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Hi all
I know we've had a discussion on this recently but wondering if anyone else has had similar issues. I've broken my left shoulder twice - broken collarbone the first time and dislocated my arm as well although this was circa 10 years ago. I've found that if I ride my bike for more than 30 minutes at a time, I'm getting crippling migraines that put me in bed for two days. I've changed my position significantly, I'm careful to never ride in the drops and I always take it easy, yet time and again I've ended up in bed for two days. It's also getting worse - it used to be up to an hours ride before I suffered, now its 25-30 mins.
I've spoken to my doctor who has put me on a course of mild anti-depressants to ease tension headaches but it doesn't seem to have touched it.
Has anyone had anything similar and if so, did you manage to fix it?
Worth trying a daith piercing? My partner suffered debilitating migraines for years and then 18 months ago got her piercing, she hasn't had any migraines since. No link to shoulder/neck with her case.
My wife does (and I suspect a lot of other migraine sufferers, TBH). She sees a physio regularly to relieve muscle tension in shoulder, neck and face, or at least she did until you know what.
She could reproduce headache and facial pain by pressing different parts of her neck and shoulder muscles, which was obviously the clincher in terms of what was causing it.
If you can't see a physio, be careful how hard you prod around in there though - lots of nerves/blood vessels etc to interfere with.
Oh, and try a hot water bottle around the neck a few times a day to see if that relieves it.
Physio fixed me too, between a proper bike fit and his pressing on exactly the right point in my neck I have been migraine free for 2.5 years. He only did the pressing the once but cured it straight away. It was a great day after suffering for about 5 years.
All started with a 6 hour non stop drive in what must have been a very poor posture.
Yoga for Cyclists with Adriene on youtube is pretty good for upper back/neck tension. Might be worth a go. Is just a 20min yoga class but seemed to help me - I have a similar problem just not as severe.
PS yes she is lovely but that's not why we're here!
I eventually figured this out after nearly 20 years of having migraines brought on by neck issues. In my case it was playing cricket (specifically bowling 'fast' and the associated jarring through from a braced leg on a hard surface).
I retired from cricket 9 years ago and the frequency of getting them has gone right down, although I still occasionally suffer. Last Wednesday was, ironically, the first time in six months.
Keeping on top of regular stretching is the key for me. Ear to shoulder as close as possible both sides then chin to shoulder. Good backwards shoulder rolls really trying to tuck my shoulder blades into my back pockets (that is what the physio called it). Also some oblique(?) stretches with hands linked like I'm about to dive into a pool and stretching back and sides by altering body angle.
Sometimes I can sense a build up of tension as either a knotty lump in the right hand side of my neck between my ear and spine or a burning soreness just off centre between the spine and shoulder blade. I try to up the frequency of stretching to relieve this.
If totally desperate it is off to the physio for her to do the hard pressing with thumbs leading to agony leading to relief thingy. It is effective but it can make me feel quite odd, bit spaced out and dizzy.
That last paragraph is NOT a euphemism by the way.🙂
I too have suffered from this in the past although mostly caused/exacerbated from driving and sitting at a computer at work rather than cycling.
I get tension up my trapezius which affects my jaw, neck and shoulder and results in a dull/constant tension headache.
I saw an orthopedic therapist who gave me a regular (active isolated) stretching and strengthening regime targeting my shoulders/upper back. He got me using very lights weights (like 1kg) and very slow and deliberate movements fosuing on rear deltoids etc. which sorted me right out.
Still get the odd bit of tension but no headaches thankfully.
Thanks folks
I've tried stretching twice a day but it doesn't seem to do much despite me nearly passing out from trying. Maybe a physio or therapist next and I'll give those stretching suggestions a try. And obviously I'll watch that video...
Amitryptyline for the tension headache?
After a broken collarbone and 75% SLAP lesion on my left shoulder I was in a lot of tension pain. The ami works ok for me but I still struggle sleeping due to neck and shoulder pain if I lie on my left side. Enough to wake me and with times when I lose feeling in my arms.
Yoga worked as did hash brownies to a certain extent but probably not enough to warrant long term use.
Is it worth looking at steroid injections or surgery to improve the shoulder?
Do you ride with a pack? I find that even with a light pack it pulls On my shoulders. Much better with a hip pack