First my shoulder....now whats wrong with my neck?

[RasPlasch]

I was lifting 5 days ago and I did deadlifts then I went to do seated rows on a machine. While doing the row machine I got a severe sharp pain in my upper neck. It hurt really bad, I had to walk around the gym for about 10 minutes. The pain got less and less over time. About an hour after my workout there was no pain in my neck at all. So 2 days later I went back to the gym and was working my abs. When the pain came back in my neck out of nowhere. Now it has been 2 days after my ab workout and my neck feels fine. But I am scared to go workout again in fear that I will hurt my neck. What could have happen to my neck muscle that would make it hurt like hell but then after an hour not hurt at all? What should I do?

 

[gsxrK3]

I don't know anything, but one time after doing overhead presses, when lowering the barbell to my legs I got a terrible pain in the back of my neck. It was burning but also felt like a bad headache. For some time after that it would hurt whenever I exercised. When benching I could feel the blood going to my head and it would cause my neck to throb. It just went away after a while. I'm sure others will have real advice for you though.

 

[RasPlasch]

That happened to me too! It felt like a headache. Actually I think it was the pain that gave me a headache. I don't know.

 

[danzik17]

No idea if it's the same thing but sometimes I'll move my head quickly and pinch a nerve in my neck for a second - happens every once in a while. It causes a warm sensation in the back of my head and extreme pain - sounds like you are having a pinched nerve to me.

 

[RasPlasch]

Well how do I avoid pinching a nerve?

 

[danzik17]

Wait for someone more qualified (a.k.a someone not talking out of their ass like me) to chime in, but I would say that the muscles and joints of your neck area are probably very tense. Getting a good massage for that area might do some good.

 

[gsxrK3]

No idea if it's the same thing but sometimes I'll move my head quickly and pinch a nerve in my neck for a second - happens every once in a while. It causes a warm sensation in the back of my head and extreme pain - sounds like you are having a pinched nerve to me.

I've had exactly that too I hate it. It's like i was trying to turn my head in two directions at once lol.

 

[RasPlasch]

Today I decided hey you know....its been 5 days...my neck should be fine....I feel no pain... lets go lift!! I get there stretch and do 6 reps of benchpress before I have to quit because of the pain in my neck. GOD DAMNIT! So I go talk to one of the personal trainers there and he has no idea what the hell he is talking about. All he could answer me with was "Uhhhh....that shouldnt happen". Well can someone give me an educated guess on what is wrong with me....what I should do....or how long this will take to go away.

It is a sharp aching pain kind of right behind my ear on the top part of my neck. It goes away after about an hour then I feel no pain.

 

[P-funk]

it sounds like you have some nerve impingment....maybe some thoracic outlet syndrome.

When you bench, is your neck coming forward? Are you straining your scalenes?

 

[danzik17]

You could always go see a doctor you know. That might just be the smart thing to do here. Physical therapist/sports medicine I would think.

 

[RasPlasch]

I really don't think that my neck comes forward. I have been benching for about 2 years and never had any pain. This all happened from a seated row type machine.


If it is a nerve impingement.....what should I do?


I read online that the only way to cure a nerve impingement is surgery.....you gotta be kidding me.

 

[RasPlasch]

It seems that after the pain in my neck goes away that I get a headache. Could this mean anything? All 3 times this has happened.

 

[Hoglander]

Off the top of my head I would say it is stress related. People tend to express stress in odd ways that often have no rhyme or reason to any easily seen causative effect. They might not even feel stressed yet they may express great fear of what may end up being something related to stress, ironically. They try to look for some correlation between what they might have done and the effect they relate to it. It's normal and tight muscles in the neck and shoulders as well as headaches are common in these situations. It all sounds very very normal. The worry about it tends to make it worse.. also normal. It tends to build on itself until professional help is sought out. The correct thing to do is to see your doctor to make sure something else isn't going on,IMHO. Talking to your doctor can only help. Being 17 is stressful and not knowing what is going on isn't helping, see your doctor. I think you will be fine, IMHO.

: )

When I lift sometimes muscles that aren't involved tense big time. I have to make a conscious effort to notice it. I often grit my teeth. I have to think not to do that. It's not easy but just knowing that I'm doing it helps. It's good knowing what your body does and why.

 

[RasPlasch]

Thanks Hoglander for the comforting response. If this is just stress related how do I get rid of it so the muscle doesn't hurt anymore?

 

[Hoglander]

See your doctor and find the bliss of muscle relaxants. The idea is to break the cycle. Tense muscles cause pain.. pain causes tight muscles and vis versa. You could get pain pills and or relaxants. Above all peace of mind is key. You won't get that until you talk to your doctor. ; )

 

[RasPlasch]

Tried doing pushups today. Can't get through 20 without that same spot in my neck starting to hurt.

 

[Gordo]

You need to warm the area and start practicing self myofascial releases. Use ice to cool down the muscle after exercise. Neck stretches and scalene stretches and releases(look them up).

Also, have someone watch you during exercise, you likely tense and shrug up in a static position which is compounding the problem. Shoulders need to be down and back ideally.

Cut out pressing including overhead pressing till you fix the problem would be my suggestion.

 

[RasPlasch]

Gordo, now that you say have shrugged my shoulder. I think I might have. I could easily see how I could have shrugged my shoulders. Thanks!