Facial Pain/Muscle Tension-- Q: Dear Susie, I can find no relaxation technique for my nose and sinus area. I am constantly tense, in my nasal area. Deep breathing helps somewhat. Help?
By award-winning author and stress-relief expert Susie Mantell
Many people experience facial pain and sadly, it is still one of the mysteries of modern medicine in some cases. But I have found this very helpful, in addition the breathing practices of which you seem to be aware. Many years ago, I accidentally discovered in my own head, extraordinarily effective pain-relief and muscle release through closed eye movements, (e.g. slowly rocking ear to ear, or telescoping in/out, circling in differing sizes, etc. intuitively following where the eyes lead to the pain. This relieves facial pain, headache, sinus, others. ) Feels to me like maybe it is comparable to stretching perhaps. No medical basis of which I am aware and of course you should, unquestionably, ask your own doctor first, but it might be of help. I think this is more common than people realize, and in fact, sometimes TMJ goes along with sinus probs--in fact it can cause sinus probs You could also even try plain old -fashioned facial stretching into weird expressions. (Might want to try that one alone! lol)
Also try: massage, guided imagery relaxation tapes like my own, "Your Present: A Half-Hour of Peace" (on CD too,) which focuses on face, eye/ear and head muscle groups in part, or reflexology--asking the therapist to concentrate on your face and sinus reflex points.
One last thought is to ask your dentists if you might have TMJ muscle tension. That can also cause facial tightness. He/she can tell by looking at your molars, your bite and feeling the jaw and face muscles. On my website's tips page, you will find some other suggestions re: TMJ, breathing, stretching and pain management.
<
Hope this is helpful!
Best wishes,
Susie
[Copyright 2000, 2008 Susie Mantell, Relax. . .Intuit (tm) LLC. All rights reserved.] Federal law prohibits use of this material in whole or in part without the express written consent of Relax...Intuit™ LLC. For Reprint Permission: Kindly email your request for guidelines, pasting in the full
text of the specific article you wish to use, to info@relaxintuit.com
We'll try to reply within 72 hrs.]
Award-winning stress-relief expert Susie Mantell ...is the author of the deeply soothing relaxation CD, "Your Present: A Half-Hour of Peace,” clinically approved for symptoms associated with stress and sleeplessness, depression and grief, anxiety, P.T.S.D., Fibromyalgia, caregiver stress, cancer, pain, divorce and addiction recovery. Featured in The Los Angeles Times, NBC, ABC, CBS-TV, Town & Country, The American Pain Society, Hazelden and The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, listeners include The Mayo Clinic, Memorial Sloan-Kettering, The Betty Ford Center, V.A. Hospitals,and Canyon Ranch (#1 Spa.) Customizing stress-reduction for Fortune 500 companies, distinguished hospitals and spas, Mantell has facilitated thousands in relieving health-related, work-related, chronic or traumatic stress. Her multi-sensory, mind-body techniques appear in national media, medical and corporate publications. Susie Mantell's Stress-Relief & Wellness Tips are intended as an adjunct to, not a substitute for, professional health care. Order “Your Present: A Half-Hour of Peace” and find more of Mantell’s stress-relief tips at www.relaxintuit.com