Dealing with pain during workouts

So, here’s the situation. During my workouts—specifically when I ramp up the pace on the treadmill at the gym—I occasionally experience a sharp pain just below my left ear. It then radiates down the left side of my neck, moves toward my shoulder, and settles slightly below it. Does anyone have any insight into what might be causing this?

wiredhound32 said:So, here’s the deal. During my workouts—specifically when I’m hitting the treadmill at the gym—I occasionally get this pain right under my left ear. Then it starts spreading down the left side of my neck, hits my shoulder, and even dips just below it. Anyone have any clue what might be causing this?

Maybe you're subconsciously tensing up and clenching your muscles way harder than you actually need to? Also, keep an eye on your heart rate. Don't push yourself too deep into the anaerobic zone and maybe the pain won't kick in.

stormyheron4 said:Watch out for unconscious muscle tension. Don't overdo it. Monitor your heart rate. Avoid spending too much time in the anaerobic zone, and you might dodge the pain altogether.

I am not sure why I would be cramping. My fitness levels are quite high. I don't run excessively either; I typically run for twenty minutes, increasing my pace every five minutes. The pain usually sets in between the tenth and fifteenth minute, then subsides. Also, what does staying out of the anaerobic zone actually entail?🤷

wiredhound32 said:I don't know why anyone would even bother stressing about it. Honestly, I feel like I'm in pretty solid shape. I don't even run that much. I’ll just go for a 20-minute jog and kick up the pace every five minutes. There's this specific pain that hits me right around the 10 to 15-minute mark, but it totally disappears once I hit my top speed. So, what does it actually mean when people say I won't be spending too much time in the anaerobic zone?🤷

Look, when you're out there running, you’ve basically got three main heart rate zones to play with. You've got the low zone for burning fat, the middle one for building up your cardio, and then that final anaerobic zone. If you want to get serious about this, go check out some stuff on Fitness Junkie or similar sites because these zones aren't random—they depend entirely on your age. There are specific charts out there you can use to calculate exactly where you stand. The big thing is you need to keep an eye on your pulse while you're working out. Don't let yourself sit in that top anaerobic zone for too long. Pushing it too hard for extended periods is actually bad news for you. Stay smart about it.

So, I hit the gym today. I was on the treadmill using one of those finger-clip pulse oximeters to track my heart rate. Everything seemed standard initially; as I ramped up the pace, my heart rate climbed steadily, maybe increasing by three or four beats at a time. Then, right toward the end, that pain flared up again. My heart rate had hit about 175—I was running pretty fast—and then, suddenly, it plummeted to around 95. Is such a rapid drop in heart rate actually normal, especially occurring precisely when I feel that pain?😕One more thing: I am in excellent physical condition. I can increase my speed easily and maintain it for long stretches. Furthermore, when that pain strikes, I am not gasping for air or struggling to hold a conversation.

I’ve been noticing some pain on my right side, right near the collarbone, whenever I’m out for a run 🤷 always

My calves are absolutely killing me on the treadmill—it feels like I’m seconds away from a massive cramp😂
and my hip bones are aching too... honestly, when I'm using the machines, everything just hurts😂