Inner ear and balance problem from deadlifting

[Cossack]

Scott:

In the past I have noticed that you are reluctant to give direct medical advice and you urge people to consult with their physician. I assure you that I am indeed under my doctor’s care for the condition I am writing. However, my doctor is not a sports doc and he is not into marital arts.

For the past three months whenever I bent over to do deadlifts I heard a spongy sound in my right ear. I am doing Pavel’s PTP. Last week when I completed my deadlift session I could feel that there was fluid inside my inner right ear. This effected my equilibrium and when I bend over I feel dizzy and nautious. My doctor took ex-rays of my nasal passages and I even went to my dentist for more ex-rays and examination. I do not appear to have any nasal infection or virus.

Do you know any way that the heavy deadlifs could have caused this? I have used power breathing is the past, but since you have written against it I have been breathing normally during my workouts. Do you have any ideas on how to treat this that I can pass on to my doctor?

Thank you.

[Connie Brown]

Sure sounds like it has something to do with pressure doesn't it?

First off I would get a musculoskeletal doc. Maybe our chiros and PTs can tell you what to look for.

Or even an ND. could you have mucus or something that's not quite infection but more fluid or pressure than you normally do?

Does it happen with any other moves besides the deadlift?

What changed around the time that this started?

[Deep_D]

my opinion its probably an overly intense use of the valsalva manuver. Yes its wickeldy effective in strength training but it has to to incorporated slowly. Take Pavel's tension techniques and reapply them slowly piece by piece, remember strenght is a skill and you cant rush a skill.

the biggest point i cant stress enough is if you feel an excess tension in your head and, stop your lift. the tension has left your body and can only cause harm at this point

As well, do as Connie stated and take a break from any heavy lifts.

hopes this helps and best of luck!

[Cossack]

Thank you for the great answers. It is the bending over that triggers it. Bending over and pulling up 315 pounds seems to be the instigator. I am not new to Pavel's mehods. At my max I have pulled up 365 pounds for three reps about six months ago. This problem is fairly new.

[JasonE]

When bent over, the blood pressure in your upper body, neck and head increases. Under load, particulary with power breathing and high overall tension, the pressure level skyrockets.

I am concerned about your blood pressure levels and whether something more subtle is awry. I've heard of people blowing vessels in their eyes, ears, nose, and so on when lifting heavy loads. This sounds related, but someone needs to look specifically for something of the sort. Has this possibility come up in your examinations?

Proceed cautiously.

[Connie Brown]

right. Bottom line, seems like it's an issue for a doc or bodyworker first to rule out a source of pressure, BEFORE attacking it as a problem of integrating breathing/movement/structure.

And you didn't say what changed when this started. Suddenly increase weights? Stress in life? hit on the head? girlfriend got a cat? anything?

[Randell Waddell]

Your Vestibular System monitors and self corrects an astonishing array of dynamics within your body (and mostly all subconsciously).

The stimulus from the semi-circular canals is an INTEGRAL component in this process.

Please do not stuff around - get to a specialist who can answer any questions you have, and can help retify the situation.

Randell. :shock: