Anyone suffer headaches after training?

PolderRider · January 2018

I'm typing this with a dull headache (mainly front of head) and feels like the roort cause can be traced to the back of my head where neck runs up into base of skull.

This is a recurring trend that folllows long duration training irrespective of intensity.

Thought it might be salt related so always have a salty water recovery drink but doesn't seem to help.

My other thought was cramping from holding neck position on bike for long periods.

Hoping someone can guide me to a possible cause and solution.

Some background info - male, 39, 69kg, 175cm, seasoned racer.
Thx.

dannbodge · January 2018

Yeah I get them after cycling.
Found that lack of hydration and having a cold head makes it worse combined with quite an aggressive position on the bike.

Haven't found a way to get over it, I just tend to drink more and keep my head as warm as possible.

cooldad · January 2018

Try non salty water.

redvision · January 2018

Very likely dehydration so try to start drinking more when riding - even if you don't feel like drinking.

Also, make sure your helmet isn't too tight.

PolderRider · January 2018

Thx for the advice. Today was base miles for 3hours, so dehydration is the likely cause.
However, i was sipping frequently from a 1.0l bidon, and topped myself up with large glass before heading out. Also had to stop twice for a pee which was white, same for after the ride too, guess i'll try drinking even more.
Note, i only started adding salt to recovery drinks recently after only using water for years which didn't help.

sgt.pepper · January 2018

PolderRider wrote:

Thx for the advice. Today was base miles for 3hours, so dehydration is the likely cause.
However, i was sipping frequently from a 1.0l bidon, and topped myself up with large glass before heading out. Also had to stop twice for a pee which was white, same for after the ride too, guess i'll try drinking even more.
Note, i only started adding salt to recovery drinks recently after only using water for years which didn't help.

I get horrific migraines from wearing a helmet (already genetically prone to them). Try either having a break from it, or dousing your head in cool water if you're getting hot. I take mine off for a couple of steep climbs on the commute otherwise I'm practically blind by the top on a hot day - though annoyingly it's compulsory where I live.

cougie · January 2018

Is it too tight ?

sgt.pepper · January 2018

cougie wrote:

Is it too tight ?

I have it as loose as possible, basically dangles off the back of my head slightly to allow the heat to escape from my forehead. Will provide no protection whatsoever in a crash, only 'wearing' it to avoid a fine. (assuming this question was aimed at me)

cougie · January 2018

Is it the exercises that's triggering them if there's no pressure from the helmet ?

sgt.pepper · January 2018

cougie wrote:

Is it the exercises that's triggering them if there's no pressure from the helmet ?

No I never got them in the UK riding without one - even the light pressure of a barely worn helmet is enough to trigger them. I'm predisposed to them though, my mother gets terrible migraines and I'm not much better. Can also get triggered quite easily by loud noises and not wearing sunglasses in bright sunlight. Was going to ask OP about whether they wear eye protection on sunny days.

jollygiant · January 2018

Nothing to do with the fit of your helmet, its dehydration and your cramp confirms this.
You should use a electrolyte replacement drink like High 5 Zero X-treme which helps replaces the ones you use while cycling.
You should aim to drink a bottle every hour and a half or 25-30 miles in normal weather and one per hour in hot conditions.

daniel_b · January 2018

jollygiant wrote:

Nothing to do with the fit of your helmet, its dehydration and your cramp confirms this.
You should use a electrolyte replacement drink like High 5 Zero X-treme which helps replaces the ones you use while cycling.
You should aim to drink a bottle every hour and a half or 25-30 miles in normal weather and one per hour in hot conditions.

I had headaches consistently after long cycle rides, and it used to put me off to some degree.
I used to drink plenty of water too.
Around 3 years ago I tried the high 5 product mentioned above, which I happen to really like the taste of (pink grapefruit) and my issue went away.
I take one bottle with straight water too.
Dirt cheap too, often £3 for 20.

