Headaches

[SCUBA STEVE]

Now I searched but really couldn't find anything on this, so don't flame me if this has been covered. Anyway, I have started back diving and have made 3 dives, 3 Sundays in a row. After the day of diving and especially the next day I have a splitting headache. This continues usually until Wednesday or Thursday. I can't figure if it is the pressure or the cold. So, this is really getting me down and I guess you could say I dread diving a bit. But trying to push through this wall. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

P.S. My deepest dive was 70 ft.
Eddie

 

[jbd]

The etiology of headaches is very diverse. It would be very difficcult for anyone to say with any certainty what is causing you headaches. Is there any other information that you can provide about the quality and or location of the pain?

Do the muscles in the back of your neck seem tight? My worst headaches occur when these muscles seem unusually tense.

 

[SCUBA STEVE]

Yes, the muscles are tense but, I have just recovered from a broken neck. And, my whole head seems to hurt, and I just feel like crap. Also, the water where I dive is very cold.

 

[wedivebc]

Yes, the muscles are tense but, I have just recovered from a broken neck. And, my whole head seems to hurt, and I just feel like crap. Also, the water where I dive is very cold.

I had a whiplash injury about 15 years ago and still get headaches when I am laying on my back with my head raised for any length of time (like when I'm working underneath my car). When I dive I used to get similar headaches so I started staying very horizontal in the water with my head looking slightly forward. I also found that when swimming fast I got headaches but discovered that was from C02 and learned how to breath slower and deeper which fixed that problem. Either way I almost gave up diving because of it and now they are so rare I find I is a small price to pay for the pleasure I get from diving.

cheers,

 

[outlawaggie]

I had a whiplash injury about 15 years ago and still get headaches when I am laying on my back with my head raised for any length of time (like when I'm working underneath my car). When I dive I used to get similar headaches so I started staying very horizontal in the water with my head looking slightly forward. I also found that when swimming fast I got headaches but discovered that was from C02 and learned how to breath slower and deeper which fixed that problem. Either way I almost gave up diving because of it and now they are so rare I find I is a small price to pay for the pleasure I get from diving.

cheers,

I am the opposite. I have two bulging discs in my neck from a car wreck. If I keep my head back (like when looking forward while swimming horizontal) for an extended period I severe headaches that last a day or so. When looking forward I actually end up swimming at a slight angle (feet about a foot or so deeper than my head) This allows me to look forward while keeping my neck in a straighter position. It does take some getting used to in order to keep from swimming up.

 

[jbd]

Yes, the muscles are tense but, I have just recovered from a broken neck. And, my whole head seems to hurt, and I just feel like crap. Also, the water where I dive is very cold.

That could explain some of the pain. It could be that you are over taxing the muscles after a period of little use. Maybe some short dives would help to recondition the neck muscles

As to the overall "feel like crap"; maybe some silent bubbles i.e. subclinical DCI :06: I don't know you or your diving history but maybe you are a bit out of practice and your ascent skills are a little rusty, no offense intended, just trying to consider the possibilities. Maybe do the short dives at shallow depths to cut down on overall N2 loading and make sure that your ascents are real slow and see how you feel afterwords and on to the next day.

 

[Mako Mark]

some common causes of post dive headaches are

CO2 build up but this is usually just after the dive

Jaw fatigue, from both stress in beginners or cold (maybe in your case)

Low visibility causing eye strain.

Hope that helps.
.

 

[deep_n_blue]

Hi Steve
I saw your post and had to register. It sounds like you have a case of muscle spasticity which is leading to a tension headache. Your neck injury is also most likely aggravating the entire condition. If the water is cold this can cause an increase in the level and intensity of the pain. Make sure you have adequate thermal protection near the head. I also would recommend (check with your doc of course first) a dose of a minimally sedating skeletal muscle relaxant such as Zanaflex (tizandine HCl) or Skelaxin (metaxalone). However stay away from Flexeril (cyclobenzaprine) or barbiturate/narcotic combinations used to treat tension headache such as Fiorinal or Fioricet which can be very sedating. If the pain persists you might want to consider consulting a neurologist. I hope this helps!

 

[Snowbear]

I also would recommend (check with your doc of course first) a dose of a minimally sedating skeletal muscle relaxant such as Zanaflex (tizandine HCl) or Skelaxin (metaxalone).

Just curious - since you are recommending these drugs, are you a doc or pharmacist? Your profile lists medicine and pharmacology as interests, but doesn't mention your profession. If so, do you specialize in diving medicine? What does DAN say about the hyperbaric effects/side effects of these meds?

I was given a prescription for Skelaxin for the occasional muscle spasms I get secondary to herniated lumber disks and I needed meds with minimal side effects to I can take them while working. I don't notice any side effects and it seems to target the actual muscle spasms rather than all skeletal muscle like soma or flexaril do. I have never taken it while diving (weightlessness eliminates the need for meds ), so have not looked into the hyperbarics end.

 

[SCUBA STEVE]

Thanks for all the replies, maybe I am coming up to quickly. There is hardly any visability, and I am an amateur. I have a Vytec and try to keep up with my ascent. I am working hard on bouy. control. I am going to stick with it. I didn't go this weekend but I will dive this coming weekend. Think I am going to get a hood also. I dive at a local quarry, man that water is cold.