Headache while doing squats/legpress

[Dar91]

2 weeks ago, I was doing a leg press right after heavy squats. I was doing sets of 10, short rest, and on my last set around rep 8(really forcing myself) my neck stiffened up and pain shot up into the back of my head. I went to my chiropractor 2 days afterwards, mentioned it, but didnt think much about it because the pain subsided.

<<fast forward>>

Yesterday, it was quad day again. I was doing squats, but once I got to 315lbs or over, by neck started to get stiff. I then moved to leg press, same lbs, same everything, and on my 2nd set, the pain came back. My neck started hurting all the way up into the back of my head.

I know I was breathing correctly, I made sure of it because I thought it might be from a spike in blood pressure. I also took 2 NYC stacks before my workout. I dont think thats the prob because Ive done that before dozens of times.

What do you think the problem could be? A weightlifters headache? Im going to go to my chiropractor and have him look at it tomorrow because its still painful.

I need help because im losing motivation being plagued with injuries.

 

[supertech69]

Try getting a massage & or muscle relaxers. My girlfriend gets bad headaches when she gets tense and the only thing that helps her is a massage and muscle relaxers.

 

[McBane]

I had the EXACT same thing happen to me bro, only I didn't squat heavy back then so it only happened during bench pressing and shoulder press. You might have a locked joint in your neck, that's what I had. Go to a _good_ chiropractor, not one of these quacks that uses the activator machine, one who adjusts you with his hands. Try to find one that works on athletes. It can be real serious, took me 5 months to recover because I ignored it; however I was told if I had paid attention from it in the beginning instead of working through the pain I would have been fine in a couple weeks. I would stop whatever exercise you are doing or maybe stop working out all together until this thing is fixed. Alternate ice and heat on your neck a couple times per day, do like 15 min heat, 15 ice. Also I bought this Neck Ease that worked WONDERS. Seriously you lie in it for like 20 min per day and it takes all tension off your neck.
http://spanda.com/supplies/riter.html
that's where you can buy it, its like 35 bucks but its worth it.
Also I have a few exercises I did for it to improve my neck here were the best 2.
Lie down on a bench facing the bench with the top of the bench right around your upper chest so your neck can hang down. Let your neck hang down then lift it back up so it is parrallel with your body (basically like a back extension only with the neck instead of the torso), do it real slowly and feel the stretch at the bottom of the movement. Do like 3 sets every 2-3 days, and do like 20-30 reps, you probably won't get tired, at least I didn't but don't go to failure or anything as it is mainly used for mobilization as you, if its like mine which it sounds like it is to me although I am no doc, might have a locked joint in your neck and other muscles are compensating for it.
The other exercise you lie down on the bench facing it in same position with neck over the edge of the bench, then with 1-2lb weights in either hand lift your hands from the ground (start so arms are perpendicular with ground) and lift until they are parrallel to ground. Do not use more than this weight, I know it will feel queer but trust me it works, do like 3 sets every 2-3 days and do around like 20-30 reps, don't go to even close to failure.
Also if you are sleeping on your stomach this could be contributing greatly. Sleep on your back with a pillow underneath your knees to keep them bent a bit or on your side with a pillow between your knees. Anymore questions let me know, I know a decent amount about this, if its the same thing, since I went through it for 5 months.

 

[McBane]

Try getting a massage & or muscle relaxers. My girlfriend gets bad headaches when she gets tense and the only thing that helps her is a massage and muscle relaxers.

While muscle relaxants aren't a bad thing imo, they are merely putting a band aide on the problem, you have to address the root of the problem. I forgot to ask you if you've had any neck trauma in the last few months? Whiplash? Blow to the head? Hard fall? The thing you described started happening to me after I was in a mosh pit at a Less Than Jake concert I didn't put 2 and 2 together though until a couple months later. And just thinking back on it it was 8 months not 5, I got hurt end of nov and wasn't good until like end of June. It was a rough road, so catch it early. And with the massage make sure its deep tissue massage, see if they work on athletes and ask what type of athletes (what level), try to find one that works on olympic athletes as these are ALWAYS the best, but I don't know where you live so it coud be hard, if you live around Massachusetts let me know because I might be able to hook you up with some good people.

 

[THeMaCHinE]

This has happened to me and several guys at our gym. It could be a neck sprain or pinched nerve. I had a near neck sprain.

Try lifting your head up and looking forward when you leg press; lay off squatting till it gets better. Don't do any exercises that aggrivate it; work around it.

I had massage done to my neck and that helped quite a bit. It needs to have massage (if it's muscular) and time to heal.

 

[Dar91]

McBane-Thanks for the info.

I go to a pretty good chiropractor, he aligns my spine by cracking my back with his hands, and usually feels if anything is out. I will definitly have him look at it tomorrow when I see him. As for having any trama, I doubt it. I usually dont do anything that puts me at risk of injury so I can't lift. I am going to take it easy for two weeks, lower my weight down and increase reps. Hopefully this will give me time to heal.

Machine- I think I will try to do leg press like that. It is seriously depressing when you can't finish your workout.

Thanks again


Darren

 

[McBane]

I would look into that Neck Ease too. Even if your neck injury isn't serious its great for overall back and neck health. It's relaxing as all hell too. You won't even realize how much tension you are carrying in your neck until you try it out and then it just feels like its released. Best 35 bucks I ever spent. Good for anyone, neck injury or no neck injury. Damn I sound like a sales rep don't I? lol, it heals necks 98234% faster, and if you stack with with cell tech it works 6070% better than it originally works!

 

[asiansINC1]

Bump for my own reference.

 

[theoak01]

if I squat high reps and heavy I get a mild head ache along with being light headed,I believe its blood pressure,Ive had it once while doing leg press ,but that was a few years ago and I was on dbol

 

[kbrkbr]

I had the same thing happen when I did my one and only fina cycle. Took my blood pressure and was shocked to realize it was through the roof. Within a week of taking lotrel for hypertension, the headaches were gone, even though I was still on the fina. When I stopped the cycle, my BP returned to normal. That was a few years ago: Now I'm on capoten for hypertension.

 

[felony]

Well, if headaches also occur when lifting it could very well be (EIH) Which means exertional induced headache. The cause is from a quick rise in blood pressure, such as when you strain for that last rep. It sucks happened to me. Takes awhile to recover, I had headaches for over a month every time i worked out. Just another possibility