Today we’d like to introduce you to Katie Pudhorodsky.
Hi Katie, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’ve been a structural massage therapist for 20 years. It has been a fun and flexible career that has allowed me to be a teacher at a massage school, work with female athletes competing at The University of Texas at Austin, and become a table assistant with a massage continuing education program. Now, in addition to my private practice, I am an online educator around self-relief for pain and dysfunction of the head, neck and jaw.
From early on, I always felt comfortable with advanced work on the neck and shoulders. The clients complained about headaches and inability to smoothly use their necks, like looking over their shoulders when driving. Once I started learning about jaw work, though, I was curious, and client stories of relief kept me learning more. I continued to dig deeper, studying TMJ dysfunction via courses designed for physical therapists.
My private practice of Katie Massage grew with my specialization in jaw pain relief. I wear gloves while working inside the mouth and slowly massage specific muscles. I figured out how to teach my clients to do intraoral massage on themselves so they could maintain the progress we made long after the session. Coaching my clients through habits of use and perpetuating factors such as sleeping or eating positions was also important. At one point, I was teaching each person these lessons and realized I could move into online education with video. The role of the courses at Help Head Pain is to teach self-relief for head, neck, and jaw pain at home. I’ve had learners all around the US, Ireland, and Australia.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been fairly smooth?
In private practice, I’m great at massaging muscles and connecting one-on-one with clients to help them reach their goals. As an online educator, I had to learn to massage words, edit videos and record one conversation that could speak to many people with similar and different issues. The great thing about a video course is that I can re-record and republish lessons as I see fit. One struggle I hear from people in this pain is that they don’t have the time to learn self-care. I challenge that. They don’t have time to be in pain any longer, escape to a dark room, and keep swallowing pills for a brief escape. Learning through video is clear and easy. There is always a muscular component that can be addressed with these issues.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Help Head Pain?
HelpHeadPain.com has two online video courses that teach laypersons how to address their head, neck, and jaw pain at home. It is great for those with TMJD (temporomandibular joint disorder), headaches, jaw pain, or a stiff neck. My common learners are those who have difficulties opening their mouths wide enough to bite a sandwich or have dental work done. Chewing or talking for a long time is fatiguing to their jaw or can trigger pain. They may have a popping, clicking, or grinding feel in the TMJ. The TMJ is the jaw joint where the movement takes place.
The courses are meant to empower the learner with techniques and advice that they can start right away. It is for those who are willing to be an active participant in addressing their pain. I’ve seen the evidence that treating the muscles and gaining balance relieves pain and tension and improves bite strike and range of motion.
The course follows four pillars to achieve and maintain muscular relief:
1. Relax the muscles and reduce the trigger points (massage and stretching).
2. Retrain the muscles that weren’t engaging (stabilization).
3. Maintain proper oral rest posture.
4. Address bad habits of use.
Dentists see the need for addressing the muscular component of the neck and jaw, so they refer their patients to my office and online course. They know that once the muscular imbalance is resolved, they have a clear platform to do the least aggressive dental work.
How do you define success?
Success feels like trust by my clients, online learners, and the professionals like dentists and doctors who refer to me. Success sounds like quiet jaw joints in motion or stories of how someone can enjoy eating again.
Success looks like smiles on faces when not burdened with a headache.
Pricing:
- Video course “Self Help to Relieve Head, Neck and Jaw Pain” $80
- Video course “Relieve Your Jaw Pain” $65
Contact Info:
- Website: HelpHeadPain.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/help_head_pain/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katie-pudhorodsky-9670009/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@help_head_pain
- Other: https://www.katiemassage.com/
Image Credits
Brendan Maloney
