neck pain, near syncopy (blackout) during mild training

Hiya - any comments would be much appreciated.  I'm not sure this question is in the most suitable part of these forums, but couldn't think where else to put it!  Also - it's all a bit wordy:

A couple of years ago, I started developing 'odd' sensations in my head.  They weren't really classic pain per se, but rather a real discomfort with some great or mild tingling and occasional pounding hearbeat in my head.  Such strong pounding that my whole head felt as though it were moving, and my vision seemed to jump.  This was put down as a being related to my anxiety problems, but I was never convinced by this suggestion, and always thought that perhaps something was going on with my spine / blood supply to my head etc. etc.  I didn't pursue it becuase the feelings have gradually abated, albeit with flare ups, which seem to come on for no reason I can think of.

Lately however, after two years of injury and other random health problems, I thought I'd get back into some weights and climbing etc. to help regain my former strength.  But I just can't do it:  On only mild exertion, say 14lb barbells, fifty reps I get to a point where I come over all weak (not in my arms - they could do another fifty) and my whole head starts to heat up.  I have to stop as I am on the point of passing out - I can feel it; my vision darkens etc.  Not just this, but I get a terrible ache in my neck, beneath the skull to the rear in two columns either side of my spine.  It's not good!  It leaves me feeling 'odd' and unwell for quite some time after.  Repeat - this is on MILD exertion. Thanks.

[fresnoborn]

I thought I was the only one! I get the same thing, it's at the base of my skull, where my neck meets my head. When it starts to hurt, then it grinds or pops, and then the flare up with horrible pain. Personally, it feels like my neck bones are rubbing together and there is not cushion between them. I don't know if we have the exact to exact symptoms but it sounds familiar to me.

[p_sandalz]

Yes mate - they do sound similar: although I have no experience of this grinding or popping of which you write, the pain is certainly in the back of my neck, at the base of the skull.  I have to say I'm rather disapppointed at the lack of comments - I thought a malady of this serious nature (serious in that it puts a real shackle on what I can do; and not just weights, but everyday activities) would get some attention - but no luck.

[csriley75]

I have been living with this same issue since 2003.

I am a compulsive neck popper and sit at a desk 9-10 hours a day working.  Back in early 2003 began to have an issue where my neck would tense up, then there would be this throbbing pain coming from the base of my skull on the left side right about where the raise in the skull bone is.  I have found that if i take (2-3) Excedrin Headache pills, that the pain subsides for a better part of the day.  I have noticed that sleeping with my neck raised either to the right or to the left as if i was laying on my side causes me to wake with neck pain during the night, wherein if on my back or front i do not.
Typically sleeping in my recliner with my upper body inverted and a roll neck pillow will kill the pain and i will fall back asleep.

I was seeing a chiropractor and during the flexation adjustments i noticed that i didnt get the pain as often, and changing my office chair to something new helped for about 6 months, then the pain started to return again.  If i am reclining and watching TV i can get the pain, same with doing yard work, washing cars, etc.  I used to wear bifocal glasses which makes you move your head in the direction you want to look otherwise vision is blurry.  I have since changed to contacts and still have the problem, even if not supporting my head to look in any direction.

The only true time i do not get the pain is when i am standing (not doing exerting work) or if i am sitting straight up with my shoulders back.  I am wondering if it is not more than a few symptoms causing this or just one and the rest are spawns of the other.  possibly sitting all the time on a muscle in my butt causing pressure to elsewhere in the body, or damage and pressure is causing the pain (no wallet in my back pocket).  wish i could come up with something.

[penwill]

Hi Girls! Sorry but i got bad news for ya. Ive been fighting the same problems since 1991, Everything you all have said is a symptom, and theres alot more to come. Ive tryed every drug known, all they do to you is make ya crazy, By the way I was told I have fms, Fybromyalgia,( central nervous system disorder). Basicly wide spread pain which does travel troughout the body........ There is no cure!!!!!!!!!!! The meds they will put you on .....Beware they make you nuts... yes i mean nuts!!! Topomax (topamax), elevil, celebrex,Depekote, the list goes on. Just be very careful, The best thing I have found is to just go to my chiropracter, the migraines will get unbearable in time, Today Mine was so severe again I had to leave work, i get the treamors, blurred vision, sick to stomach, that oh so intense throbbing in the base of my skull, which is a pinch nerve by the way, and they get so bad you cant lay down or put any pressure against your head, it sucks!!!!!!!!!!What ever you do, sont sleep on your side or stomach anymore it will bring on a pinch nerve like no other!!!!!!!!!! Start sleeping on your back with a chiro pillow or rolled up towel. Also sleep with a pillow under your knees, The back pain is well on its way, and in years to come you hip will start going out, pinch sciatic nerve, sorry to give such bad news but my life has sucked, and im only 39, i feel 60!!!!!!!!!!!Good luck to you all!!!!!!!!!Look up FMS on the net.