I use one during hard turbo sessions too.

dannbodge · January 2018

Daniel B wrote:

jollygiant wrote:

Nothing to do with the fit of your helmet, its dehydration and your cramp confirms this.
You should use a electrolyte replacement drink like High 5 Zero X-treme which helps replaces the ones you use while cycling.
You should aim to drink a bottle every hour and a half or 25-30 miles in normal weather and one per hour in hot conditions.

I had headaches consistently after long cycle rides, and it used to put me off to some degree.
I used to drink plenty of water too.
Around 3 years ago I tried the high 5 product mentioned above, which I happen to really like the taste of (pink grapefruit) and my issue went away.
I take one bottle with straight water too.
Dirt cheap too, often £3 for 20.

I use one during hard turbo sessions too.

Even cheaper than that, you can get the 10 tab packs with a 750ml bottle for £2.50 from planet x

svetty · January 2018

PolderRider wrote:

a pee which was white,

You're pissing milk :shock: :shock:

Perhaps you mean transparent/clear?

diy · January 2018

headaches could be:
- reaction to caffeinated energy drink.
- pressure of the insertion points at the base of the skull
- high blood pressure etc..
- more serious stuff
- dehydration
- niggling an old neck of shoulder injury

PolderRider · January 2018

Thx for all the input. Ticking them off one by one...
Helmet is worn snug but loosely and as headache sets in 1 or 2 hrs post ride, don't think this the cause. I don't ride with glasses since losing last pair but living in the netherlands there's zero risk of excessive sun glare at this time of year!

gave up caffiene and blood pressure has been fine at all check ups. If its the pressure, guess i'll have to suck it up.

white wee was indeed a false alarm

I've suspected my replensihment of water/electrolytes etc is to blame, so will up my water intake and try the High 5 Zero X-treme as suggested.
I'll see how i get on and report back.
Cheers.

mrfpb · January 2018

If you are stopping to pee on a ride then I don't think it's dehydration as you clearly have excess fluid. High five or other electrolytes will improve hydration, but if the headaches persist then its time to ask your GP for advice or referral to a headache specialist.

milemuncher1 · January 2018

I sometimes get a dull headache if I’ve got the wrong lenses in my goggles, if the lenses are too dark, they cause me a bit of eye strain, it manifests as a dull headache. At this time of year if I’m starting in the dark and finishing in the dark, if I haven’t got the yellow lenses in, I can get a bit of a dull headache as the light fades.

Brakeless · January 2018

I start and finish my evening commute in the dark as well. I find clear lenses best.

sungod · January 2018

PolderRider wrote:

Thx for all the input. Ticking them off one by one...
Helmet is worn snug but loosely and as headache sets in 1 or 2 hrs post ride, don't think this the cause. I don't ride with glasses since losing last pair but living in the netherlands there's zero risk of excessive sun glare at this time of year!

gave up caffiene and blood pressure has been fine at all check ups. If its the pressure, guess i'll have to suck it up.

white wee was indeed a false alarm

I've suspected my replensihment of water/electrolytes etc is to blame, so will up my water intake and try the High 5 Zero X-treme as suggested.
I'll see how i get on and report back.
Cheers.

unless you are already in a depleted state before starting, who could be diet related, i doubt rides of the duration/intensity you describe, especially at current temperatures, would deplete electrolytes that much

it doesn't sound like insufficient water, you drink way more than i would on a ride of that duration/pace in current conditions

'exercise induced headache' is a known condition, with no single cause, try searching on the phrase for ideas, avoid quack/spam websites, stick with ones run by public health bodies/similar institutions

Riding High · January 2018

I would go for hydration or lack of hydration in this case. If you are measuring your hydration just on what you drink when riding on that particular day then your not properly understanding your bodies hydration system. Drinking water or energy drinks etc on the day of your ride is not correct hydration!

How much water do you drink each day?

pilot_pete · January 2018

I’ve had exercise induced headaches on occasion with no discernible cause. Couple of paracetamol has it sorted within 1/2hr. As mentioned above - no specific, identifiable cause has been attributed by medical professionals as far as I am aware.

