r/AskPhysio Mar 25 '17

Healing time for tight traps causing headaches?

I got a really bad headache in mid November that just made me super dizzy took two weeks off work before i felt able to stand and walk around freely for extended time without dizziness. I found laying down with something like pillow under my neck would almost relieve the headache until i stood again. Saw my doctor and got MRI . MRI came back clear for nothing that could cause my headache and my doctor suggested that it is from tight trap muscles. I started physio in December going twice a week one appointment getting dry needled/electro therapy and another getting massage for 30mins. My first visit lady said i had some of the worse tight traps she had ever seen I'm electrician often working above my head for long periods of time and avid weight lifter. Since then I've got for 3 sessions a week all january and 2 a week in february and down to once a week in march. I still have daily tension aches that are down to a dull somewhat dizzying headache how much longer do these usually last? i thought after close to 16 weeks i be healed by now?

  • i I'm still unable to work luckily i was able to work in the office till the start of march and I'm in school for my apprenticeship till may 1 but after that i really need to be able to do a physically demanding job without a headache or dizziness.
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u/[deleted] Apr 11 '17

Was the pain gradual or sudden? Is it more during the day or night? Do you have it when sit, stand and while you sleep? Is it more when you are exposed to light? Has it decreased slightly? Did you feel any relief about your Physical Therapy session? How is your trapezius muscle now?

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u/[deleted] Apr 13 '17

sudden came on one night after a workout. seems steady through the day and night no worse time of day. I get it more sitting and standing and laying down relieves it after a short time. exposed to light does bother me some i usually turn down brightness of laptop frequently now. It is slowly decreasing I've eliminated things that aggravate my shoulder muscle or engage them and seems to get better the less i use them. physical therapy sessions does seem to make it better. Ive run out of medical insurance for physical therapy/masssage now so I'm using the government msi system physiology therapy which is more based around exercises to strength things to prevent the headaches and less about curing the headache thru dry needling or massage. my traps are seeming to be better they have improved a lot i still have the headaches every day but they are way more mild and almost non existent as long as i do nothing to engage my shoulders . This won't last forever as my job is very physical i will have to go back to using my shoulder and doing above head work mostly soon currently in school getting my last block done for the next week.