Heating Pad On Head...Too HOT To Handle???

[[Ga...]]

Heating pad on head, too hot too handle   Out of desperation because of a horrible headache, I put a heating pad on top of my head on high for about 15 minutes.  Since then my head feels as if I am being stabbed with an ice pick!  Any comments, thoughts, weigh-ins appreciated

[[Br...]]

The Ashton Manual talks about head symptoms - that some is thought to be caused by muscle tension.  I'm so sorry you're suffering with awful headaches.

 

Muscle symptoms. Benzodiazepines are efficient muscle relaxants and are used clinically for spastic conditions ranging from spinal cord disease or injury to the excruciating muscle spasms of tetanus or rabies. It is therefore not surprising that their discontinuation after long-term use is associated with a rebound increase in muscle tension. This rebound accounts for many of the symptoms observed in benzodiazepine withdrawal. Muscle stiffness affecting the limbs, back, neck and jaw are commonly reported, and the constant muscle tension probably accounts for the muscle pains which have a similar distribution. Headaches are usually of the "tension headache" type, due to contraction of muscles at the back of the neck, scalp and forehead - often described as a "tight band around the head". Pain in the jaw and teeth is probably due to involuntary jaw clenching, which often occurs unconsciously during sleep.

 

At the same time, the nerves to the muscles are hyperexcitable, leading to tremor, tics, jerks, spasm and twitching, and jumping at the smallest stimulus. All this constant activity contributes to a feeling of fatigue and weakness ("jelly-legs"). In addition, the muscles, especially the small muscles of the eye, are not well co-ordinated, which may lead to blurred or double vision or even eyelid spasms (blepharospasm).

 

None of these symptoms is harmful, and they need not be a cause of worry once they are understood. The muscle pain and stiffness is actually little different from what is regarded as normal after an unaccustomed bout of exercise, and would be positively expected, even by a well-trained athlete, after running a marathon.

 

There are many measures that will alleviate these symptoms, such as muscle stretching exercises as taught in most gyms, moderate exercise, hot baths, massage and general relaxation exercises. Such measures may give only temporary relief at first, but if practised regularly can speed the recovery of normal muscle tone - which will eventually occur spontaneously.

 

I personally had a bedtime ritual of a very warm 20 minute bath with Epsom salts and a few drops of essential oil (lavender in my case) with a candle and relaxing music from Headspace or Calm app.  It really helped relax my muscles and made me very sleepy and relaxed.

 

There are loads of microwavable neck wraps that might be more gentle for relaxing the muscles of your neck and base of your head. This seems to be an area that stores a lot of tension.  Just a thought.