Managing Headaches

I've encountered this before. It usually happened when I was tired, and also having to sing in the upper registers for extended amounts of time. I believe what was happening (in my case..) was that I started panicking to stay on pitch and like a kamikaze, engaged the constricter muscles, thereby cutting off the oxygen (blood) to my brain. I used to get choked out frequently at Jiu-jitsu practice so I know the feeling well..lol

I would experience the same headache there as well...not enjoyable. In both cases I failed to rely on proper technique.

If you are PROPERLY zipping-up (connecting) the vocal folds in your head register, there will be NO straining involved...no more headaches. Rely on proper technique to get you through..it works EVERY time.

Vocally yours,

Jen,

I, too get headaches from time to time when I "transition" into the upper register. I found an excellent product that works well for me, and it's all natural ingredients. It's Jones' Formula 23 and is a combination of Eucalyptus Oil, Grapeseed oil, Aloe Vera, and Jojoba oil. It's rather expensive ($40 per a 4 oz. bottle, but it lasts a long time - you don't need much at all), but it's effective. And works within moments. I rub it into the temple area as Hilary suggested with the Lavender oil. I purchased a bottle approximately two months ago, use it daily on my neck, temples, and shoulder blades and still have about 3/4 of a bottle left.

I also use it on neck pain as well and it's good for a lot of other ailments, too. (to get an idea of my impairments, check out my posts on "Vocal Health>Chiropractic Treatment).
I realize you made your post back in February, however, I just located it today, and thought I could be of some help -another alternative to look into.

I'm with Hilary, Jamie, and many others on the forum regarding natural remedies.
This product is also good for the lungs - I spray a bit on a tissue and inhale it a few times, and it works wonders.

You can locate it at  http://www.allnaturalpainfree.com

Hope this is of some help to you... 

Hilary,

Checked out your website and really enjoy it.... And your comment "WITH THE POWER OF LOVE" - says it ALL !!!  I can really relate.   Beautiful voice, too 

Nightprowler

Just update here

Headaches can come from a few sources, muscle tension, misalignment in skeletal structure, an overloaded liver and poor bowel function, noise and light sensitivity, dehydration, blood sugar imbalance, neural problems. However sustained vibration can also cause it in sensitive people. Music has downsides as well as good sides! You need to read more about the power of sound! love Hilary

Jen, first of all, meant to thank you for the comment you made on another post about grit not just being fer men, heehee. wanna work on that, and will....

hey i'm only a student, and like nightprowler  (hey guy!!) try to stay away from pharmaceuticals...and all i can say is that if you have pain, (i am not one to be able to explain WHY!) the "capascin" creme, gel (as in "head on") yes its promoted on the boob tube, WORKS!!!

http://www.drugstore.com/qxp91467_33282 … relief.htm

its also at local drugstores, places like (gaggh) walmart....

sorry tried wikipedia but their review on this is biased, which is odd, and hey this stuff works pratty much anywhere, shoulders, hands, etc...

and there is something i got a sample of that worked wonderfully, cant remember the name of it exactly, but it was available at the Health Food store....thought it was cu "something***?? , tried to figure out what it was on the net, but this doesnt feel right....http://www.curcuminhealth.info/
maybe Hilary (hi there!) knows ?? If i figure out what it is, I'll repost....but it was a gelatin capsule filled with a yellow powder, took about 20 minutes to work, 8 hour pain relief...

rock on !! i LOVE your material....

Hi guys

I'll be interested to know some of these products as I don't know them all!!
One thing...... Red Tiger Balm or a gel I use called Thermagel is great for softening & relaxing muscle tension when you need it.

Nightprowler
Will try and catch up on your posts...not easy at moment - see my latest posting! Thanks for your encouragement and glad you like the site......I need to check out your work!

Rychemaiden
I wish too I had access to all this years ago! Keep on learning and inputting it's a great site with great people with all kinds of knowledge!

love
Hilary

Modern Vocalist,

I'm aware you're addressing all of us, however I'd like to say:
You're most welcome !!! Anytime....

Hilary is an expert on this topic. you can check her site at http://www.riverofloveconcerts.com
(Hilary is no longer with VC DUE TO PERSONAL REASONS THAT SHE HAS CONFIDED IN ME, that I am not at liberty to discuss as a matter of CONFIDENCE between us -No, she wasn't BANNED. I don't understand that at all - In fact, I know her personally, and she's a wonderful woman !!!).  I'd suggest checking her site for other reasons as well. You'll be impressed !

