Exercising by lifting weights increases your muscle strength, but you may feel some discomfort at times in various areas of your body during or after exercise. Pain in your glands, for example, may seem to be directly related to lifting weights or other strenuous exercise. This pain may actually be caused by another medical condition. If you begin to experience a great deal of pain in your glands, seek medical attention immediately.
Glands
Your body contains many different glands, including those of your lymphatic system, the lymph nodes. These lymph nodes play a vital role in helping your body fight infection and remain healthy. They are located in many parts of your body, including under your jaw, in your neck, inside your armpits or under your groin. At times, these glands can become swollen and painful for reasons not necessarily related to weightlifting.
Infection
One main cause for the pain in your lymph nodes or glands is the onset of infection. Bacteria or viral infections can cause your glands to swell and often cause you pain or discomfort. This is known as lymphadenitis. Lifting weights with such a condition can cause an increase in pressure in these areas of your body as your muscles swell during strenuous activity. As such, pain or discomfort may also be increased as a result.
Treatment
For the most part, time will allow your lymph nodes or glands to reduce in swelling slowly as fluid begins to drain from these areas of your body naturally. Antibiotics or other medications can also be used to help fight swollen glands as a result of infection or other sickness. In severe cases, however, abnormally large lymph nodes may require additional treatments to reduce, up to and including surgical intervention in extreme cases.
Considerations
There is currently no direct link to swollen glands and weightlifting, at least in a cause-and-effect relationship. Swollen or painful glands are typically caused by another medical condition. Continuing to exercise and lift weights with swollen glands may cause an increase in pain in these areas, so you may be best served to hold off on lifting weights until your swelling goes down.
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