EXTREME headache from lifting

[ruffian3]

I was doing deadlifts monday and on my last rep of my last set, it felt like something snapped in the back of my head. My neck and the back of my head was pounding for a couple of hours after. Even my throat felt tight and was hurting. Wednesday the same thing happened on bench and no today on shoulder presses. I can't even get through my workout any more without my neck and head feeling like something is crushing my head. It is still hurting like a motherfucker. I can barely hold my head up to type and my head is punding. What could have caused this to happen and what should i do.

 

[Izzman]

ER immeditately bro! Why are you still here?!? It could be anything really, but it sounds serious for sure.

 

[ohashi]

Maybe you popped a big blood vessel, pinched a nerve, or something equally as serious. ER, bro, right now.

 

[EngiCream]

Have had that happen twice....last time was about a year ago.

right in the back of my head and it spread to the top.

I made a post about this somewhere....I'll try to find it.

there was no ER involved either.....I figured if it got worse, I'd go....it didn't, so I didn't.

 

[Moderate_THIS]

Are you on the sauce?

When I'm on, I have gotten bad headaches right at the base of the head close to the neck, bad enough where I couldn't lift heavy... squat, bench, etc. Must be high BP or something. It doesn't appear when I'm clean.

 

[jubei]

Same thing with me on cycle. I figure it must be high bp, or at least that is part of the equation. Go to the doctor and see whats going on, it sounds serious.

 

[EngiCream]

I was on nothing when it happened to me

 

[ceo]

Go see your doctor.

 

[slobberknocker]

I've pulled some of the small muscles in my head and face before. It hurts and makes it hard to hold my head in certain positions. But you should go to the doc to be sure.

 

[Jaybird_72]

Similar thing happened to me many years ago doing heavy leg press. Felt as if something snapped in the muscles in the back of my head; instant migrane headache. A week long headache before I went for cat scan; thought possibly popped a blood vessel in my head however no indication on readings. Dr's had no explanation for headaches. Any time I exerted any sort of force, headaches would return. This went on for realistically about two months before headaches were gone completely. With all the pain I still made it to the gym 4-5 days a week. Took it really slow and made sure to not over exert myself because if I did the headache was back and my work out was fucked for the day.

 

[ruffian3]

Similar thing happened to me many years ago doing heavy leg press. Felt as if something snapped in the muscles in the back of my head; instant migrane headache. A week long headache before I went for cat scan; thought possibly popped a blood vessel in my head however no indication on readings. Dr's had no explanation for headaches. Any time I exerted any sort of force, headaches would return. This went on for realistically about two months before headaches were gone completely. With all the pain I still made it to the gym 4-5 days a week. Took it really slow and made sure to not over exert myself because if I did the headache was back and my work out was fucked for the day.

Thats exactly what happens to me. I didn't happen until i had to strain to get the last reps up. Than BAM. The doctor told me I may have a bulged disk in my neck. She said to take anti-inflammatoris for the next couple of weeks to get the swelling down then ease back into my training. She said if it gets too bad I might need surgery. I don't really know ifs shes right but Im gonna do what she tells me to unless any docs on here have a better idea. Thanks for the replies bros.

 

[ruffian3]

Ohh yeah, and im not on any sauce right now and my BP is normal.

 

[Stillgoing]

Similar thing happened to me many years ago doing heavy leg press. Felt as if something snapped in the muscles in the back of my head; instant migrane headache. A week long headache before I went for cat scan; thought possibly popped a blood vessel in my head however no indication on readings. Dr's had no explanation for headaches. Any time I exerted any sort of force, headaches would return. This went on for realistically about two months before headaches were gone completely. With all the pain I still made it to the gym 4-5 days a week. Took it really slow and made sure to not over exert myself because if I did the headache was back and my work out was fucked for the day.

This is EXACTLY what happened to me in college. In fact, I'll never forget it, it was on my 21st birthday. I was straining on leg presses and bam. Immediate migrane. Went home pulled all the shades and slept for a couple hours. Felt a little better, went out, got hammered. What a hangover the next day. Holy shit. Then, with any excersion, even walking up the stairs, would start my head thumping again. If I stopped immediately, and rested for a little while, it would calm back down again. Couldn't work out though. Went to the doc. They said I strained a blood vessel from not breathing properly during the set. They gave me some medication, don't remember what it was or what it did. Anyway, it really had to "heal" like any other injury. Got back into it slowly, and over a month or so it pretty much went away. But also, I had to learn to make damn sure I was breathing properly, or, my head would remind me real quick. I've had a couple excersional migraines since, but, very rarely and never that bad again. It really sucked.

Sounds like your doing the right thing, stay under a docs care and I think you'll be fine. You just might have to ease back into it.

 

[macrophage69alpha]

you have most likely strained a muscle in your upper back and/or neck.

topical anti-inflammatory + oral.. valium will also help.

you will have to go light for a while and do exercises to stretch and strengthen your neck and upper back (very light controlled movements and stretches

 

[mlong23]

i got really bad headaches there for a while before i had ever taken anything. take a week off from lifting, and when you get back make sure you are breathing correctly. may need two weeks off, but the breathing is the most important.

 

[asiansINC1]

Bump for my own reference.