If you are one of the many people who suffer from occipital neuralgia, you know how painful and debilitating it can be. This condition is characterized by pain in the back of your head, usually around the base of your skull.

Several treatments are available for occipital neuralgia, including medication, surgery, and trigger point therapy in the neck muscles. In this blog post, we will discuss trigger point therapy and how it can help relieve the symptoms of occipital neuralgia.

What Is Occipital Neuralgia?

Occipital neuralgia is a condition that causes nerve pain in the back of your head. The pain is usually around the base of your skull, but it can also be felt in your neck, behind your ears, or even in your eyes. Occipital neuralgia can be caused by several things, including trauma, inflammation, or even muscle tension.

Pain from occipital neuralgia typically comes from irritation of the nerves that exit the base of the skull and travel up the back of the head. These nerves go between the suboccipital muscle group, and when these muscles become restricted and tight, they can cause increased compression of the nerves.

Symptoms of Occipital Neuralgia

The most common symptom of occipital neuralgia is a dull, aching pain in the back of your head and the neck muscles. The pain can be constant, or it can come and go. It can also be worse when you move your head or when you press on the affected area. Other symptoms of occipital neuralgia include:

• Headaches
• Neck pain
• Jaw pain
• Shoulder pain
• Ear pain
• Eye pain

Common Medical Treatments for Occipital Neuralgia

There are several medical treatments available for occipital neuralgia. These include:

Medication

Over-the-counter pain relievers, such as ibuprofen, can help relieve the pain of occipital neuralgia. However, if over-the-counter medications don’t work, your doctor may prescribe stronger pain medications.

Steroid Injections

Steroid injections are a standard treatment for occipital neuralgia. They can help to reduce inflammation and pain by directly targeting the affected nerves. Injections are typically given every four to six weeks and may be combined with other treatments, such as physical therapy or oral pain medication.

While they are generally safe and effective, steroid injections can cause side effects, such as temporary numbness, bruising, or soreness at the injection site. For this reason, they should be used sparingly and only under the supervision of a healthcare provider.

Surgery

Surgical treatment is not usually the first line of treatment for occipital neuralgia. However, it may be recommended if other treatments have been unsuccessful in relieving the pain.

The most common type of surgery for occipital neuralgia is called decompression surgery. Decompression surgery involves alleviating pressure on the occipital nerves by removing any bone spurs or other growths that may be causing pressure. Sometimes, the surgeon must also release the muscles compressing the nerves.

Surgery is usually considered a last resort for treating occipital neuralgia, but it can effectively relieve the chronic pain associated with this condition.

Home Treatments for Occipital Neuralgia

Several home treatments can help relieve the pain from occipital neuralgia. These include:

Heat

Applying heat to the affected area can help reduce pain and stiffness.

Massage

Massaging the muscles in the back of your head can help relax them and relieve pain.

Stretching

Stretching the muscles in the back of your head can also help relieve the pain.

Pillows

Using a pillow that supports the neck can help reduce the pain. There are several great options for pillows to help with occipital neuralgia.

Trigger Point Therapy

Trigger point therapy is a type of massage that involves applying pressure to specific points in the muscles to relieve pain. This type of therapy can be very effective in reducing the pain of occipital neuralgia.

A trigger point is a tight, knotted area in the muscle that can cause pain. In the case of occipital neuralgia, the tightness in these muscles can irritate the occipital nerves and cause pain.

Applying pressure to a trigger point can help release the restrictions in the muscle and relieve the pain.

There are several benefits of trigger point therapy, including:

• Relief from pain: Trigger point therapy can be very effective for relieving the pain of occipital neuralgia.
• Relaxation of muscles: This therapy can also help relax the muscles in the back of your head, leading to less pain.
• Increased range of motion: Trigger point therapy can also help improve your range of motion.
• Fewer headaches: This therapy can also help reduce the number of headaches you experience.

Trigger point therapy may be a promising treatment option if you are suffering from occipital neuralgia.

The muscles involved in occipital neuralgia are the suboccipital muscles located just under the curve of the skull. There are four main treatment options for trigger point therapy.

Self Trigger Point Therapy for Sub-Occipital Release

Self-massage of the sub-occipital muscles can help to relieve occipital neuralgia. By massaging these muscles, you can help to reduce tension and pain in the occipital region. In addition, self-massage can help improve the area’s circulation, which can also help reduce pain and inflammation.

Neck Massager for Neck Pain

A neck massager can help to relieve occipital neuralgia pain by providing gentle compression and massage to the upper neck. Neck massagers are available in various styles, including electric and manual models.

