Totday i was doing bul.split squats and on my last rep i got some sudden sharp headpain… i was wondering is this a serious issue? (burst blood vessel in brain?) What causes it?
Thanks
Were you holding your breath?
Scary, if it happens again you should see a doctor. He’ll probably tell you to stop squatting:)
[quote]atypicaluser wrote:
Were you holding your breath?[/quote]
unfortunetely… yes.
yeah… don’t do that 
I don’t think you’d be still living if it were a burst blood vessel 
Unfortunately while squatting heavy the inter-cranial pressure goes way up as does the bp. What is you normal bp and are you having blurred vision during the day. I ask as a friend of mine i train with had to quit powerlifting becasue the pressure in the brain became too great causing the brain to start separating. That is scary.
Unfortunately while squatting heavy the inter-cranial pressure goes way up as does the bp. What is you normal bp and are you having blurred vision during the day. I ask as a friend of mine i train with had to quit powerlifting becasue the pressure in the brain became too great causing the brain to start separating. That is scary.
I had the exact same thing a couple of times when bench pressing heavy. It was a sudden sharp headache which lasted a couple of hours. I shit myself and told the gym owner about it, and he said to make sure I warm up properly which I wasn’t doing. Since then I’ve always warmed up fully and I haven’t had these pains ever again.
Re. it being dangerous, in my case I’m still alive today and this was years back
As masssiveman99 says though, be careful with this - just adding my experience to show it could be down to something simple.
I once had this happen to me while squatting. I was using my 10 RM weight and performing breathing squats…without the breathing. On my last 2 reps, the pain hit me very hard in the back of the head.
It was very strong and I actually had to sit down after the set and recompose myself. For the rest of the day I had a dull, aching pain in my upper neck - lower head area. After the pain subsided, I assumed it was nothing serious. My next workout, DOING CURLS, I got the same exact pain.
At that point, I went on this forum and researched it. If you use the search, you should be able to find quite a few threads on this same topic. I decided to go see an orthopedic after reading some posts on here connecting this to brain annuerisms(sp?). Anyway, he didn’t really do anything of worth so I thought i was fine.
I waited a week to lift, and the pain came back again. Finally, fed up, I took a month off of lifting. I know it sounds like a lot, but it was the only thing that worked.
From now on, I always warm up properly and use proper breathing technique. I also stretch my neck consistently. I haven’t had the pain since. If it’s worth any reassurance, I know plenty of lifters have described the same thing i just have.
I’d say wait it out a couple weeks and try to lift again, if the pain is gone, you’re fine. If not, go see a doctor and wait 3-4 weeks to lift again.
If you get exertion headaches, stay the hell away from leg presses. And dont hold your breath for to long during lifts.
Try googling “exertion headaches.” There is some decent info out there. Mine only went away after a few visits to the chiropractor.
[quote]Pedo_Bear wrote:
Totday i was doing bul.split squats and on my last rep i got some sudden sharp headpain… i was wondering is this a serious issue? (burst blood vessel in brain?) What causes it?
Thanks[/quote]
Have you tried lifting again since the incident? I had something similar happen to me and it took several weeks off before I was able to put forth any real effort without the headache coming back. I’m not 100% sure what it was. The doctor told me that I pulled my upper trap at the base of my skull, which I doubt. But I know it had something to do with holding my breath and pushing my head back hard at the same time.
I had this happen to me in college while doing dumbbell bench press. It was the only exercise which caused it. I would get a sharp, sudden pain in my temple. It scared the crap out of me and I went to the doctor and then got an MRI. They said it was probably just a small blood vessel that burst and wasn’t a big deal.
I took about a week off from lifting and it went away and never came back again. The doctor told me I could take a little ibuprofen before lifting if it kept happening. I’m not sure of the cause. It could have been holding my breath, bad diet, or something else.
I still have my brain pictures
[quote]Carnak wrote:
I had this happen to me in college while doing dumbbell bench press. It was the only exercise which caused it. I would get a sharp, sudden pain in my temple. It scared the crap out of me and I went to the doctor and then got an MRI. They said it was probably just a small blood vessel that burst and wasn’t a big deal.
I took about a week off from lifting and it went away and never came back again. The doctor told me I could take a little ibuprofen before lifting if it kept happening. I’m not sure of the cause. It could have been holding my breath, bad diet, or something else.
I still have my brain pictures :)[/quote]
That’s funny, my story is so similar. I have my images, too. Anyway, after my MRI on my head, the doctor told me that this has NOTHING to do with breathing techniques. In fact, its only due to a raise in blood pressure which is why you probably feel it on higher rep lifting.
Here are a few suggestions that worked for ME (please note you may be different):
-
On your main, compound lifts, back off the higher rep ranges. This may sound crappy, but it’s never hindered my progress.
-
The leg press does it to me everytime. Especially if I go over 6 reps. Sometimes I do some light work on here, but thats it.
-
Go see a doctor. Its good to just get things checked out. They may have you get an MRI and then go see a neurologist. If you spend a lot of time under the bar, don’t be lazy about making sure there’s nothing more serious going on. (This should be number 1.)
-
Do research on “exertional headaches.”
-
Take some time off or back off the heavier weights for a week or two. It won’t hinder your overall progress, and you’ll feel better. In addition, ease yourself back into it.
If I think of more, I’ll let you know. I would never prescribe medication, but in my case, my doctor told me if I were going to have a heavy day, take 600mg of advil (usually 3 caps) or any other NSAID in the same dosage. I carry it with me in my gym bag. Don’t do this until you talk to your doc. first. Good luck.
-Revo
It was because you were using a valsavic manuever. You increase you blood pressure exponentially while doing this and it can cause pain, or possibly rupture a blood vessel. If it hurts stop doing it.
ugh i wish i had read this thread b4 working out today…
Well i took a couple o days off (light cardio) after the intital pain and then today tried ME upper. The pain came back on my second work set, but this time it seemed to originate from the base of my neck and onto my head (before it just came to the top of my skull instantly).
I’m seeing the doc of wed, but DAMN i don’t wanna fucking take time off. I’ just came off of two consecutive injuries (hammy from soccer and then back sprain also from soccer plus deads). Now this. Fuck i hope it doesn’t take me a month to get over this like the other poster said.
Thanks for the suggestions guys.
But for future, is there any way to prevent this other than breathing properly?
The poster above me said that its not due to impropoer breathing.