strange aching feeling in the head when working on heavy bag/pads

[TZ22]

Hello everyone,

Not sure if any of you have ever experienced something f similar, but I started noticing a weird achy feeling in my head when I throw straight punches or elbows on the bag or pads...i've worked with the bag many times before and never had this problem so I am a bit confused as to what this might be. The achy feeling goes away when I stop punching the bag/pads and I don't feel it with kicks or knees. I've had several concussions before this so I am wondering if this might somehow be related or is it simply because I took a bit of a break from working on a bag and just coming back to it now? Yesterday it got so bad that I had to stop in class because landing any straight punches was becoming too uncomfortable. The strange thing is that I don't have any headache, dizziness, nausea, etc, that I would expect to be present with a concussion so I don't even know if that's what it is. Few weeks ago I was holding pads for someone a lot bigger than me and when he was doing teeps I did feel a bit of a jolt in my head so I don't know if what I am experiencing now is related. I found some discussions online and someone suggested that it might be due to a neck injury or just very tight neck/jaw muscles, and I do have a lot of tightness in the neck, but I am curious to see if anyone else here has experienced something like that or might have any suggestions as to what might be causing this.

Thank you

[NewThai]

I haven't experienced that, but it sounds like a check up might be in order to rule out injury (be it to the neck or the brain, etc.). It may be a simple matter of needing some massage or chiropracroc adjustment done, but better to err on the side of caution, especially as you've suffered concussive injury before.

[Sylvie von Duuglas-Ittu]

Hello everyone,

Not sure if any of you have ever experienced something f similar, but I started noticing a weird achy feeling in my head when I throw straight punches or elbows on the bag or pads...i've worked with the bag many times before and never had this problem so I am a bit confused as to what this might be. The achy feeling goes away when I stop punching the bag/pads and I don't feel it with kicks or knees. I've had several concussions before this so I am wondering if this might somehow be related or is it simply because I took a bit of a break from working on a bag and just coming back to it now? Yesterday it got so bad that I had to stop in class because landing any straight punches was becoming too uncomfortable. The strange thing is that I don't have any headache, dizziness, nausea, etc, that I would expect to be present with a concussion so I don't even know if that's what it is. Few weeks ago I was holding pads for someone a lot bigger than me and when he was doing teeps I did feel a bit of a jolt in my head so I don't know if what I am experiencing now is related. I found some discussions online and someone suggested that it might be due to a neck injury or just very tight neck/jaw muscles, and I do have a lot of tightness in the neck, but I am curious to see if anyone else here has experienced something like that or might have any suggestions as to what might be causing this.

Thank you

I have experienced this and generally it doesn't last more than a day or two. I've linked it to dehydration and the neck/jaw tension you mentioned. On days after really hard clinching sessions when my neck muscles are weak as a result, I'll have a hard time with this sharp pain with every punch, or a kind of headache that throbs with every strike.

Maybe get a massage, do some stretches, and be sure to strengthen up the neck.

[radarjam]

I've also experienced this before and like Sylvie mentioned, it does link to strained neck muscles and I got those occasional headache while throwing those punches. Doing stretches (with the assistance of my physiotherapist) helped me a lot. I don't get it as much as I used to as I'm forcing myself now to take the time to stretch after class. But rest of course does help too! I should also mention, try taking some BCAA's "Branched Chain Amino Acids"supplements  (lots of benefits including help with muscle fatigue and whatnot. Here's a link if you want more info on it, definitely worth an investment and it does taste good too! http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/bcaas-the-many-benefits-of-amino-acids.html  :biggrin:

[TZ22]

Great, thanks for all of your responses :) I tried stretching the neck muscles for longer before the class yesterday and felt a lot better so it looks like it is likely related to neck muscles, which is quite a relief considering that I have a fight coming up in 2 weeks so I am happy that it's something that seems easy to resolve.

[Layal Shafee]

I get this, too! Probably is due to not drinking enough water.

The only time it was bad enough for me to stop training for the whole day (and following week) was the day before I discovered I had meningitis. Every punch, even without power, hurt. The next morning I woke up pukey and seeing double.

So, if it's seriously SERIOUSLY hurting, see a doctor.