[p_sandalz]

Well hey Penwill - thanks for trying to scare the **** out of us!  I sympathise if you suffer with FMS, but having looked at a resource on the web I think I can safely say that it is not a relevant thread to follow.  This is quite clearly a musculoskeletal, or possibly neurological problem; not an immune system or similar malfunction.  Try not to use so many exclamation points in future will you; they make me lose the will to live!!!!!!!!
I am going to be visiting a specialist in the new year: if I get any helpful comments I'll post them up. 10-4.

[WnAnC]

I have had an issue with the base of my skull for around 3 years. I have went to doctor after doctor, I had nose surgery, dental surgery,put on anti anxiety pills and most of the time the doctor would say it was stress related and tried giving me different meds. I googled and googled the'base of skull pain' issue I was having until I finally came across a forum with a guy that had the same issue, he was simply grinding his teeth at night (it is called bruxism). It lead me to a 'NTI device' that has completely cleared my headaches. (these headaches were at the base of my skull, I couldnt think properly my head/neck at that area was always sore and inflammed)   I seriously thought I was dying or something.. I almost gave up on the whole thing. But through my own research I was able to cure my headaches.. unbelievable!  I am PAIN FREE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

To do your own research, google 'trapezoidal  muscle base of skull' or something like that. That is the muscle that gets over worked from you grinding your teeth at night. (if you have this issue)

Most dentists can make the NTI device but it expensive (like $500) To make sure that this is your issue, buy a mouthgaurd from the sports section at walmart for 3 dollars and sleep with it for 1-4 days. if your headaches completely dissapear, then you should go for the NTI!!!!!!!!!!1

The reason I wrote this entire Comment is because it litterally saved my life! NO MORE HEADACHES FOR ME!!!!!!!!!!!!1   YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY

[hopkin]

ya me too. i was in basketball and i got a pain in my neck. my vision was also fuzzy. i didnt get any headaches though. i thought it was just me and its something that happens when you are out of shape, dehydrated, or not getting enough oxygen.

[JRR373]

So it looks like I'm just screwed huh?  I never had this problem before but the other day I was finishing a set of pull ups and pushing really hard then all of a sudden the base of my skull where it would meet my spine started throbbing.  Now it does it whenever I do pushups or even light workouts.  I just had another one five minutes ago and from a guy who never gets headaches this is just miserable. I had a really bad ski fall where I hit my head going about 40 miles an hour two months ago but nothing seemed to come of it.  This is awful though.  Anything to do besides drink heavily?  Should I see a doctor?

[Rico1968]

Mine are just quick jolts, pinches or zaps that last only about 1/2 a second and hit the base of my skull. Following that 1/2 second zap, there's a 1/2 second of vertigo. I'm glad the whole event lasts only a full second, because if it were any longer, it would incapacitate me.

My history in a nutshell: former rugby player with a history of concussions (even a few seizures) and long time (18 years) bodybuiler and weightlifter. I've been living with fractures to cervical vertabrae C5 and C6 for about 12-15 years, most likely from a hit in rugby.

I've been getting these zaps randomly for a few months now, and they sometimes come on during workouts, but not always. I have a high threshold to pain and don't complain about injuries until they're really serious. I'm the ultimate anti-hypochondriac, but I know that this zap feeling I get just isn't right.

[Dr Vinod]

With your history of injuries do not take symptoms lightly, consult a neurologist for any serious trouble. Take care!

[ajayvsrelic]

I thought it was tumor at first, i had this throbbing pain for nearly 4 years now. It gets really serious. I started working out doing bodybuilding during college times. 2 years went fine, halfway between the first year of Uni i started to get this throbbing pain behind my head, i use to brush it off thinking it will go away, its just stress. But as time went by it got worse and worse. It feels like an evil hand digging your brain out. After 2 years i told my doctor to x-ray, the result? Everything looks fine, they didnt see any problem. I knew it was to do with me working out, i tested to see if i stop going gym will the pain stop? Guess what, it did stop. It seems like all the heavy bench press and weight lifting i was doing strained my neck very badly. Last time when the pain came, i decided to see how far it can go, boy it went extreme, i couldn't think, it was so Nasty, throbbing like crazy and eventually the headache spread everywhere around my head and my jaw went tight and i vomited. I take NUROFEN Express (Pain killer) pills and it works for me, it eases and relaxes the pain. Funny thing is after taking the pain killer the pain would not come back anymore until the next time i physically do something that would stress my neck muscle etc.

