Neck Pain/Headache during pushups?

[v4nity]

Hey Ladies!

As mentioned in my new Journal, I have started CrossFit.. Friday we did rounds of 8 for 20 seconds on, 10 off. One of the rounds was pushups.. around round 4 or 5, my neck started to cramp.. it turned into a brutal headache that didnt subside for about 35 minutes.

Thought maybe i Just overdid it, but this morning I did some pushups and around 7 or 8 of them, same pain..

wtf??

any suggestions? I stretched it out.. tried applying pressure.. Im going to go have the hottest shower I can stand right now..see if that loosens it up.. Open to suggestions! please and thanks!

[freebirdmac]

Neck rolls and side/front stretching. Easy to do even when seated at a desk. Shrugs may also help.

[Hannah73Louise]

Could be an exertion headache. I got one really badly when I very first started doing chin ups. Then afterwards every time I exerted myself it would come on. They gradually subsided in how bad they were - I also found warming up really well helped a lot. They got better and better over 4-5 weeks and I don't get them anymore. It was suggesed to me that it may have been caused by bursting a small blood vessel in my head...

[trulyhuge1]

Interesting. I would second the stretching.....stretch as much as you can. I think your problem might be just tensing up too much. Very easy to do, esp. when you get tired as you don't really think 100%. Know what I mean?

[onnadafit]

Check your form, you could be lowering your head down towards the ground instead of looking forward, keeping it in neutral line with your spine... stretch it out and have someone check your technique, especially if you are doing full pushups, bring it back down to on your knees.

Originally Posted by trulyhuge1

Interesting. I would second the stretching.....stretch as much as you can. I think your problem might be just tensing up too much. Very easy to do, esp. when you get tired as you don't really think 100%. Know what I mean?

[cbailbonds3]

May be a warning from Inside that something is out of wack? Caution If it persist's seek Medical Treatment?{Personnal Doctor}, remember workouts are personnal. Others may Watch yet do not Function for them{train 4 you and others may Learn from what you do}. Injuries come as a Result of Heeding Gym Talkers{Workout Hard then talk/Leave Cell phones and Distractions elsewhere}. ~{;

[v4nity]

Originally Posted by cbailbonds3

May be a warning from Inside that something is out of wack? Caution If it persist's seek Medical Treatment?{Personnal Doctor}, remember workouts are personnal. Others may Watch yet do not Function for them{train 4 you and others may Learn from what you do}. Injuries come as a Result of Heeding Gym Talkers{Workout Hard then talk/Leave Cell phones and Distractions elsewhere}. ~{;

prolly gonna take your advice on this one.. it got better over a couple days, then last night it kept me from sleep... and is currently bothering me.

I believe this may be a shoulder/trap related issue, seeing as yesterday i did a run with a weighted backpack on, at the time it made my shoulders tight.. now my neck aches.. it feels like a headache in the back of my neck. worst.

[summertown74]

Originally Posted by v4nity

prolly gonna take your advice on this one.. it got better over a couple days, then last night it kept me from sleep... and is currently bothering me.

I believe this may be a shoulder/trap related issue, seeing as yesterday i did a run with a weighted backpack on, at the time it made my shoulders tight.. now my neck aches.. it feels like a headache in the back of my neck. worst.

I actually had this exact thing happen to me, except from kneeling superman-type move instead of pushup. I had a monstrous neck/headache for a week because of this!

What I did? Stopped the aggravating movements for a while, focused on stretching my neck daily, iced the trap area, and got several massages.

I'm sorry you're in this much pain!

[v4nity]

HEy guys,

just thought I would give an update.
I went and saw a massage therapist.. it was not unbearable but it was bad enough that i felt i shouldnt put it off any more..

He proceeded to tell me my muscles were brutal inmy back. Said he was shocked that I have never had pain before.. I believe it was along the lines of, "you have the worst back I have worked on in years"

well eff.

He gave me a bunch of stretches and some tips..

So i have been doing my stretches and sleeping with a heating pad.. I am back to CrossFit tmr morning, so I am hoping its better..

[MrsMandeeLei]

I would really like to know how this goes for you. I seem to always carry my tension in my upper back/neck/traps/shoulders. It gets really bad when I do exercises like push ups. I experience the same headache and neck ache pain that you do. It typically last for a few days. I have been told my form is correct by several trainers who said that is just where I naturally carry tension and tense up throughout the day and during exercises. I was advised to do stretching exercises more than just after a workout, i.e. yoga. I am going to start doing this 1-2x a week even though yoga bores me to tears. I really hope this helps as I do not have the $$$ to pay for a massage therapist. Anyone else have any other suggestions?

Originally Posted by v4nity

HEy guys,

just thought I would give an update.
I went and saw a massage therapist.. it was not unbearable but it was bad enough that i felt i shouldnt put it off any more..

He proceeded to tell me my muscles were brutal inmy back. Said he was shocked that I have never had pain before.. I believe it was along the lines of, "you have the worst back I have worked on in years"

well eff.

He gave me a bunch of stretches and some tips..

So i have been doing my stretches and sleeping with a heating pad.. I am back to CrossFit tmr morning, so I am hoping its better..