Leg Bruising

LeslieB042812

I recently started lifting for the first time using The New Rules of Lifting for Women and I also run. I've noticed recently that my legs have a ton of bruises that I don't remember getting. I've always bruised easily, but this seems more than normal. This morning, I noticed a large indentation on the top of my left thigh and a string of bruises next to it on the side of my left thigh. It's very strange (and somewhat disturbing!). Could this be from the lifting? In the past, I've run way more than I am running now and this has never happened, so I doubt that's it. If it is from the lifting, what is happening?

Any insights are much appreciated. Thanks!

peaceout_aly

This happened to me a lot when I started hula hooping and lifting after being sedentary for quite some time. My hematologist said it has to do with circulation and blood vessels. Your body should adjust after a short time - it took me about a month before I stopped getting them. I still do get them occasionally, but never as bad as I did when I initially started up.

LeslieB042812

peaceout_aly wrote: »

This happened to me a lot when I started hula hooping and lifting after being sedentary for quite some time. My hematologist said it has to do with circulation and blood vessels. Your body should adjust after a short time - it took me about a month before I stopped getting them. I still do get them occasionally, but never as bad as I did when I initially started up.

Good to know I'm not the only one! I'll wait for it subside then. Thank you!

LeslieB042812

Just an update in case anyone else has the same issue. I did some google searching on the thigh dent (since that bothered me more than the bruising) and apparently it happens more than you would think! It seems that it's a combination of fat loss and pressure. I recently got a standing desk and my leg hits the desk at exactly the same spot as the dent. Here is an article and forum discussing this:
http://www.scarysymptoms.com/2012/01/does-quadriceps-muscle-dent-have-you.html
http://training.fitness.com/weight-training/leg-muscle-dent-2294.html

arabianhorselover

LeslieB042812 wrote: »

I recently started lifting for the first time using The New Rules of Lifting for Women and I also run. I've noticed recently that my legs have a ton of bruises that I don't remember getting. I've always bruised easily, but this seems more than normal. This morning, I noticed a large indentation on the top of my left thigh and a string of bruises next to it on the side of my left thigh. It's very strange (and somewhat disturbing!). Could this be from the lifting? In the past, I've run way more than I am running now and this has never happened, so I doubt that's it. If it is from the lifting, what is happening?

Any insights are much appreciated. Thanks!

From deadlifting, perhaps?

LeslieB042812

arabianhorselover wrote: »

LeslieB042812 wrote: »

I recently started lifting for the first time using The New Rules of Lifting for Women and I also run. I've noticed recently that my legs have a ton of bruises that I don't remember getting. I've always bruised easily, but this seems more than normal. This morning, I noticed a large indentation on the top of my left thigh and a string of bruises next to it on the side of my left thigh. It's very strange (and somewhat disturbing!). Could this be from the lifting? In the past, I've run way more than I am running now and this has never happened, so I doubt that's it. If it is from the lifting, what is happening?

Any insights are much appreciated. Thanks!

From deadlifting, perhaps?

possibly, i'm just glad it's not permanent!

CountessKitteh

This totally happened to me too. I bruise like a banana normally. Ha!

Faithful_Chosen

Oh yes! I don't know what yours look like but this is standard practice for me. Like you, I stand for work, I skate, I walk, and I do a lot of ground work so... yeah. It happens. They go away. If I overdo it, they come back. I judge my need for a rest day by the number of bruises I have at this point

tomatoey

Yeah i get bruises whenever i work out, you just nick yourself here and there without knowing it.

But if you're bruising a LOT, it's worth getting a blood test or checking your meds, something else may be going on. there was this one NSAID i used to take that led to a lot of bruising. also could be anemia eg

paris458

weird!! I thought maybe I was just hitting my legs on things and not remembering.

DawnEmbers

Yep. I bruise my legs often from deadlifts and during the stages with the one arm dumbbell snatch after a certain weight I kept bruising my left arm from the edge of the dumbbell hitting it. With deadlift when it gets heavy you worry more about moving the weight and not dropping than what part of your leg it's touching/hitting.

LeslieB042812

Lots of good tips! I initially had the same thought as Paris (that I was just hitting my legs and forgetting). It's interesting to note that deadlifts can lead to bruising because I have been doing them (and really enjoy them, too!). Tomatoey's suggestion about the NSAIDs is a good one, too, I hadn't thought of that and I do use them for headaches (esp. now during allergy season), so that might be contributing.

Thank you all for your insights--and especially for making me feel "normal" (whatever that is!).

kami3006

LOL, my friends have actually started noticing when I don't have bruises from lifting.

jessenya3712

peaceout_aly wrote: »

This happened to me a lot when I started hula hooping and lifting after being sedentary for quite some time. My hematologist said it has to do with circulation and blood vessels. Your body should adjust after a short time - it took me about a month before I stopped getting them. I still do get them occasionally, but never as bad as I did when I initially started up.

Mine took about a month also. I had a lot of bruising that it came to my attention also.