Some ideas and advice that i picked up along the way that may help anyone; The neck muscle gets connected all the way up to the skull, there are various nerves at the base of the neck like wires sending signals to the brain, to relax this area if you go swimming or even in your bath tub just let your body/head float (obviously take deep breath or device that may help u breath underwater) and just float, let go of any tension. Your neck works out everyday because of gravity and weight. No.2 i am looking into other traditional medicine methods e.g. Wet Hijama/Cupping therapy practiced by the Chinese and Muslims. It is a detox program that helps rid of toxic waste in your body by using cups that create negative pressure. It helps blood circulation and better healing. Anyways if anyone comes up with any solution please share with all of us.

Kind Regards

Jay

[ajayvsrelic]

I thought it was tumor at first, i had this throbbing pain for nearly 4 years now. It gets really serious. I started working out doing bodybuilding during college times. 2 years went fine, halfway between the first year of Uni i started to get this throbbing pain behind my head, i use to brush it off thinking it will go away, its just stress. But as time went by it got worse and worse. It feels like an evil hand digging your brain out. After 2 years i told my doctor to x-ray, the result? Everything looks fine, they didnt see any problem. I knew it was to do with me working out, i tested to see if i stop going gym will the pain stop? Guess what, it did stop. It seems like all the heavy bench press and weight lifting i was doing strained my neck very badly. Last time when the pain came, i decided to see how far it can go, boy it went extreme, i couldn't think, it was so Nasty, throbbing like crazy and eventually the headache spread everywhere around my head and my jaw went tight and i vomited. I take NUROFEN Express (Pain killer) pills and it works for me, it eases and relaxes the pain. Funny thing is after taking the pain killer the pain would not come back anymore until the next time i physically do something that would stress my neck muscle etc.

Some ideas and advice that i picked up along the way that may help anyone; The neck muscle gets connected all the way up to the skull, there are various nerves at the base of the neck like wires sending signals to the brain, to relax this area if you go swimming or even in your bath tub just let your body/head float (obviously take deep breath or device that may help u breath underwater) and just float, let go of any tension. Your neck works out everyday because of gravity and weight. No.2 i am looking into other traditional medicine methods e.g. Wet Hijama/Cupping therapy practiced by the Chinese and Muslims. It is a detox program that helps rid of toxic waste in your body by using cups that create negative pressure. It helps blood circulation and better healing. Anyways if anyone comes up with any solution please share with all of us.

Kind Regards

Jay

[LisaBennett]

I have had non-stop pain at the base of my skull on the right side for over six months now. Before I even open my eyes each morning I can feel the throbbing pain before I get out of bed, and it goes on and on all day. I am so exhausted by the end of the day from it, I am cranky, frustrated, my arms and legs feel weird sometimes with alot of spasms, been to two different neurologists, had everything under the sun done to me to no avail. Get very dizzy sometimes, hard to focus, scalp hurts, deep pain in left ear, you name it, I'm completely falling apart it seems. I have had several MRI's over  the last couple years , head scans, angiograms, lots of medications etc.....MRI's have shown several lesions on brain that radiologist has said twice appears to be consistent with M.S, but everytime I go back to the neurologist he says I look fine, walk fine, and talk fine, I do not have M.S, and that my lesions look old and they have never changed so don't worry about them! someone HELP!!!

[corym]

i've had the exact same neck pain while exercising for the last 8 years. I also get migraines. Do the people with the same symptoms have any history such as, concussions as a kid or migraines? I've also tried all different kinds of pills, nothing really works except codeine, my neurologist wants to try botox, i will let you know how it works out

[Kms904]

I highly suggest you look TMJ dysfunctions, definitely sounds like a jaw problem. Try this: stick out you lower jaw and hold it tight. While doing this feel the back of your neck and head. Those are the muscles involved. Try getting a massage and a dental splint.

[theocs]

Im late to this, but im having the same problem as the guy that started the topic. It started two workouts ago, when I went heavy on curls. I curled my normal 60lbs bells, and on the last rep I got this horrible pain in the back of my neck. Exactly in the same spot. Where my skull connects to my spine. Its a pulsing/throbbing kind of pain,  almost to the point of a blackout and anytime I do anythingother  than look forward, im in pain. I have no idea what's causing this, but its killing me. It feels almost like the same sensation you get from a hard fall, but I haven't done that since before I was a teenager(im 22 now). It really ***** because not only is the pain horrible,  but working out is one of the few things I enjoy.