Self-inflicted - can it be fixed with PT?
Male, 56. I think I caused my own issue by lifting too much weight doing shrugs. I thought I was building strong trap and neck muscles, but after a few weeks I noticed some pain in the back of my neck. I worked through the pain thinking it was temporary. It got worse. I stopped lifting weights completely. This was around mid-November.
The pain would come and go daily and didn't get better or worse until about 45 days later - beginning of January. It got worse. I started having bad pain shooting down the back of my neck and across my right shoulder. Also started having headaches on the back-right side of my head and very sensitive to touch.
Next came the dizzy spells, numb lips and facial flushing. I was going to go to urgent care, but after a couple of days things got better. Back to mild, intermittent neck/shoulder pain. Headaches subsided. Dizziness stopped.
Now in early February, some of the neck pain has come back and stronger dizzy spells. Whenever I move my head forward or backward the dizziness is much more intense. The neck and shoulder pain is none to mild, but the dizziness remains for the past 3 days. Getting better but still worrisome.
Anyway, I feel like I have brought this on myself by doing too heavy/poor form lifting. I'm wondering if anyone has had success by doing PT exercises to "fix" or reverse any damage like this and if so, what exercises did you do? How long did it take?
Posted Feb 11, 2026, 10:27 PM UTC