Some neck massagers also include heat settings to further relax the tight neck muscles in the cervical spine. When used as directed, neck massagers are safe and effective for relieving occipital neuralgia pain.

Massage Therapy

Professional massage therapists are trained to identify and treat occipital neuralgia pain. They can use various techniques, including trigger point therapy and myofascial release, to release the tension in the tight muscles and relieve the pain.

A massage therapist can work on trigger points and muscle tightness resulting from poor posture. Treatment in this area can also help with tension headaches and chronic headaches.

Trigger Point Injections for Chronic Pain

Trigger point injections are one standard treatment option for occipital neuralgia. They involve injecting a local anesthetic into the muscle tissue in the suboccipital muscles. Trigger point injections can significantly improve by numbing the area and interrupting the pain signal from the occipital nerve to the brain.

In addition, they can help to reduce inflammation, relax the muscle, and provide significant relief. Trigger point injections are usually done as part of a comprehensive treatment plan that includes physical therapy, medications, and lifestyle changes.

How about you? Have you had any experience with occipital neuralgia? If so, what treatments worked for you?

It can take time for people to warm-up during the senior dating cycle. Don’t give up until your gut tells you to or if the thought of kissing the person makes you physically sick.

Senior Dating Planning: Dates 1, 2 and 3

Don’t stress, fantasize or have expectations for dates 1–3, and, if possible, keep the meetings to a public place. Try not to make an emotional investment and share too many personal details. Don’t despair if after the first few dates you are still turned off.

On my first date with my late husband he told me he was divorced and had three children. It wasn’t until date three that he revealed his kids were a set of 10-year-old triplets, and he had partial custody!

I was anxious to marry and have my own family, but I really panicked at the possibility of “step-mothering” to triplets!

Catalysts Can Create Chemistry

The most remote simple acts, words, eye contact, smile, expression, can cause you to suddenly “fall into like” or in love. Look for signs of chemistry and compatibility in gestures, words or physical contact.

For boomers, it can be intelligent dinner conversation, sharing common interests, reminiscing about old TV shows and music. The big one is, how do you feel in their presence? Is there comfort and peace?

My friend Donna who is 62 years old went out with a 60-year-old bank president, Fred, who was shorter and, in her opinion, looked nerdy. I encouraged her to press on because he seemed to be a really grounded, successful and smart man.

Fred came to pick up Donna for a fourth date. She felt instant chemistry as she watched Fred tenderly helping her five-year-old grandson tie his shoe.

The Reveals in Dates 4 and 5

It’s also a good idea to see the person in different environments, scenarios and times of the day. This will offer opportunity to observe more behavior traits and reactions.

• By dates 4 and 5 you can exchange more details. Stay charming, warm and sympathetic.
• Don’t mention marriage or your regrets; reveal medical conditions with caution and restraint.
• Use discretion on proceeding to sex. Remember this mantra, “Protection Not Infection.” The STD rates are increasing among seniors!

The Hug and the Handhold

Non-verbal contact, such as a hug, a handhold or eye-locking can be especially telling. The hug can reveal warmth, sincerity, honesty and chemistry. It also can reveal a physical and spiritual comfort level with that person.

Mary was turned off by Robert’s old car and bad fashion choices. But when he put his arm around her she felt protected and was hooked. It was the first hug on date three that got me. The chemistry with my late husband was undeniable, and I started to ignore my “triplet panic.”

It Was the Dancing!

Vivacious 55-year-old Barbara dated Drew, a successful 70-year-old doctor. They had great conversation and common interests. But even after wining and dining her on dates 1 through 5, he hadn’t won Barbara over.

On date 6 they went dancing, and Barbara was enthralled by Drew’s grace and warmth as well as his dancing skills. Slow dancing can be an instant catalyst as the physical contact can produce a variety of reactions. It’s also a sign of compatibility.

Watch and Wait

Beware and be aware of the instant attraction. It can lead to overlooking faults and a potential bad relationship. After a couple of dates, there may be deal breakers or the initial chemistry may fizzle.

By date 6, you’ve had some physical contact, observed each other in different environments and exchanged personal stories. Even if there is no wild physical chemistry but only compatibility, you may have made a friend. If there’s romance, congrats!

After date 6, I got over my triplet panic as I finally met them. I fell in love with all three kids instantly. My deal breaker on date 3 reversed itself after date 6. Although the marriage was cut short by death, 30 years later I have my own son, a loving relationship with my step-triplets and six beautiful step-grandchildren!

Are you dating in your 50s or 60s? Share your dates 1 to 6 stories. What were deal breakers and/or when and what made you fall “in like” or in love? Do you have any senior dating tips to share? Please join the conversation below!

