Neck Spasm/training Q

[F4iGuy]

I was in a car accident several years ago and suffered from whiplash. Not serious at first and the MRI checked out OK. Then one day I was doing heavy shoulder presses (behind the head). Unlocking the weight at a strange angle screwed me up. I got a sharp pain in the back left part of the base of my neck, and an instant headache to go with it. I layed off the weights for a few weeks and everything has been fine for about a year.
The injury came back while I was doing heavy incline dumbell benches. Unfortunately the last (I feel most important) rep of any exercise will set it off. If I'm benching and I fail at 10 reps I'm fine as long as I stop at 8 or 9, and not 10. I've been going to a chiro and she says there is a spasm at the back of my neck. She suggested lightening up.
I don't want to stop lifting for too long. What should I do? Even leg pressing screws with my neck. I don't want to loose any progress. Any recommendations on how to go from here? The chiro has helped but the spasm keeps coming back. How should I modify my training? Thanks.

[bda2424]

when you lift do you flex your sternocleidomastiod muscles and the other associated muscles in your neck? If you see your neck straining as you get that last set out then i would have to say you have a TOS condition which is fairly common.

[F4iGuy]

Can you please go into more detail, what does TOS stand for and what can I do about it? I do tense my neck on the last all out rep, but thats my favorite one! I've always been told that thats where the most benefits are found, in that last rep. I enjoy pushing myself and it hasn't been a problem until recently.

[bda2424]

TOS stands for thoracic outlet syndrome..........it means something in your neck/should region is enclosing in on the nerves traveling from the spine in your lower neck/upper back (T1 level) and leaving you with a neuropathy (pain or numbness sensation) Various structures that can do this: cervical rib, and scalenes just to name two. It sounds to me though that the scalenes would be the first thing i would check. Trigger point therapy, cervical adjustments, and PT such as e stim or something would all help greatly..........there are also some nutritional and supplemental approaches to help add into all this too.

[F4iGuy]

Thanks for the advice. I think I'm going to invest in the e stim. That seems to help after i get all tense. I'm just pissed cause this was never an issue before. I just want it to dissapear!