Assignment task: A 33-year-old female comes in with recurrent migraine headaches. The headaches present in the left temporal region and are described as a burning, throbbing pain. The pain is aggravated by light and sound. Migraine episodes are triggered by stress, poor sleep, post-menstrual cycle, and when hungry. She is currently experiencing at least one headache a week. During a migraine, the patient reports that her neck musculature and the muscles at the base of the skull feel tight and achy. Massaging her neck or using a cold pack at her neck helps to reduce the headache pain. Need Online Assistance?
a. What cautions with massage would you take?
b. What anatomical structures would you be affecting with massage?
c. How would you discuss the anatomy of the condition with the patient?
d. What benefits would massage have to specific anatomical structures?
e. What would you recommend to the patient to help promote their healing process, specific to the anatomy involved?