I came very close to breaking the vein at the back of my kneck many times. I don't know if it happened to you but let me explain. I was playing basketball and i guess the pressure was high, the vein would've popped out or broke but i am glad that didn't happen. That happened many times.

I was wondering, what happens if you break that vein in the back of kneck? And what triggers that vein? Atleast i should know what i am breaking.

It's pretty hard to narrow down based on you description, but the only arteries in the neck region that could have that sort of effect would be the carotids, and busting thme would be as fatal as it is unlikely.

What makes you think that you almost 'broke' your artery? Arteries are capable of withstanding enourmous pressure, it's what they're designed to do, even if they bulge out enourmously the chances of them bursting are extremely small. Anyway, if they did burst it would result in an aneurysm which can be fatal.



The fact that it has happened many times and you're still here to tell us this, suggests that you just have highly visible arteries.

I just had the feeling that it was going to pop out or something. I hate that feeling. It was crucial. But like you said, the chances of them brusting out are extremely small, so i guess i don't have anything to worry about. But if it did brust out somehow, you are going to pay (J/K).


I just hope it never happens again.

I don't think you actually have much of a chance of "breaking" your "neck vein".

I'm not really aware of many arteries going straight up the back of your neck, your intenal cartoid artery is on the side, so I'm going to guess you are talking about the cervical branch of your occipital artery. Don't wory, you won't hurt it.

How do you know it was going to break? Just beause you could feel your heartbeat back there? That doesn't mean a lot. It would take intene pressure to burst an artery.

Well you know the feeling when something is going to break. That's how i felt it(physically). It could've been alot of pressure seeing i was in the middle of playing basketball.

I bet it's nothing. I have nothing to worry about.

I wouldn't worry too much but it's better to be safe than sorry. I would just ask your doc about it. You never know.

What you are probably experiencing is the feeling of a blocked artery/vein. Simply put, however you were stood you were blocking the flow of blood to/from the brain, when your body registers this and you reposition yourself, the blood rushes back and I suppose in a way it does feel like it will pop out. If it was to snap, then you would be suffering an Arterial hemorrhage, and would quickly die!

Sleep tight

Could it have been a tension headache? For me, at least, they affect the back of my neck and although there is pain, there is also a feeling of pressure or tightness.

Just throwing ideas out there.