I have to admit I do not cook pasta very often, except in the summer as it makes an easy and inexpensive dinner. With today’s rising food prices, I think about what we eat. This is actually quite easy as my husband shops the bargains.

Often I don’t know what I will be cooking. Creating dishes that will last for two meals makes me happy because I feel like I have the night off on the second night. I do buy whole grain pasta as that eliminates the guilt.

Using leftover meat and veggies is economical and costs just a few dollars. There are no side dishes with the meal as it is a one plate extravaganza. Serve the salads with a glass of chilled white wine and dinner is ready.

To make up for the pasta guilt, using a ton of veggies creates a nutritious meal. I am going to share a vegetarian pasta and a favorite beef and broccoli pasta with you. As always, my recipes are easy to follow and budget friendly.

Pasta with Veggies

Ingredients

12 ounces of any type of pasta cooked according to directions

1 cup of chopped collard greens of swiss chard

1 cup of chopped spinach

1 cup of chopped chinese celery

1/2 cup of chopped parsley

1 cup of thinly sliced carrots

1 cup of chopped yellow neck squash

3 chopped garlic cloves

1/3 cup of olive oil

1/4 cup of water or vegetable broth

1 cup of pumpkin seeds

Salt and pepper to taste

Dressing

1 cup of low fat sour cream

Juice of one lemon

1 tablespoon each of tarragon, oregano and marjoram

1 teaspoon of red pepper flakes

2 tablespoons of low sodium soy sauce

Directions

• In a large frying pan heat the oil.
• Add all of the veggies and garlic and cook until tender.
• Add water or veggie broth as needed.
• Set the veggies aside and cool.
• Thoroughly blend all the dressing ingredients together.
• Mix the veggies and pasta together.
• Blend the dressing in with the pasta and veggies and mix thoroughly.
• Stir the pumpkin seeds in gently.
• Chill in the fridge until ready to serve.

*The salad will keep in the fridge for about three days.

Beef and Pasta Salad

I make this salad when I have left over beef, but since I love meat this doesn’t happen very often.

Ingredients

A 12-ounce package of any shape pasta cooked following the directions on the package

2 cups of sliced cook beef of any kind

1 cup each of raw chopped broccoli, celery and sweet red peppers

1 cup of sliced water chestnuts

1 cup of chopped cilantro

Dressing

1/3 cup of olive oil

1/4 cup of wine vinegar

2 tablespoons each of ginger, turmeric, curry powder, cumin and garlic powder

Salt and pepper to taste

Directions

• Add all the veggies to the cooled pasta and blend well.
• Blend all the dressing ingredients together, except for the water chestnuts, and stir.
• Slowly pour the dressing over the salad and mix well.
• Blend in the water chestnuts.
• Chill the salad for at least two hours.

*The salad will keep in the fridge for two days if you used left over beef.

**You can substitute with chicken, pork or shrimp if you don’t have beef.

Do you have any pasta recipes that you enjoy? Do you find yourself looking for more economical meals these days? Do you enjoy cooking simple recipes for the summer? Please share your thoughts in the comments below.

Sometimes — usually — costars pretend to be BFFs while they’re promoting a TV show or movie but obviously aren’t real friends. Millie Bobby Brown and Noah Schnapp are different. Sure, they met on the set of Stranger Things but their friendship transcends any show promotion. It was obvious, and adorable, during an Instagram Live last week, in which Brown showed off her chic new haircut while Schnapp wore under-eye patches from his bestie’s beauty line, Florence by Mills.

To promote season 4 of Stranger Things, Brown has been giving pop star with her long blonde extensions with ’90s bangs. The whole look seemed fun but like a lot of work for the 18-year-old. That’s why we were excited to see her back to a short bob that feels fresh and youthful. It’s probable all her stylist did was remove her extensions and give her strands a trim but her hair looks soft, shiny and healthy.

TikTok.

It’s a style that looks great with no-makeup on Live with your best friend, as well as sleek and slicked-down for a red carpet. This look is one of her best yet, with hair by Marty Harper and makeup by Kelsey Deenihan Fisher.

Source: Instagram

If you missed Brown and Schnapp’s Instagram Live, you can thank TikTok for capturing a ton of the adorable conversation. Brown teaches Schnapp how to wear Florence by Mills’ Swimming Under the Eyes Gel Pads ($34 at Ulta Beauty). “No, you’ve got two on your face, Noah,” she says when he doubles up on the same eye. He wears them for the rest of the convo so you know he ended it wondering how his skin felt so soft and hydrated.

