Swollen Chest After Weight Lifting?

sarahkw04

Hi all,

I have a feeling I know the answer, but I'd love to hear from those of you who lift heavy weights, especially women.

I'm very active - teach/take barre many times a week, workout 5 or so days a week... For the last month, I've been going to a power lifting gym - fantastic trainers, awesome workouts. I'm loving it.

But, yesterday, I noticed my chest was swollen - both along the sides and my actual chest. It's swollen enough that I "spilled out" of my bathing suit tops and bras and shirts have felt a little tight. I've been sore, but not extreme. I've been able to work through the soreness. The soreness was better yesterday, but I noticed the swelling yesterday. Soreness is even better today, and swelling is down a bit, but I still feel my sides especially when I do certain movements or reach behind me.

Here's what I did this week:

Sunday: Upper body: Negative pullups (had never done those before), fly arms, EZ bar curls, hammer curls, some ab work, landmines

Monday: Lower Body: Maxed out squats - dropped 165 pounds on my 3rd rep; trainers were on either side and grabbed it, but not before I pushed my arms back trying to save myself from crashing full on; Forget what else we did, but it was pretty tame after that, and all lower body/abs

Tuesday: Taught a barre class

Wednesday: Upper body: Bench press - I was SO sore from earlier in the week that I couldn't do nearly as much as I usually do. We did 3 rounds with just the bar, then 2 more sets of 10 with 5lb plates on either end; inclined pull downs for my shoulders, bicep curls, a bit of tricep work

I then taught a barre class.

Thursday: Took a barre class

Friday: Conditioning day at the gym - 3 tabata sets of air squats, planks, crawls, hip bridges, and scorpions, then 2 rounds of kettle swings (went down in weight because my arms were sore), battle ropes, and rows. I also took a barre class and had to really push through it. Probably a sign right there.

Today: taught a barre class.

I'll teach a class tomorrow morning, but I'm planning to give my body until Wednesday to recover before I jump back into the heavy weights. It'll be an arm day.

Heavy lifting is still new and I did a lot of it this week. Anyone experienced anything like this swelling? I know there's DOMS and some swelling is natural, but seriously - I had to chuck a bathing suit top and go with another option today.

I haven't taken any anti-inflammatories yet, but I'm going to ice and soak in an epsom salt bath tonight, maybe do some foam rolling. I've also been drinking tons of water.

Not sure it matters, but I've been playing with my calories, too, trying to figure out the best macros and eating back at least half of my exercise calories to help with muscle repair.

I'd appreciate any and all feedback!

Sorry for the length, but I know y'all like details!

fattothinmum

Not sure. I have costocondritis which swells up the ribcage like that during an attack. I'd scale back and consult a doc, just to be on the safe side. It's probably nothing, but anything in the chest area is worth checking out, in case you make it worse until whatever it is has settled down.

SonyaCele

it sounds like normal swole. i get it all the time. i doubt you need to see the doctor. Just wear stretchy clothes. If you are going to a powerlifting gym and they are having you do the big lifts, you'll get all pumped up. its awesome.

sarahkw04

Thanks! It's better today, although still a bit puffy. I taught a barre flow that is arm and ab intensive this AM. Making myself take the day off tomorrow - my bedroom smells like a retirement home between the epsom salt and icy hot!

rileysowner

Perfectly normal, especially when starting out, although it will happen even in experienced lifter.