Originally Posted by
steppink
I am a fairly new rider, been doing this for 3 months and starting almost a month ago, I got a very bad, well actually, very bad isn't even close to describing the pain I felt with this headache, that started from the base of my skull and the pain went all the way up over my head while cycling uphill, then a couple of days later, neck pain arrived along with the same hugely painful headache on almost every ride.
I then finally realized that perhaps maybe I should get myself to a doctor and get checked out, as it also started to happen in varying levels of pain while for instance, picking up a laundry basket, or groceries, generally bending over to do something or even putting on my sports bra! I was sent off for an MRI, then to the neurosurgeon, along with a chiropractor (which I went to on my own). The neurosurgeon said my brain was fine (good to know)! and the headaches are musculoskeletal in nature, more then likely caused by cycling and I should try physical therapy.
Haven't been to PT yet, but now, I stretch, I was stretching prior to a ride before all this, but now I am more aware of my stretching and what I need to concentrate on, namely my neck and shoulders, if that makes sense! I am now super aware of my neck, shoulders, arms and spine position on the bike, especially when going uphill and if I am going more then 8 or 10 miles, I stop halfway and stretch again. So far, for the past week since I have started stretching and being more aware of my neck, no headaches, I am more than pleased, as my neck was so sore, the headaches were a nightmare and I was really worried that I would have to give up cycling, noooooooo!