The cute convo continued when Schnapp tried to describe Brown’s style, saying “There’s a lot of Louis Vuitton in there. I would say you dress really elegantly and everything has a little bit of flair. There’s always something out there a little risky. I like it. I like your style.” We do, too.

Say the word, “spa” and it conjures up lifestyles of the rich and famous.

There’s no denying that spas are extremely expensive. However, SPA, or “salute per aqua” is an ageless tradition dating back to Roman times. Honoring your health and well-being with body caring treatments should be a right of all human beings.

Just because you can’t afford a pricey day spa, doesn’t mean you don’t deserve to be your most serene, beautiful self, and to enjoy the harmonic benefits a spa provides. If you don’t treat yourself like a queen, who will?

That’s why, every month I make an appointment with myself for a dedicated spa-at-home day. I enter it into my calendar and don’t schedule any appointments. This day is all about me.

Beauty Is a Lot of Work

Yes, movie stars have great genes, but it takes a lot of time and effort to achieve their polished look before the Oscars. For days, yes days, they are pummeled, waxed and masked, zapped, peeled, hair treated, styled and made up – by many sets of hands – before we see them, silky and glowing on the red carpet.

You can do much of this at home, but it requires patience to go through all the steps. If you do, I guarantee you’ll love the way you feel and look.

I begin the day with fresh fruit and tea. Maybe I bought some fresh flowers the day before or I cut some greens from my garden. Yoga stretches. Meditation. A beautiful reading. I light a stick of incense or a scented candle for aromatherapy benefits. I play zen-like spa music to complete the atmosphere.

Hair and Face

Next, I set myself up with a facial and hair masks; these will be working as I go on to my other treatments.

For my hair, I buy a deep moisturizing treatment at my salon or I use a home remedy such as warmed olive oil or coconut oil. The internet has lots of recipes for inexpensive home hair masks. Once applied, I make a cap of silver foil and smooth it onto my head. I love the feeling of warm moisturization as I continue.

With my hair wrapped, I apply my facial mask. I decide what my skin needs. It might be deep moisture, exfoliation, or tightening. I buy these at the drugstore or concoct a natural mix at home.

Luscious Fresh Feet

Face and hair are working. Now on to the pedicure. A pedicure is not just about having pretty feet. Touching your feet affects your entire well-being, because it’s like a reflexology treatment. You’re stimulating and calming the various areas of your body because all your body’s nerve endings are present in the foot.

It’s a little detail, but beautiful feet mean you care for yourself. Gerontologists look at a patient’s feet to see her general state of health and well-being. They consider uncared for feet a sign of neglect in general well-being.

I don’t wear colored polish on my toes anymore because I don’t like chipped nail polish and the high maintenance of a weekly pedicure. But I do love to have beautiful, natural, fresh feet.

My Peppermint Pedicure

I soak my feet in a basin of warm water with a splash of Dr. Bronner’s Peppermint Soap, or a squish of shampoo. Fifteen minutes is good, but a half hour is best. Within a few minutes my feet start to tingle and I feel wonderfully calm inside. With a wash cloth, I rub off the dead skin on heels, arches, toes, tops, bottoms and in between.

I dry my feet and then push back cuticles and cut toenails – so much easier now because they’re soft. I massage in foot crème which I’ve learned is much stronger than hand crème and sit with my feet up so they can soak in the moisture. I enjoy a fruit tea whilst I’m tingling from head to toe.

Soigné Hands

Manicure time. I soak my fingers in a little bowl, one hand at a time. The zen-like spa music and scented candle are working their magic. After pushing back cuticles and trimming and filing my nails, I massage my hands with a nice hand crème. Yes, I have “old” hands, but having beautifully manicured, cared for hands, speaks volumes about who I am as a person.

I’ll share the secret to my beautiful hands: cuticle crème every night. My hands are in and out of soap and water all day long; the drying effect is palpable. Rubbing cuticle crème or oil into my fingertips each night makes an enormous difference, calming everything down. I do believe my nails and fingertips thank me.

SPA: Salute Per Aqua

Mani-Pedi done. Into the tub for a relaxing soak, followed by a warm shower that will rinse off the face and hair treatments. When I get out of the shower, I dab myself with a towel lightly, staying moist. Slathering on body lotion when you’re still wet is an extraordinary feeling. So, slippery and wet, I put on a cotton robe and lie down. I close my eyes and breathe. After a bit, I dry and style my hair.

I’m refreshed, renewed and yes, I feel like a million. My body is the temple of my soul. I do honor to my soul by caring for my body. I wish you a beautiful spa day!

Is a home spa day something you’d like to schedule into your life? Do you have any spa treatments you do at home? Please share your favorite home spa recipes in the comments!