Neck injury and headache

[Jrick]

Hello good doctor,

If I have damaged my neck somehow (over time) from weight lifting,   could this cause a problem with headache?   I think I may have torn some cartalage (sp?)  or a tendon in my neck.  What are some ways to find out if you neck is causing your to have headaches?   would the headaches be throbbing or dull?   Do neck injury cause it to be more like a tension or migraine headache?  Because now that i've been having headaches, lifting weights causes instant tension in my scalp and sometimes throbbing pain deep inside the back of my head!   Any help is aprecated!

[ncmomma]

I have had neck surgery in march of last year (2005). had to have a redo done in in december (2005). I am now three months out. this time they had to go into the back of my neck instead of the front since they went in the front three x already. the redo was because my fusion didn't take. I am now having severe pain in right under my incision site and then get this pressure sensation in my head. it seems to be getting worse. I haven't seen the neurosurgeon since January. I see him again in April. I have alot of muscle tightness and pulling sensation from the incision site. Should I contact my neurosurgeon and tell him about this, or should I wait until I see him April 18th. I really am hurting and nothing seems to help. I've tried Advil, Hydrocodone, Valium etc. I even tried a TENS machine. Do you have any suggestions. The pain is driving me crazy. Need some suggestions QUICK!!!!!!

[emccarthy]

My husband is now 41 years old and was an avid weightlifter - then bodybuilder - then powerlifter.  He was doing this(PL) for 2 - 3 years when his symptoms started.  He started getting very dizzy, headaches, vision problems, etc.. He went for tests and what he described was pressure in his neck area.  He had MRI(1998) on head which showed normal.  Our fam Dr. said it may be due to stress.  We both knew different, everything was fine, no stress!  The Dr gave him a relaxer, the first day he took it he couldn't speak-slurring and slowed reflexes.  We flushed them.  He started working out again, not too heavy, symptoms recurred.  I work at MRI dept on hospital here so we got an appt right away.  The MRI showed a SYRINX in his spine.  From c4 - c6.  We are referred to a neurosurgeon.  His symptoms are so bad, he cannot walk in a store or lift anything.  Frequent headaches and dizziness are destroying him.  Doctors here say his syrinx is not that bad.  How can they say this if his symptoms are so bad, he cannot work.  Wearing a hard had almost brings him to his knees.  Operating a forklift and the bouncing motion makes him so dizzy he cannot cope.  He is currently put off work to see if his symptoms decrease, but they are getting worse.  He has had a f/u MRI this time incl his head(which has four plaques- not typical of MS).  Plus another syrinx has been found in his T1.  The neurologist thinks it maybe part of the same one but just looks separate.  Rad compared this and last MRI and states new finding, not noted on prior MRI plus dehydration of disc C6-C7.  Can someone give us some advice.  Just looking for someone who has been through this and has input.  How would we treat the symptoms if the syrinx is 2 mm in AP diameter and about 3 - 4 cm long?

[ncmomma]

I too have had neck surgery. Had one in March 2005, anterior, with titanium plate and screws only to find out come November the fusion didn't take. Had a redone on December 21,2005(posterior). Plate and screws left in, this time they put more screws, total of 8 including my old ones. Since the surgery I have been having unbearable pressure too in my head. Would like to know if anyone else has had a similar probelm. Have not mentioned this to physician yet as I'm 10 weeks out of surgery and wonder if this could be reason, if not than what's causing

[Caravan]

My wife had an OPLL operation on her neck. She had three vertabrae taken out, a bone put in place with a titanium plate put in to stablize the bone. The growth had almost closed off the spinal column and was compressing the spinal cord. That was Nov.11, 2004. Since, then, when she coughs, laughs, sneezes or bends over it causes a pressure in her head which causes pain in her head. The pain is steady and does not throb. The pain then begins to gradually decrease. The pain from the pressure is getting stronger. She has seen a headache specialist without success. She's had an MRI of the head and there is no sign of an anuerism of tumor. She has seen an ENT specialist also with no success. The MRI of her neck indicates all is well according to the cervical specialist that did the operation. Thank you for any information you are able to provide.

[CCF-Neuro-M.D.-PW]

The neck is intimately connected with headache, and can cause either referred pain to the head, primary muscle contraction/tension headache or can trigger migraines. The neck can also result in dizziness or vertigo as there a lot of sensory nerves there controlling balance, and which way your head and eyes are turning etc.
Lifting heavy weights could potentially out more strain on the msucles of the neck, if its not a favorite pastime you might consider cutting down on it. Lifting weights also causes a valsalva effect - increasing pressure in the thorax and potentially inside the head.

Good luck