Strange upper neck/head pain.

[derekisdman]

One week ago I was squatting and was on my final rep. I was struggling and straining a lot and at about the top of the lift I got a pain in the very top of my neck. I don't even know if it would be considered my neck, it's like right where the upper neck meets the skull. Anyway, I didn't think much of it. The next day it was sore but wasn't bothering me much.

Two days after, I started lifting again and as soon as I put up any effort the pain started coming back. Then it would go from like a pain into a head-ache. It's been happening all this week whenever I start lifting again. When i'm just sitting relaxed my neck or head doesn't really hurt but it still is irritating. Today I did squats again and it hurt the worst. I got a really bad head-ache and I almost felt half there.

Not sure what's going on here and would just like some input.

 

[DeadBolt]

I have gotten the same thing as well. When you were squating was your head looking forward or up? When you lift besides squats are you straining your neck or are you relaxed? If you are, just relax your neck and head because you are putting to much force on it. I find this happens most to me when I try and put up to much weight and have to struggle to much. You start to use every other muscle in your body to get the weight up and start to irritate things. I'm sure if you go light for a little bit the pain will go away, it always does for me. But wait for the more experienced members to drop in. Good Luck

PS:This happens most to me when I do shrugs.

 

[derekisdman]

Thanks DeadBolt, this is kinda what I thought might have happened. I try to keep my head straight but I very well might have strained it and looked up too much as I was pushing myself. When this happens to you how long does it normally take for you to recover?

 

[spartan]

My advice to you is go see a massage therapist. It sounds like you have strained the muscle where your neck meets your head. I have done it lots espeically boxing, and heavy lifting. When I go see the message therapist ( my wife)I am sooo much better after a visit and it always heals much faster.

 

[DeadBolt]

It ussually wears off after a day or so, I've done it pretty bad to where its lasted a week or more. I use to not wear glasses and needed them really bad so I would get nasty headaches in that same spot. So I am use to that type of pain. I at one point was taking 12 advil in one shot. So now even though to most people a major pain(headache) would bother the normal person my thresh hold for it is much greater.

If your pain is still there after a week of training try to go lighter with the weights. Use controled sets/reps and concentrate only on that muscle of the day. Do not strain your neck if you do not need to. And maybe even try to get a message. I've gotten it done many times and it feels much better. If you can't get your girlfriend/wife or a profesional to rub it out then do it yourself. Just get into where it is hurting and rub it for a while, it will loosen your neck rite up.

 

[derekisdman]

Ok thanks for the advice you guys. I think what i'm gonna do is just take a week or so off of training. I haven't taken any time off since I started (about 8 months) so it's probably time for a break anyway. I'll also see if I can't get a massage.

 

[Art]

Hi mate,

Check this out:
http://www.ironmagazineforums.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=25206
I had exactly the same thing happen, only I don't know what
I did to deserve it
There was a throbbing pain in the base of my skull whenever
I reached the last (hardest) reps of a set that caused me to finish
early.

Watch before you get a massage that the area isn't inflamed.
Having a massage could make the situation worse as it did with me.
I had to leave the table at a dinner night out because I couldn't
hold my head up!

The throbbing is gone now, but even after some time, I can still
feel tightness on occasion when I turn my head.
Cheers, Art.

 

[enkai]

This happend to me while back and it was bothering the hell out of me, what happens is when you strech your spine at the botton and then you pull your head forward it pulls apart and when you let the bones snap back you trap a nerve causing the pain in the back of your head, the solution to this problem is just to goto a chiropractor and have a usual neck crack and you'll be good.