A persistent sore spot on the head, painful to pressure, may be a “trigger point" in the scalp muscle. It may feel like a spot of irritation, and when pressed, pain may seem to spread out from it. This is called “referred” pain, and is a characteristic of trigger points, which can appear in any muscle.
The spot may feel taught, tight, like a nodule or a tiny muscle spasm. The patient will not describe having had an injury or blow to the head, or any kind of spider or insect bite, so the source of the pain may seem mysterious. In addition, the spot may have been sore for quite some time.
Dr. Janet Travell, M.D., an American physician who did extensive research on trigger points and produced two extensive textbooks on the subject, defined predictable patterns of referred pain from trigger points in muscles throughout the body.
Her detailed “maps” of referred pain caused by trigger points serve as guides for doctors in distinguishing the causes of muscular pain.
Dr. Travell’s recommended treatment included injections of pain relieving medication, as well as application of hypercoolant sprays.
I recommend application of ice to the sore spot, 10 minutes on, 10 minutes off, repeating until the trigger point is relieved.
