Pain in a neck gland after weightlifting might result from swollen glands, as the neck contains multiple chains of glands, or lymph nodes, which might become swollen and painful if your body is fighting an infection. Exhaustive exercise such as an unusually intense weight training session can depress the immune system, making you more susceptible to illness. However, it's also possible that the pain in your neck is unrelated to your lymph nodes and is caused by a muscle strain incurred during your weightlifting workout.
Swollen Glands
A sore neck gland, or lymph node, usually indicates that the lymph node is swollen. If a lymph node becomes swollen and painful suddenly after a weightlifting workout, the swelling is most likely due to an infection. Lymph nodes help the body fight infections and become swollen rapidly in the early stages of contracting an infection, such as the common cold. Infections that commonly cause swollen lymph nodes include colds, flus, ear infections, mononucleosis, tonsillitis and other infections. Rarely, swollen lymph nodes indicate the presence of a tumor or cancer, although in these cases, the swelling usually occurs gradually and painlessly. Most cases of swollen lymph nodes are not serious and will resolve on their own.
Exercise and Infection
Coming down with an infection that causes swollen lymph nodes after weightlifting does not necessarily mean that your workout made you sick. In fact, moderate exercise, such as a typical weightlifting session, actually boosts your immune system functioning for several hours, according to medical textbook "Exercise Physiology," published in 2009. On the other hand, exhaustive exercise, such as an unusually intense, prolonged training session, actually depresses the immune system, thereby increasing your chances of contracting an infection, according to "Exercise Physiology." Getting regular, moderate-intensity exercise is the best way to avoid getting sick from overexertion, and if you already have symptoms of an upper respiratory tract infection, it is best to avoid physical activity, or to perform only light-intensity activities, says "Exercise Physiology."
Neck Pain
While neck gland, or lymph node, pain typically indicates you are sick with a cold or flu, it is also possible that you are experiencing neck pain because you have injured your neck during weightlifting; muscle strain is a common cause of neck pain. To avoid injuries such as neck muscle strains while weightlifting, it is important to always practice proper technique, and to never try to lift a weight that's too heavy for you. Additionally, FamilyDoctor.org recommends taking the following safety tips to avoid injury when lifting weights: Always warm up and cool down. Keep your back straight when lifting. Use spotters for heavy lifts. Don't exercise the same set of muscles more than three times per week. Finally, stop exercising if you feel pain.
Treatment
Treatment for neck pain, or lymph node pain, after weightlifting depends on the cause of the pain. If you experience the pain immediately after exercise, it's a good idea to rest and ice the painful area, as you might have a muscle injury. If your neck pain is due to swollen glands, the soreness will likely go away in a couple days, although it might take several weeks after the infection is resolved until the lymph nodes return to normal size, according to MedlinePlus. You might also require medical treatment, such as antibiotics, to treat the underlying cause of the swollen glands. Taking over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medications such as aspirin and Tylenol can also help reduce pain and swelling in your neck, whether the pain is caused by an injury or an infection.
