Greetings Weightlifters.

your probably wondering "why the strange title" by now.
and to be technical it should be more Implosions than an actual Explosion.

I suffer from a rare genetic disease that causes the inter cranial/spinal fluids our brains bathe in too build up uncontrollable pressure.

In a normal person, this fluid your brain soaks in builds up pressure whenever you lift weights, blow hard on something (:o like a balloon), sneezing, all sorts of things.
But drains away quiet safely afterwards.

But in me it doesn’t.. It stays in my head, and a heavy set of weight lifting could probably kill me. But I like to stay fit and healthy so I still exercise a small amount, but the pressure still builds up eventually from even doing small sets of pushups and other minor body weight exercises, meaning I have to stop and wait days for the pressure to get back down to a safe level.

This is very annoying (imagine someone reaching into your brain and squeezing it until it about to pop) but you power lifters have to deal with huge pressures and although probably more genetically equipped to deal with it. I was wondering if any of you have any tips or tricks to deal with pressure build-ups.

Especially methods to get the pressure down post workout.

Cheers for any help.

Greetings Weightlifters.

your probably wondering "why the strange title" by now.
and to be technical it should be more Implosions than an actual Explosion.

I suffer from a rare genetic disease that causes the inter cranial/spinal fluids our brains bathe in too build up uncontrollable pressure.

In a normal person, this fluid your brain soaks in builds up pressure whenever you lift weights, blow hard on something (:o like a balloon), sneezing, all sorts of things.
But drains away quiet safely afterwards.

But in me it doesn’t.. It stays in my head, and a heavy set of weight lifting could probably kill me. But I like to stay fit and healthy so I still exercise a small amount, but the pressure still builds up eventually from even doing small sets of pushups and other minor body weight exercises, meaning I have to stop and wait days for the pressure to get back down to a safe level.

This is very annoying (imagine someone reaching into your brain and squeezing it until it about to pop) but you power lifters have to deal with huge pressures and although probably more genetically equipped to deal with it. I was wondering if any of you have any tips or tricks to deal with pressure build-ups.

Especially methods to get the pressure down post workout.

Cheers for any help.



Wear a tight hat.:eek:

Only kidding. Dude, you'd better check with your doctor before you lift.

I agree with doordude, go speak with your doctor before doing anything.

Welcome to JSF though! :)

I suffer from a rare genetic disease that causes the inter cranial/spinal fluids our brains bathe in too build up uncontrollable pressure.

I was wondering if any of you have any tips or tricks to deal with pressure build-ups.

My number one tip is to get qualified medical advice.

My number two tip is, when you ask the doc about this, ask whether improved circulation which in normal people helps more rapidly equalize the intercranial pressure might help in your individual case. Also ask about the problem of changing hydration during exercise. If so, then you will want to carefully construct a workout program that takes this into account.

You do NOT want to mess with elevated ICP.

What exactly is this rare disease called?

Greetings Weightlifters.

your probably wondering "why the strange title" by now.
and to be technical it should be more Implosions than an actual Explosion.

I suffer from a rare genetic disease that causes the inter cranial/spinal fluids our brains bathe in too build up uncontrollable pressure.

In a normal person, this fluid your brain soaks in builds up pressure whenever you lift weights, blow hard on something (:o like a balloon), sneezing, all sorts of things.
But drains away quiet safely afterwards.

But in me it doesn’t.. It stays in my head, and a heavy set of weight lifting could probably kill me. But I like to stay fit and healthy so I still exercise a small amount, but the pressure still builds up eventually from even doing small sets of pushups and other minor body weight exercises, meaning I have to stop and wait days for the pressure to get back down to a safe level.

This is very annoying (imagine someone reaching into your brain and squeezing it until it about to pop) but you power lifters have to deal with huge pressures and although probably more genetically equipped to deal with it. I was wondering if any of you have any tips or tricks to deal with pressure build-ups.

Especially methods to get the pressure down post workout.

Cheers for any help.

How did you find out you had this defect? Did you have symptoms that prompted you to go to the doctor? Or did you know from birth?

The reason I ask is that I am wondering if there are any symptoms associated with increased intracranial pressure.

But yeah, I don't think anybody here will be as specialized and knowledgable as your doctor. For something as potentially dangerous as this, I'd definately talk to your doctor before engaging in any kind of vigorous exercise program.

ehhe.. thanks for the advice guys.
of course ive been to my doctor.. and I have no intention of lifting weights.. as i said in my post. "that would kill me" literally (at best).

But I do engage in minor body weight exercises, pushups, chinups, handstands etc. With theses the pressure increases are small and gradual; I can monitor it and stop when it gets to high.

Although a in a normal person is equipped to deal with these pressures with no problem, Power lifters take this to the extreme. I’m guessing they must have created special techniques to deal with it (maybe they just don’t know they are for this particular issue)

I have to wait days sometimes weeks when the pressure gets high, and it really slows my progress.


As for the name.. it’s a really long Russian/Latin combo.. ill save all our spellcheckers.
its thought to be genetic, so its from birth.
Symptoms can range to just about anything, because it also effects thes spinal cord so pain could showup anywhere.
I hope im not worrying all you weight lifters out there, this effects like 1 in a million type thing.

i think this ranks up there on the list of "oddest questions on JSF".

i had no idea this was a disease.

i hope you can get some help.. if there is any answer to this that is.

welcome to the boards and congrats for making the list. i like oddity!

ehhe.. thanks for the advice guys.
of course ive been to my doctor.. and I have no intention of lifting weights.. as i said in my post. "that would kill me" literally (at best).

But I do engage in minor body weight exercises, pushups, chinups, handstands etc. With theses the pressure increases are small and gradual; I can monitor it and stop when it gets to high.

Although a in a normal person is equipped to deal with these pressures with no problem, Power lifters take this to the extreme. I’m guessing they must have created special techniques to deal with it (maybe they just don’t know they are for this particular issue)

I have to wait days sometimes weeks when the pressure gets high, and it really slows my progress.


As for the name.. it’s a really long Russian/Latin combo.. ill save all our spellcheckers.
its thought to be genetic, so its from birth.
Symptoms can range to just about anything, because it also effects thes spinal cord so pain could showup anywhere.
I hope im not worrying all you weight lifters out there, this effects like 1 in a million type thing.

How did you find out that you had this problem? Just curious.

Take it easy though man -- We wouldn't want anything bad to happen to you. Do you have a way of monitoring your intracranial pressure when you exercise?

i think this ranks up there on the list of "oddest questions on JSF".

i had no idea this was a disease.

i hope you can get some help.. if there is any answer to this that is.

welcome to the boards and congrats for making the list. i like oddity!


Check John's FAQ for a really weird question :lol: It is at the very bottom.

P.S. Nice sig man.

P.P.S. I got 33,100 first game on pac man (from your myspace link) -- yeah baby!

MRI scan.

Someone I used to work with had a son who had fluid build up around the brain. He had a small 'shunt' fitted in his skull which could be altered to drain the excess fluid. I'm not sure if this is similar to what your condition is. But did the Doctors not say if something similar would be possible for you?

Apparantly it was not visable under his hair BTW.

I am wondering if you have a Chiari malformation (with or without a syrinx), If so, I can provide you some addtional information.

Someone I used to work with had a son who had fluid build up around the brain. He had a small 'shunt' fitted in his skull which could be altered to drain the excess fluid. I'm not sure if this is similar to what your condition is. But did the Doctors not say if something similar would be possible for you?

Apparantly it was not visable under his hair BTW.

Exactly. This is what they do. It's not as rare as people think