One other thing worth considering is seeing a good chiropractor. I get one to ‘loosen me up’ every now and again as I have found as I age I start to get niggles and restrictions in movement in head/neck and back/ hips. He hyper extends the joint which frees off the restriction and I leave feeling like a rubber man - so much more range of motion in the treated joints!

Head/ neck restrictions can lead to aches and specifically headaches. Try this as a quick check - sit upright looking straight ahead. Twist your head so your chin gets as close as possible to your left shoulder. Now do the same to the right and see if you reach as far each way. I can twist my head ever so slightly further to the right than the left and I’m getting a bit of neck ache, so it is time for a visit...

My restrictions come from years of sitting in a certain way at work (turning predominantly one way in my chair). Riding a bike can do similar things, or your position might not be optimal for your neck which can cause a bit of an ache/ lead to headaches. Worth a try to sort or eliminate as a cause...

PP

Team4Luke · January 2018

Post exercise induced headache likely although lots as covered above do not help allieviate or prevent, I often get the same, throbbing front head whether after just a easy ride or a full on one hour threshold effort. Helmet most definitely hinder, I've switched to one without an internal adjustment strap (speacialized have/had these) now on a Kask that has just the retention collar for adjustment at the back and nice front padding, and I don't overtighten. I use a kask aero in winter as this has no vents to head cold me and a good skull cap. Further sunglasses I feel cause this too, I really don't like an pressure just behind the ears exactly where glasses arms push on you at that point, I'm careful what glasses I buy and look for small arms and ends, ensure helmet straps are under the arms too so again less pressure, this assists in the glasses coming off in an accident as well as otherwise the straps will hold them in place and lenses could shatter on your eyes.
Hydration yes but I think if you are pre-disposed to this then little will prevent it, afterwards rest in a fully dark room that will kill if down and off and best tip I can give is last few miles just spin, small gear and I mean a small gear this seems to wind the body down nice and progressively this does seem to help and will also recover your legs much more more next day. If you keep the effort going to you door (average speeds worriers) then your body will just go from on to off in a blink and won't help you recover.

mercia_man · January 2018

I used to get post-exercise headaches often, particularly after racing (fell and road running) in events lasting more than an hour. I was generally fine after shorter races such as 5K. I was also prone to headaches in normal life, getting two or three a week.

I had borderline high blood pressure which I was monitoring at home over several years and eventually decided early last year to go for medication as I got older and my blood pressure rose bit by bit each year. My doctor prescribed amlodipine. My blood pressure has dropped and my headaches have vanished. Doc said it was a fallacy that high blood pressure causes headaches. But my experience is that taking amlodipine and lowering pressure has resulted in a dramatic improvement. However, the drug does cause me awful acid reflux so I've been prescribed peptac to control it.

PolderRider · January 2018

So i took onboard everyone's tips and advice. Thanks for sharing as it's a useful resource i will fall back on now and then.
Quick update on recent weekend ride that lasted 3.5 hours. Happy to say i managed to complete it without getting a headache afterwards so v happy about that. truth be told there was a slight threat of one starting but it never emerged.
I did make one significant change during the ride which was to remove my helmet for about an hour in total. This was during slower tempo sections for safety (also only ride on cyclepaths here in NL) and i was amazed at the comfort difference this made. No neck ache afterwards either. Perhaps an ultra light helmet will help, as don't foresee riding without helmet once on racebike doing intervals.

zefs · January 2018

Check your diet as well, and might want to try a multivitamin and/or iron supplement (consult your doctor first).

milemuncher1 · January 2018

PolderRider wrote:

So i took onboard everyone's tips and advice. Thanks for sharing as it's a useful resource i will fall back on now and then.
Quick update on recent weekend ride that lasted 3.5 hours. Happy to say i managed to complete it without getting a headache afterwards so v happy about that. truth be told there was a slight threat of one starting but it never emerged.
I did make one significant change during the ride which was to remove my helmet for about an hour in total. This was during slower tempo sections for safety (also only ride on cyclepaths here in NL) and i was amazed at the comfort difference this made. No neck ache afterwards either. Perhaps an ultra light helmet will help, as don't foresee riding without helmet once on racebike doing intervals.

