting up dishes.
Once it is activated, it is bothered using the muscle too much or pressing into it.
Chewing
It gets overused by vigorous or prolonged chewing. This is usually eating something like taffy, crunchy pretzels, or chewing a big piece of gum. The sensitivity tends to make people think that something cold bothered their teeth and gave them a headache. Usually, chewing something like steak or chewy vegetables activated the trigger point, and the tooth became sensitive to cold from the trigger point referral.
Tight Hats
Ball caps, headbands, helmets, and other headgear presses into the side of the brow or temple aggravate this trigger point. I got this sleeping on a tour bus with my head against the window. Occasionally bumping over railroad tracks would jar it against the frame of the window.
Very Similar Pain Pattern, Different Muscle
This other headache pattern is very similar and more common.
Instead of sensitive teeth, it may produce sinus congestion, dizziness, blurred vision, and a little tension behind the ear. It is activated by common activities like pulling your head forward and to one side to watch TV, play with your phone or read.
The Musculoskeletal Anatomy Behind Your Pain
Musculoskeletal Anatomy
This post on anatomy contains standard information about the origin, insertion, function, and innervation of muscles. Additionally, it includes information on functional considerations and anomalies.
Find Related Posts
Anatomy posts have a grid of all related posts. This includes posts on pain patterns, self-care, therapy notes, NMT protocols, cranial techniques, and cases.
Getting Relief on Your Own
Clinically Proven
Self-Care Strategies
This post has strategies for getting relief on your own. Explore how to change your activities, stretch, and other strategies that relieve the pain associated with this trigger point.
Therapy Notes for Massage and Bodywork
Better Bodywork
Through Shared Expertise
This post has techniques, tips, treatment routines, and anatomy illustrations to improve the bodyworker’s approach.
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Tony Preston has a practice in Atlanta, Georgia, where he sees clients. He has written materials and instructed classes since the mid-90s. This includes anatomy, trigger points, cranial, and neuromuscular.
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*This site is undergoing significant changes. We are reformatting and expanding the posts to make them easier to read. The result will also be more accessible and include more patterns with better self-care. Meanwhile, there may be formatting, content presentation, and readability inconsistencies. Until we get older posts updated, please excuse our mess.
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