About 2 weeks ago I suddenly got a massive headache while performing a set of squats. Since then, any time I go heavy on a lift my headache returns. It lasts a couple of hours, then goes slowly goes away. I haven’t been able to do much more in the gym beyond warming up. Have any of you experienced anythng like this?
Actually, I’ve experienced the same damn thing. The pain was concentrated in the occipital region of my head and hurt like a bastard. lasted about a week then went away. don’t know if I can give you any actual advice, but it happened to me and I got through it.
(as with anything if it doesn’t improve or gets worse seek out competent medical advice)
ps
T-Nation is not competent medical advice.
[quote]DW3 wrote:
About 2 weeks ago I suddenly got a massive headache while performing a set of squats. Since then, any time I go heavy on a lift my headache returns. It lasts a couple of hours, then goes slowly goes away. I haven’t been able to do much more in the gym beyond warming up. Have any of you experienced anythng like this?
[/quote]
Hey man. Had the exact same thing a week ago, made a thread about it. Lots of good info here. http://www.T-Nation.com/tmagnum/readTopic.do?id=1944420
good news is that it was pretty easy to get over. stretch upper back and traps regularly and make sure you breath. I got lazy yesterday and didn’t do the above and I got a dull pain (nothing compared to the first time it happened) but it disappeared after stretching and proper breathing technique.
I had a similar thing. I went to the doctor and found out I had sinusitis. Basically sinusitis is an infection of the sinuses and this makes it hard for the blood to drain from the head. This leads to a build up of pressure in the head when your heart rate increases, which causes the headache. So that could be the cause, usually after getting a cold your sinuses can become infected. It’s just one possibility.
Have you had a cold recently and do you have a sore throat or cough that doesn’t go away, cause those are some symptoms of sinusitis. If that’s the case maybe just some rest could help you fight the infection. If that isn’t the case I have no idea what’s wrong since I’m not a doctor.
Thanks for all the advice guys, I wound up going the doctor yesterday and he told me it was probably something called “exertion headaches”. I looked it up online and the symptoms matched exactly so I’m sure that’s it. However, he talked me into getting a CAT scan tommorrow. He said something like 10% of the people who get these headaches have underlying causes, like bleeding in the brain, etc. Sounded like something I should rule out. If that checks out it’s just exertion headaches and no one really knows what causes them. However, I’ve completely cut out caffeine and alcohol, and I’ll be sure to warm up properly from now on. we’ll see how it goes.
Fat Cat,
thanks for the info, i’ll be sure to try the strecthes and breathing.