I only ever use a very lightweight Carbon Fiber ( mostly ) Casco Warp sprint helmet, mainly because I find it causes less strain on my neck, and shoulders. I used to just put up with whatever ( decent ) helmet I could find, but the Warp sprint is my favoured helmet, because not only is it light, but it’s as tough as you like, and also aerodynamically designed, so I don’t get the ‘buffeting’ I experience with most helmets.

Brakeless · January 2018

Milemuncher1 wrote:

PolderRider wrote:

So i took onboard everyone's tips and advice. Thanks for sharing as it's a useful resource i will fall back on now and then.
Quick update on recent weekend ride that lasted 3.5 hours. Happy to say i managed to complete it without getting a headache afterwards so v happy about that. truth be told there was a slight threat of one starting but it never emerged.
I did make one significant change during the ride which was to remove my helmet for about an hour in total. This was during slower tempo sections for safety (also only ride on cyclepaths here in NL) and i was amazed at the comfort difference this made. No neck ache afterwards either. Perhaps an ultra light helmet will help, as don't foresee riding without helmet once on racebike doing intervals.

I only ever use a very lightweight Carbon Fiber ( mostly ) Casco Warp sprint helmet, mainly because I find it causes less strain on my neck, and shoulders. I used to just put up with whatever ( decent ) helmet I could find, but the Warp sprint is my favoured helmet, because not only is it light, but it’s as tough as you like, and also aerodynamically designed, so I don’t get the ‘buffeting’ I experience with most helmets.

A Casco warp sprint weighs over 420 grams, it is not a lightweight helmet, it is designed for track riding. A lightweight helmet such as a Giro Synthe weighs less than 250g and most road helmets weigh less than 350 grams. As for 'buffeting' , how do you come up with such rubbish?

webboo · January 2018

Brakeless wrote:

Milemuncher1 wrote:

PolderRider wrote:

So i took onboard everyone's tips and advice. Thanks for sharing as it's a useful resource i will fall back on now and then.
Quick update on recent weekend ride that lasted 3.5 hours. Happy to say i managed to complete it without getting a headache afterwards so v happy about that. truth be told there was a slight threat of one starting but it never emerged.
I did make one significant change during the ride which was to remove my helmet for about an hour in total. This was during slower tempo sections for safety (also only ride on cyclepaths here in NL) and i was amazed at the comfort difference this made. No neck ache afterwards either. Perhaps an ultra light helmet will help, as don't foresee riding without helmet once on racebike doing intervals.

I only ever use a very lightweight Carbon Fiber ( mostly ) Casco Warp sprint helmet, mainly because I find it causes less strain on my neck, and shoulders. I used to just put up with whatever ( decent ) helmet I could find, but the Warp sprint is my favoured helmet, because not only is it light, but it’s as tough as you like, and also aerodynamically designed, so I don’t get the ‘buffeting’ I experience with most helmets.

A Casio warp spring weighs over 420 grams, it is not a lightweight helmet, it is designed for track riding. A lightweight helmet such as a Giro Synthe weighs less than 250g and most road helmets weigh less than 350 grams. As for 'buffeting' , how do you come up with such rubbish?

He’s had a lot of practice.

DeVlaeminck · February 2018

Sgt.Pepper wrote:

cougie wrote:

Is it too tight ?

I have it as loose as possible, basically dangles off the back of my head slightly to allow the heat to escape from my forehead. Will provide no protection whatsoever in a crash, only 'wearing' it to avoid a fine. (assuming this question was aimed at me)

Yes I have had the same, changed helmet and I was ok though, in my case I think it was the helmet channelling cold air onto a certain part of my head which was some kind of trigger.

Anyone suffer headaches after training?

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