Neck Pain During Exercise - Why?

[theblackajah]

So, having started going to the gym about... 2 months ago, recently I've been experiencing neck pain during the last few reps of certain exercises.

Namely, the lateral pull-down, and the leg press.

What happens is, on the last 2 reps or so, all of a sudden the back of my neck starts to hurt- the part just where the neck meets the base of the skull. Additionally, it's not the entire neck. It's just the right side, a specific point.

This pain is pulsating, and continues on. When I keep exercising, it grows, and when I stop, it continues pulsating, but not as intensely.

First, it was just a mild bother, and would only rear its ugly head during exercise.

It hasn't bothered me at all ANYTIME during the day, after my exercise.

I haven't exercised today, and haven't felt any pulsating pain- but when I orgasmed from masturbating, it struck. The pulsating pain was there as I orgasmed, and has slowly subsided after.

Has anyone had this before? Any ideas before I go to the doctor with it? I don't really want to explain the whole orgasm-neck pain thing to her.

 

[JayHew]

Please check it out with a doc. It is not a normal thing or a specific injury. Could well be an aneurysm, and out pouching of an artery. As you exercise, especially as you describe, your blood pressure will go up. Same with an orgasm. The pulsating usually is in sync with your heart beat.

Until proven otherwise, I would not push things but have it checked out. If it is an aneurysm and it pops, dire consequences could result, ie., stroke, death.

 

[oz_doc]

Jayhew is correct you should get this checked out by your doctor> I will give you a little info to tide you over till then. You describe fairly classic symptoms of benign exercise induced and post coital headache, these are both a variant of migraine headache related to muscle tension, blood pressure changes and CSF (brain fluid) pressure changes. If I saw you in the emergency department with these symptoms and it was the first episode i would be obliged to rule out a ruptured aneurysm or subarachnoid bleed, and out of the dozens of coital headaches ive seen one was a subarachnoid. However the history you give of recurrent episodes with no resudual neurological effects in between is very reassuring and makes a serious cause most unlikely. Treatment for these headaches can be a little tricky, beta blockers like propranalol have shown some benefit and so have NSAIDS like naproxen. Typical migraine measures like lying down in a dark room, a cold pack over your head or neck and aspirin/maproxen are all good treatments for the acute attacks.

So I also suggest you go see your doctor but i think its quite unlikely that there is a serious problem causing thse headaches, but you can never be too careful.

 

[Soilwork]

are you doing proper stretches and shoulder rolls?

Before and after every workout and at least twice a day I go out of my way to do shoulder rolls, head rolls, and wide-open arm streches. Keeps me able to move and release tension in my back. You'll be amazed with how that makes you feel like a new person every day.

 

[theblackajah]

Well, here's a very interesting update.

First, a new symptom. I jacked off, and just as I reached orgasm, WHAM, the throbbing pain struck again.

This REALLY worried me.

So, I went to the doctor at last, and explaining this rather embarrassing circumstance, he said that he'd never heard of anything like this before, and said it was a very interesting and strange case. He suggested I try proper posture, etc. (God, what a useless recommendation)

So, my faith in doctors shot again (every time I've visited a doctor, they always give me some stupid recommendation when not a prescription, and always fail to give me a concrete diagnosis of just what's wrong)...

I decided, fuck this, I'm going to find out what's wrong myself. So, kept searching the net with google... and eventually, I realized that my error the first time I searched is that I kept looking up neck pain symptoms.

Sure, it was there, but then again, it was at the base of my skull, where it joins the neck, and could be a migraine-type headache, only SUPER intense.

After a little more searching, I found the answer:

It's called an "Exertion headache", a.k.a. weightlifter's headache, a.k.a. exertion and sexual headache

Apparently, it only happens in a small fraction of people, and suddenly happens during strenuous exertion, such as lifting weights or having sex. Every last symptom, down to how long it would last, matched up. And, it's also triggered during orgasm!

So yeah... apparently I'm not really overexerting myself. Suggested treatment is a drug used for arthritis pain.

So, now, how do I go back to my doctor explaining that I figured out what he (with years of med school) was completely baffled by?

 

[oz_doc]

I feel i must ask, did you read my reply at all, i explained medically that the most likely answer is exactly what youve just said but your latest post sounds like it was a completely foreign concept. Im astonished the doctor you saw had never heard of coital headache or benign excercise/exertional headache, its not uncommon at all. I also suggested a number of drugs that have been shown to work in these headaches, propanolol (a beta blocker), naproxen or diclofenac (arthritis drugs). Possibly you were confused as i didnt explain that post coital is a fancy medical term for after sex (or any sexual activity).

BTW I am a doctor but pls consult a doctor again with your concerns, nothing can substitute for good one on one care.

 

[theblackajah]

I feel i must ask, did you read my reply at all, i explained medically that the most likely answer is exactly what youve just said but your latest post sounds like it was a completely foreign concept. Im astonished the doctor you saw had never heard of coital headache or benign excercise/exertional headache, its not uncommon at all. I also suggested a number of drugs that have been shown to work in these headaches, propanolol (a beta blocker), naproxen or diclofenac (arthritis drugs). Possibly you were confused as i didnt explain that post coital is a fancy medical term for after sex (or any sexual activity).

BTW I am a doctor but pls consult a doctor again with your concerns, nothing can substitute for good one on one care.

Aww, thanks doc! Sorry, the medical terms flew over my head -_- At the time I read your reply, I hadn't really labeled the pain as a headache, and that's why I didn't give it a second look. I was so focused on neck pain, because I had never EVER felt a headache that was so absolutely focused in one, near-neck spot.

I'd let you be my doctor any day! (You give concrete answers!) A++!

Damnit, if only I had done more searching on what you mentioned. Pah!

(Now I know who to go to for future medical problems BEFORE going to the doctor. That way, if they don't know what's going on, I can go "WELL, Ozdoc said this and this...")

 

[theblackajah]

By the way doc... should I go in to get a refferal for an MRI to ensure it IS benign? Also, does it... go away by itself, or is it a permanent thing that will require constant medication to treat?

 

[oz_doc]

MRI would probably not be the test of choice, its not my area of expertise but either a contrast or possibly non contrast CT head would show the vessels better, or a cerebral angiogram, if i saw you i would have to consult the radiologist for advise on which test to do. But as I said the history makes a vascular cause most unlikely, worrying symptoms would be visual disturbances with it or vomiting and nausea as these suggest raised intracranial pressure. Wihout examining you I would not be comfortable to say I wouldnt do any further tests but I think its unlikely you will need a brain scan.

In terms of time course these headaches are very variable some people get it very bad once or twice then never again while others have milder attacks that last for many years, so its difficult to give a satisfactory guarantee but more often then not it is transient and will resolve itself after some time.

 

[Shepherd 2]

After a horrendous car crash in 2000
I had a six month seige with a similar headache. I have
had some serious neck injury prior and had multiple
fractures of my clavicle.

I was given some medication, and a round of therapy that lasted about four months at a rehabilitation center. One day in the midst of an electron muscle and neck stimulation, the symptoms left and
have never returned.

Have you had any car accidents, or have an athletic injury from playing a sport in the upper back or neck areas? I have had a great
experience with doctors and rehabilitation therapists.
Shep+