Weight lifting and LE risk: an analysis

Me too! Thanks!
Binney

Thanks for the info...I did find an article on the National Lymhedema Network titled Weight Lifting and Lymhedema: Clearing up Misconceptions by Kathryn Schmitz, PhD MPH Associate Prof. U of Penn that was informative as well...I am not too slick at putting links in here yet...but I think the article is easy to find.

I did spend a portion of time, not doing much of the things I enjoy, like huge baking projects and serious gardening and other things out of fear that I would trigger it...I never seemed to find a balance between doing too little or too much...the periodic rest breaks and raising my arm on pillows several times a day ... seemed like I got conflicting info from several sources and was not sure what to follow...at this point in my life...I want my arm back more than I want the new boob that DIEP is going to give me....balance, balance...trying to find that balance...thanks ladies for the input.

A question:  I know they say there is not a dumb question, but this one might be ... and I ask that you don't throw arrows at me for asking! 

I'm working with a trainer right now and we're doing LIGHT weights and doing it slowly.  Yesterday after my session with her ... even with my gloves on, I could tell my fingers swelled up.  I did about an hour of cardio afterward because that usually helps the swelling, but when I finally took my gloves off hours later, my fingers were still swollen.

 Things are better today and they are back down.  My question is this: is it OK if you swell a little and then it goes down?  I know next time, I should definitely take it easy and do a little less.  But if I calculate everything I do on whether or not I swell ... I seriously couldn't a drink a cup of hot tea ... hot tea makes my finger swell, taking a shower makes my finger swell, driving makes my fingers swell, even walking makes my fingers swell.  I couldn't do anything!  Seriously.

I hate this d@*% condition or whatever you call it. 

Does my question make sense?  Is a little swelling OK when weight lifting if it goes away later? 

Dawn, you and Kira are exactly right about finding a balance when it comes to exercise. I also get "swelly" from cardio, so I do that on off days from the weight lifting. It's easier that way for me to monitor the effect the weights are having on my body. You will have to see what works for you and modify appropriately. What I have found interesting, is that if I do just the right level of weight lifting, my "normal" swelling will often decrease. Also, if I've had an increase in swelling from salty food, it will often decline after lifting. 

I was told to do the weightlifting exercises twice weekly, with 48 hrs in between sessions. She told me to stay at the same weight for two to four workouts. She was referring mainly to the upper body exercises, and in my case certain torso moves, as I have truncal LE. She said I could work out my legs as much as I wanted. 

My trainer's attitude was that if I swelled a little and it went down the next day, then it was okay. If the swelling didn't go down and continued to swell the next time I exercised, then the plan was to back down on the weight until the swelling was under control and the lower weight didn't cause a flare. 

Increasing weights by one pound increments sounds crazy, but the goal is to limit inflammation. Anytime a muscle is challenged to lift greater weight, there are small tears, which cause inflammation. Inflammation can lead to flares. So, if we baby step the increase in weights, or back down a pound when we sense swelling that doesn't diminish, we eventually can be successful in building greater strength over time. Patience is key, especially for those of us gals who have previously been gym rats. The main thing is we DO need to work these muscles, because if we stop using them, then it takes even less to cause inflammation and a flare. 

Tina 

Dawne, I was always a swelly person when it came to cardio - even prior to BC surgery. My rings would always be tight after. Same thing during hot weather. I asked my LE therapist about this, and she confirmed that some people even without a compromised lymphatic system can swell more than others during exercise and heat. So for me, it's hard to know whether I'm swelling because that's what I've always done, or if it is LE related. I tend to err on the side of caution, because it's hard to not worry about swelling once you have LE. I figure if I don't add any weight for several days, what's the big deal? There's no race, just a goal to improve. Now if I could just get myself to be consistent when it comes to working out!!! 

Day - I would only do it if you have a glove and a sleeve.  And I would start out super slow.  Like 1 set of 10 reps.  Do the stretches and the other preventative measures as well. 

lago - I so know what you're talking about!  I too was using 10-12lbs ... the 3lbs does indeed feel like nothing.  Grrrrr!  But that belongs on another thread!    At least we're doing something ...

KS1 - I don't know but I'd be interested in knowing of such places too.

I've been working out with a personal trainer and thought we were using light-enough weights. It triggered lymphedema (which I had not had before). This has been a pain to clear up.