Headaches when working out. What could be wrong

[phishers]

Whenever im pushing myself during working out, whether its a set of push ups or lifting weights at the end of the set when im really pushing like when my face will get red, i will get a pretty bad headache pretty much forcing me to discontinue the workout.  Just has started happening the last week, but it always seems to happen. Do I have a brain tumor or something, whats wrong? =(  

Thanks
Zach

[ak68]

Hey, I am 44 y.o. I have been exercising (and very often to the limit) all my life.  Two days ago I started having the same thing! First time it came when I was making love to me wife. Then it came when I was doing dips on parallel bars to the extent that I had to stop. But the worst thing - it's coming when I masturbate! So if I were religious, I would think that it's a punishment for the sin of masturbation :-)!
Chiropractor couldn't find anything and recommended to go to the doctor. I hate doctors, they have never been of much use to me. At this point I don't know what my further steps are going to be.

[themonk007]

I think you need to take it easy for at least two weeks. Then when u re-start wegith training, start with lower weights for couple of weeks more. U injured ur neck...If you dont stop the weight lifting, it will never heal. I was in same situation last year, I went to chiropractor, orthopedic surgeon but only rest helped me.

[engquist]

I just read about your condition with the headaches upon a strenuous workout.  I have been lifting for the past year.  I'm in pretty good shape, 32 years old, 6 ft tall, at 195 lbs.  I'm doing a 3 set, 6 rep program.  I was doing abs on a machine (fly nautilus) and I was on my 3rd set of 6 reps on the very last rep.  I was trying to complete 180 lbs (a new personal record).  I was really trying hard but couldn't get that last rep in.  I was definitely giving 110%.  I was bearing down, groaning....everything.  Suddenly....POP...I felt this weird sensation sort of in the back-left part of my head.  It then started throbbing around my head a bit.  Pain wasn't too bad.  It was the very last rep of my whole workout.  The pain wasn't that bad.  I joked about it with my wife and buddy who go to the gym with me while we had lunch.

Well that was four days ago (on Monday).  Then on Wednesday (2 days later) I did my weight routine again - it was a pull lifting day (Monday I did a "push" day).  I began Wed. with a 30 minute warm-up jog - no problems.  Then I began my weight routine - 6 exercises each with 3 sets of 6 reps (a strength routine).

I got to the 5th exercise - seated rows.  Again I was trying to do a rep that I couldn't do - I think it was 170 lbs.  I felt the pain and the waves begin to emanate from the back of my head again.  This time it was MORE painful and actually alarmed me.  I didn't want to scare my wife or buddy.  I did my 6th exercise anyway, just trying to push through it.  My buddy said that it's probably a pinched nerve or a ripped muscle since it sort of seems to be around where the base of my skull connects to my head.  I have some doubts though based on the symptoms...

So anyway, I do this 6th exercise.  It's shoulder shrugs where I just deadlift and shrug 105 kg.  No problems here but I'm not doing 115 kg which is the new level I would normally be attempting.

We do our final "bonus" which is decided to be chin-ups.  I get to my 4th chin-up....no problems.....but I'm getting a bit tired.  I feel the throbbing start again as I start to push the 5th one so I stopped.  It hurt pretty bad again for the next 10-15 minutes or so.  I've been taking lots of IBproufen ever since.

Later that night I was having sex with my wife and the exertions triggered the same problem as I approached orgasm.  I wasn't lifting any weight though......

Then yesterday I'm climbing the stairs at work sort of quickly - I was running a bit late - and by the 4th floor.....again it starts just a bit.

My question for you is, did it ever stop?  How did you stop it?  How long does it take?  I don't want any serious permanent injury.  I mean this is my HEAD which is worrisome.  

Anybody have any advice?  I want to keep exercising - what's the best way to get better and keep burning calories?  Have any of you had a serious complication such as stroke or brain bleeding?  This whole thing has me a bit freaked out to be honest lol!  I mean just go look at WebMD if you want to be worried!

[trowe]

Yes, just started a 1400 calorie diet and work out on the xforce machines, when the trainer push me to hard on my upper body the dizziness starts followed by a severe throbbing headache making my eye tear, having to stop and hold my head for about 3mins and feeling light headed the rest of the day.

[jimmyyy140]

norgesic.and physiotherapy.any of these or both got me past it.the neck is injured and you dont know it

[horeind]

I used to have a problem with my weight, but doing 3 days of hard cardio for an hour (such as on an elliptical) with 2 days of low weight, high repetition exercises can help you drop weight fast.  Also, I know that you said that you have not been eating much lately, but you still need to take in 1500 - 1800 calories a day.  Less than that, and your body will actually store more fat so that it has something to burn if necessary.