Headache occurring during workout, whats wrong with me?

[Ultraflexed New Member Find all posts View Profile Close Ultraflexed]

This happened for the first time this week twice

The first time it happened I was curling 120 barbell when I got to the 10th rep out of nowhere I was hit with a massive head ache so painful I thought I was going to pasd out

Then a couple days later I was curling 130 pound barbell when I hit the 8th rep boom it happened again I stopped everything and left

It starts at the base of my neck and shoots to my brain

Some people call it weight lifters headache, or exercise induced headache
How do I stop it from happening

Is it a neck strain and or blood pressure related?
Anyone else had this happen

[PBRevolution Light-heavyweight Member Find all posts View Profile Close PBRevolution]

Google "exertion headache"


I usually get them for a couple weeks a year. I take an NSAID 30min PRIOR to lifting. For me, this prevents them from ever starting. Because once you do get one, there is really nothing you can do till is subsides.

Advil works fine for me. Aleve should work too, but I'm allergic to naproxen so haven't tried it.

Obviously not a doctor.

[smookey Lightweight Member Find all posts View Profile Close smookey]

I had one a few years ago and took 3 weeks off lifting and havent had one since.

[Big R Intense Muscle Competitive Powerlifter 1370 Total in the 242 class Find all posts View Profile Close Big R]

I experienced a similar issue. It first popped up with squats, then it became an issue during just about any movement except for pulling movements.

After seeing several neurologists and non-specialist doctors, it was a chiropractor who suggested it was a spinal issue related to bad posture, in particular how my head jetted out in front of my body.

When I started doing prehab exercises to correct this postural issue as well as tucking my neck in hard for just about everything, it corrected the problem magically. Now I don't have to take stuff like ibuprofen or indomethacin before lifting.

[Ultraflexed New Member Find all posts View Profile Close Ultraflexed]

I experienced a similar issue. It first popped up with squats, then it became an issue during just about any movement except for pulling movements.

After seeing several neurologists and non-specialist doctors, it was a chiropractor who suggested it was a spinal issue related to bad posture, in particular how my head jetted out in front of my body.

When I started doing prehab exercises to correct this postural issue as well as tucking my neck in hard for just about everything, it corrected the problem magically. Now I don't have to take stuff like ibuprofen or indomethacin before lifting.

What kind of prehab work were you doing

[Swaminator Intense Muscle Competitor Find all posts View Profile Close Swaminator]

No joke, the JUST happened to me today. I wasn't even going hard, was doing rear delt db raise with 25lbs. Huge throbbing headache from my neck up. I am guessing I pinched something in my traps which affected a nerve.

[0001Delta Heavyweight Member Find all posts View Profile Close 0001Delta]

Could be high blood pressure.

If you're taking any strong pre-wo supps I'd recommend you stop it for a while and see how it goes.

[greatkeen New Member Find all posts View Profile Close greatkeen]

IF it happens only on one exercise....While on that same exercise (barbell curl... make sure you are not grinding your teeth hard and NOT HOLDING YOUR BREATH...in fact try to keep your face relax during all exercises (maintain a expression less face...or whatever) just don't bit your teeth too hard to squeeze more reps or lift more weight..and don't hold breath (very important)

i had this similar pain a few times while benching... until some body pointed this out to me that i was you know grinding my teeth too hard and not breathing as i should be during the set, as a result the pressure was not releasing properly...

let me know if it helps.

[Swaminator Intense Muscle Competitor Find all posts View Profile Close Swaminator]

No joke, the JUST happened to me today. I wasn't even going hard, was doing rear delt db raise with 25lbs. Huge throbbing headache from my neck up. I am guessing I pinched something in my traps which affected a nerve.

Went to deep tissue massage therapy twice...had them work the traps and neck. Problem gone.

BTW: I just went to one of those mall chair massage places, 15 bucks for 15 minutes. Asked the guy to use max force. It lit me up but it worked.

[MaxNat Intense Muscle Competitive Powerlifter 198lb Raw Club Total 1262 Find all posts View Profile Close MaxNat]

IF it happens only on one exercise....While on that same exercise (barbell curl... make sure you are not grinding your teeth hard and NOT HOLDING YOUR BREATH...in fact try to keep your face relax during all exercises (maintain a expression less face...or whatever) just don't bit your teeth too hard to squeeze more reps or lift more weight..and don't hold breath (very important)

i had this similar pain a few times while benching... until some body pointed this out to me that i was you know grinding my teeth too hard and not breathing as i should be during the set, as a result the pressure was not releasing properly...

let me know if it helps.

^^ THIS ^^ It is due to holding your breath on heavy sets, and breathing incorrectly. It can irritate the Atlas slightly at the base of the skull. Had it happen a few times in the gym (my gym happens to be conveniently located in a Chiropractors building) and doc told me what I was doing incorrectly. I have not had it happen since. Take note of your breathing on heavy sets!

[thundergod Lightweight Member Find all posts View Profile Close thundergod]

Breathing properly is very important. I see way too many people holding their breath during the sets/reps. Not to mention that I think a lot of screaming and grunting I hear from time to time is a waste, but I digress. Personally, I feel that chiropractic care is a good thing when you're training hard and heavy along with massage. One of the biggest things is Hydration. Many headaches are caused by dehydration and if you are training hard, especially DC Training, you must make sure you are hydrated before getting into the gym and try to maintain hydration the best you can throughout the workout. I sweat like CRAZY during my workouts and I'm usually soaked by the end.

[mark! Light-heavyweight Member Find all posts View Profile Close mark!]

I've had, self diagnosed, exertion headaches in the past. I regularly take NSAIDs on heavy set days. I think I may have chronic headaches though, bp is always around 120/80, pulse is always good, just something that happens from time to time with me. I haven't noticed holding my breath during 1rm or at meets, especially on squats, being any factor in the intensity of the head ache. But I do see a lot of people holding their breath on their normal work sets.

[Superman66 New Member Find all posts View Profile Close Superman66]

Same exact thing happened to me awhile back. There was actually a similar post about 8 months ago about the same thing. This is most likely caused by a neck shoulder pull. When in use it tighens up and reduces blood flow to your head. I had the same exact headaches after I felt a tingling sensation in the back/side of my neck doing (of all things) heavy (6-8 rep set) of leg presses. They were so bad, they prevented me from doing anything. I took 3 full weeks off (23 full days) and felt great after that. It happened 3 years ago and have not had an issue since.

[Swaminator Intense Muscle Competitor Find all posts View Profile Close Swaminator]

Go get a couple deep tissue massages and have them work your traps. I am not sure if this will help you but it helped me. Headaches gone.

[nexa Intense Muscle Competitor Find all posts View Profile Close nexa]

^^ THIS ^^ It is due to holding your breath on heavy sets, and breathing incorrectly. It can irritate the Atlas slightly at the base of the skull. Had it happen a few times in the gym (my gym happens to be conveniently located in a Chiropractors building) and doc told me what I was doing incorrectly. I have not had it happen since. Take note of your breathing on heavy sets!

Same tension-like headache occurred at the squat rack and in the bedroom back in '09. Improper breathing and/or too much tension is what I'm guessing happened in my case.