Hey, Austin/Jordan
I’ve been following your guys’s videos and podcasts for a while and have a question about neck pain. I’ve had issues with my neck since about 2011. After reading starting strength, I think a large culprit was bench pressing with my head tilted back and chin up. Since I’ve stopped doing this, while keeping my head straight and my butt flat, I haven’t really had many issues with my neck other than some crepitus. Last couple of weeks it’s been hurting again. I’ve never had any neurological symptoms. I had an x-ray years ago showing the lowest grade spondylolisthesis(forward shift not backwards). I talked to a neurosurgeon at my work and he wasn’t concerned about it. I work in neurodiagnostics doing eeg’s looking down while working on difficult patients at times and spend a lot of time looking at monitors in epilepsy monitoring unit. I was just seeing if I should lift through the pain or if rest is needed. Heat and hot showers seem to help, ice doesn’t do anything. I’ve also injured my back on deadlift at times, but your guys help and Alan Thrall’s video have helped. I’ve been lifting about 17 years, I’m 6’1 about 205. If it helps my bench right now is about 265 x4 with my form correct. I was planning on squatting tonight as this never really makes pain worse. Bench press is definitely dicey.
Thanks,
Keith