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For about the last year, I've had this issue where after a ride I end up in bed for a couple of days with really bad headaches and/or a migraine. Initially I thought it was related to a sinus infection but have now realized it seems to be related to some weird tension in my left shoulder and left hand side of my neck. I've played about with the position of my bars and stem on both MTB and road bikes but I'm still getting it to the point where it's putting me off riding.
Has anyone else had this? Is there a cure? I train in the gym 3 to 4 times a week with a PT so I know my fitness is all good (neck issues also happened prior to doing the gym thing), I'm properly hydrated and when riding on Sunday I felt immense (for the first time in ages). However yesterday and today have been grim, mainly spent in bed and I'm considering selling my bikes it's making me that miserable.
Can't help, but I get a similar thing (to a much lesser degree) after longer rides. Thought it was dehydration at first, or maybe too tight a helmet, but it's not.
So I'll be following this.
Haven't had it myself, but my wife has had a lot of issues, including migraine-like headaches, caused by muscle tightness in her neck/shoulders and face which compresses nerves.
Get a physio to have a look.
My wife thought it was sinus-related and spent ages trying to resolve it that way, so recognising that your bike position is triggering it is half the battle. Could it be that whatever upper body work you're doing with the PT is not helping, particularly if you're at it four times a week plus riding at the weekend? Proper rest and recovery are underrated.
My advice would be to lay off the gym a bit, get plenty of sleep, keep looking after nutrition and hydration, particularly when you're not exercising, see a physio and specifically mention muscle tightness in the neck and shoulders (and face), and maybe get a fresh set of eyes on your current bike fit to see if you're in a weird position.
A few months ago my neck was tight, and was getting headaches due to neck / shoulders, I thought I had it under control but when I nearly rode into the back of a parked car (something that I had never even considered a risk previously before) I knew I needed something done.
As it was a spine issue so went to a chiropractor who confirmed that the top vertebrae were basically not moving causing the limited mobility. the release when they got cracked was great - I slept so well that night, it was fantastic.
Do you wear a pack while riding? I get a stiff neck and terrible headache if I wear a pack with shoulder straps. Using a hip belt and the pain seems to go.
I get this sometimes (amongst many other back related issues), but i found that the neck was causing the migrains, and the neck thing was from having too many pillows in bed a night - i sh!t you not.. dumped the over-filled pillow, now on a nice memory foam type thing and it's lovely.
Also, saddle position helped my lower back, i pushed the "wings" (or whatever they are called) a little further up to support the sit bones, this worked well to.
I also get sciatic issues due to a disc i popped last year, which was my fault for trying to lift something too heavy. Though in fairness, this was probably the straw that broke the proverbial back (years of lugging weight and jumping out of planes with weight.
you mentioned hydration, there is an interesting study somewhere, that relates poor hydration to back issues and nerve damage, i do find if i make a concerted effort to keep well hydrated (im crap - coffee all day), and stretch, most of the pains are a hell of la lot less.
Thanks for all the replies.
I’ve actually stopped wearing a pack completely on the short rides I’ve done recently just to see if that was the cause.
Maybe a physio is the next step
Since puberty I have had migraines after exercise. They're mostly but not always after more strenuous training, sports, and often linked with bright environments, lighting, sun etc.
Hydration may be a factor but it's not enough to solve it. Sugary fizzy drinks helps to stop or ease them once they start, particularly irn bru! Not tried the new low sugar version though.
But the most reliable thing I do to stop it is take two paracetamol and two ibuprofen before doing something like cycling or playing ice hockey. This works 99% of the time.
I have had this for years. After many dead ends finally ended up with a head/neck MRI and visits to neurologist (as A&E thought I was having a bleed on the brain)
Turned out that I have a touch of arthritis between 2 and 3 joints and cycling (and painting the ceiling) gets it going
Only thing to do was raise bars and try to avoid neck stretching (I ride around looking at the floor like Chris froome)
Hope that’s helpful
Is there a cure?
Yep, see a physio