Jaime Vendera also has wealth of information in his book Raise Your Voice 2nd edition.

"Rychemaiden" is also into the herbal remedies as much as I am, and also knows a lot about the subject.

Since writing this post, I have also found a new product that is AWESOME : Jones Formula 23, It works on all sorts of pain issues, including headaches. The link is : http://www.allnaturalpainfree.com  The phone number is: 1-877-361-1100. It's rather expensive, but well worth it.

Feel free to email me if you wish... (In the event I AM BANNED for expressing my opinion, here's my email addresses: chief188@hughes.net and rockaholic@hughes.net  I wish to remain in contact with the instructors and members that I have become friends with since joining. I have done my best to "recruit" as many members as I could, due to what I believed was an excellent site, and had a "mission and purpose". I have also made many, many recommendations to people with regards to the excellent T C products.

Please accept my apologies ,"MV".  I just noticed that "BANNED" issue as I was responding to you....

Adolph  "NP"

MV,

An additional thought: Do you have these headaches while singing or afterwards ? Or do you get them at other times as well, i.e. just "out of nowhere" ? You didn't mention ....

If the latter is the case, it could be for other reasons, and perhaps you should consult a doctor. Herniated discs in the cervical spine can cause some very wicked headaches, or an issue with the brain. I had very severe headaches as a result of herniated disks, which involved several surgeries. I also had a brain MRI, JUST IN CASE.

Just concerned...

Rychemaiden,

TELL ME about living up North..... Just the THOUGHT of winter, snow, and the extreme cold is enough to give me headaches.

NP

Last edited by Nightprowler (2008-11-06 11:06:12)

Rychemaiden,

It's OK   I was just adding a bit of humor to your comment. I think everyone here that I know is aware of how I feel about the winters up here. Ukkkk.... Especially due to my pain issues in the cold, damp winter months.

But not only do I run a humidifier constantly, I also invested in a new heating system to eliminate that constant recirculation of forced air heating, and the consequences of it. It's already been of help with my breathing, but will save a ton of $$$ on the exorbitant costs of propane. YES !!!

NP

Here are some tips from the National Headache Foundation (NHF) to help you manage your headaches.

    * Keep a diary of your headaches. Track when they started, how often they occur, how long they last, intensity and location of the pain, and triggers, such as certain foods, physical activities, bright light, strong odors, change in temperature or altitude, noise, smoke, stress, or oversleeping.  This information will be very helpful when you work with your clinician to determine the type of headache you have and the treatment that is best for you.

    * Maintain a Regular Sleep/Wake Cycle.  Plan to go to sleep at the same time every night and wake up the same time each morning, including on weekends. This maintains the body’s natural circadian rhythm.

    * Eat a balanced diet and avoid foods that trigger your headaches.  Be your own expert and keep a log of the foods that trigger your headache attacks.  See if removing these foods from your diet reduces your headaches.  Remember not to skip or delay meals.

    * Exercise regularly.  Exercise can reduce the frequency and severity of headaches.   According to an online survey of headache sufferers conducted by the NHF, 72 percent of the respondents considered exercise to be a part of their treatment program.

    * Relax.  Practice deep breathing. Slowly inhale through your nose, filling your lungs with fresh air, and slowly exhale through your mouth.  Slow and steady breathing can promote overall relaxation.  Try biofeedback.  This therapy is often used in headache and pain treatment.  Biofeedback training uses special equipment that monitors physical responses to teach an individual how to control the physical processes that are related to stress.

    * Try massage.  Studies suggest that massage can decrease headache frequency and increase body awareness.  A massage is good for general relaxation as well as to relieve stress buildup in the muscle tissue.  Personal preference is the best way to choose what type of massage to use.

    * Practice visualization/guided imagery.  This technique combines relaxation exercises with the creation of mental images. By learning the skill of detaching from stressful events that may occur in daily life, some people are able to interrupt headache pain during the early phases of an attack.

    * Consider acupuncture and/or acupressure.  These ancient treatments for pain relief appear to work by stimulating the release of endorphins, the body's natural pain killing substance.  Relief from both pain and nausea, a decrease in the frequency of headache and a reduced need for treatment medication have been shown through these methods.

multivitamin

It’s common for people to attribute headaches to stress, but there’s no official headache classification of