exercise and migraines

sarablueskies
sarablueskies Posts: 56 Member
edited October 4 in Health and Weight Loss
i've been having this issue for years now, anytime i exert myself with a heart pounding sweat inducing exercise, about two hours later i develop a painful migraine and have to spend the night in the dark. the only thing that makes it go away is sleep, and then i have a migraine hangover and exhaustion the next day. most people want to suggest that not enough water is the culprit, but i assure you i drink plenty. i used to get headaches almost every day but started taking multi-vitamins (along with B complex and iron supplements for anemia) and they have gone away. but i still get them after exercise. i'll also add that it started years ago after a bad case of mono. anybody have any ideas?!

(p.s. i have no health insurance and can't afford a doctor and a bunch of tests)

Replies

  • glockster972
    glockster972 Posts: 704 Member
    See a doctor.
  • trenley
    trenley Posts: 35 Member
    This happens to me quite often. I have Chronic Daily Headaches, so whenever I do a hefty workout, my always-permanent headache sky rockets and nothing (even prescription painkillers) can get it to go away. I also drink plenty of water (9 cups daily). There's something called Exercise Headache that you can do some research on. I've also read something about Weightlifter's headache in the past, but these two conditions may actually be the same thing. I've also heard it can be related to a wonky blood pressure, so maybe check that out. Feel free to add me and we can talk about headaches more, I feel like an expert sometimes! I truly hope that you can get these things under control. People blow off headaches, but in that moment of severe pain, it feels like nobody can survive through it. Best of luck! Namaste
  • Beezil
    Beezil Posts: 1,677 Member
    perhaps you are draining too much sodium from your body when you exercise.
  • Teach4Hisglory
    Teach4Hisglory Posts: 48 Member
    I was struggling with migraines after bike rides for the longest time. I thought it was the exercise itself causing the problem, but a trip to a good chiropractor fixed my problem. The way I was riding was causing the migraines. After having an adjustment and making a few changes to my seat position I've been riding migraine free for about a year now. I don't know if this could be causing any of your problems or not, but I thought I'd throw it out there.
  • cmriverside
    cmriverside Posts: 34,422 Member
    I have to agree, if you haven't seen a doctor, please do so. It could be something more serious.


    I had migraines for years. I did see a doctor but only after I was basically unable to work. I wish I had done it sooner.

    Start a migraine journal . What did you eat, what did you do, what was the temperature, date, barometric pressure?

    I found that exercise did trigger migraines. So did dehydration. There are excellent prophylactic drugs and medications that will stop your migraines once you have been stricken. Please don't waste time. See the doctor!

    Good luck .:flowerforyou:
  • mea9
    mea9 Posts: 561 Member
    I was struggling with migraines after bike rides for the longest time. I thought it was the exercise itself causing the problem, but a trip to a good chiropractor fixed my problem. The way I was riding was causing the migraines. After having an adjustment and making a few changes to my seat position I've been riding migraine free for about a year now. I don't know if this could be causing any of your problems or not, but I thought I'd throw it out there.
    ^^this plus...

    I have had horrible migraines for years. Most of them 3 days in bed in the dark, vomiting the whole shebang...

    What you have to do is think about keeping everything in your spine, neck, head as well as throat, and lungs clear and flowing. That means really stretch out at least before you work out and preferably after as well. And I mean Really Stretch. Yoga's great (hatha). Try not to tense anything up when working out. Think relaxed cardio, relaxed weights....You can do as much just with less strain on your back and chest.

    Drs don't usually know that;)
  • paper_doll_
    paper_doll_ Posts: 64
    I get a massive headached/migraine immediately after hard exercise, sometimes partway through.. it just hits like someone driving a railway spike through my skull, I know it's not water because when I exercise I usually go through an extra 1-1.5 litres on top of my usual 7-9 cups a day ( I don't usually document this extra water). I don't know what causes it, but I think it has to do with my neck/shoulders, particularly my running posture as this is when it hits the worst.

    I have a long history of issues with migraines too. I have had times in the past when I have had to dose up and knock myself out because of a migraine 4-5 days in one week. Thankfully these days they are mostly exercise related so I am prepared for them to a certain extent.
  • em1976
    em1976 Posts: 119 Member
    For years I was told my headaches and migraines were hormonal.After pushing for more advice I was given ctscan and an mri only to find I had been born with an abnormal brain.Please see your doctor asap,exhaust all possibilities with them,once thats done,Id say look into other issues that may be causing them.Im not saying it could be something bad,but you really don't know until you have been checked out:)
  • mea9
    mea9 Posts: 561 Member
    I get a massive headached/migraine immediately after hard exercise, sometimes partway through.. it just hits like someone driving a railway spike through my skull, I know it's not water because when I exercise I usually go through an extra 1-1.5 litres on top of my usual 7-9 cups a day ( I don't usually document this extra water). I don't know what causes it, but I think it has to do with my neck/shoulders, particularly my running posture as this is when it hits the worst.

    ^^Yes! Breath into your neck and shoulders when you run. Makes all the difference to the head and none to the running.
  • Saffyra
    Saffyra Posts: 607 Member
    Absolutely see a doctor. You will be so glad you did.

    There is definitely a migraine you can get caused by strenuous exercise.
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