swelling during long runs?

[dumbo_buddy]

is dehydration the culprit for the swelling i have during long runs? i ran a marathon on sunday and by a little over the halfway point my fingers were so swollen that i was a little nervous about my ring cutting off circulation. i tried to text my husband to tell him i was getting near him on 1st avenue but my fingers were like sausages and i couldn't hit the correct buttons.

this happens on my long runs. i felt like i hydrated properly throughout the race. and it's not just my hands, my whole face gets really swollen. the before/after pictures of me are nuts - i look much heavier after the race.

am i still not drinking enough water? or is there something else that i'm missing that causes all that swelling?

 

[flatlandcycle]

is dehydration the culprit for the swelling i have during long runs? i ran a marathon on sunday and by a little over the halfway point my fingers were so swollen that i was a little nervous about my ring cutting off circulation. i tried to text my husband to tell him i was getting near him on 1st avenue but my fingers were like sausages and i couldn't hit the correct buttons.

this happens on my long runs. i felt like i hydrated properly throughout the race. and it's not just my hands, my whole face gets really swollen. the before/after pictures of me are nuts - i look much heavier after the race.

am i still not drinking enough water? or is there something else that i'm missing that causes all that swelling?

How how is your sodium intake. Are you taking NSAIDS? Swelling is indicative of electrolyte imbalance. Too much or too little salts. Also it could be some type of kidney distress.

Gatorade helps me when my fingers swell.

 

[cewait]

I would wonder if you are drinking a sport drink or otherwise looking after electrolyte intake as well.

With regard to hydration; have you weighed yourself before a runs and then after? That is really the only way one can say am I drinking too much or too little. From there , look at electrolytes. It is common for some swelling to occur, but not to the point described.

 

[DOOM1001]

One of the people I ran a half marathon with a couple weeks ago complained about his hands swelling and just feeling cold even though it was in the 70's-low 80's by the finish.I don't think the sun came out until after the race was over and there was really nice breeze since the race was next to the ocean,but none of the other runners felt cold.I was the only runner with some experience and even bought everybody Gu gels and sport beans to take while running.I knew about making sure you get some sodium intake during the run and I let them know to make sure they take their Gu's and also take Gatorade in the stops.My question is why was he the only one who finished this way even though he had some sodium in his Gu's and beans along with water and gatorade.He also is a former smoker and finished winded and in the worst shape of all of us,like he told us he probably couldn't have gone one more mile.I told him to go see medical after he finished but he shot it down even though we all told him several times to go.He said he went home and went to sleep and from what he tells me he felt great afterwards and the next day.The rest of us had some soreness in out knees while he said he felt very little knee pain and actually went for a 4 mile run by himself the next day.Are people just different,did he need more sodium,or less sodium.I didn't run next to him so i have no idea just how much he drank at the stops??

 

[dumbo_buddy]

i drank gatorade at almost all of the stops. i am definitely one whose face turns into a salt lick after running so maybe i didn't have enough sodium intake.

do NSAIDS cause swelling? if so maybe that's it because i did take aleve before the race.

my recovery after sunday has been really crappy. after WDW in january i was sore the next day but toured the parks pretty much nonstop without any problem. after this race i feel terrible, even days later. no more soreness, just very tired.

i need to figure this out before dopey (ugh)

 

[flatlandcycle]

i drank gatorade at almost all of the stops. i am definitely one whose face turns into a salt lick after running so maybe i didn't have enough sodium intake.

do NSAIDS cause swelling? if so maybe that's it because i did take aleve before the race.

Short answer yes.

I would read up on the side effects of Alieve. Edema (swelling) is a side effect.

There was some fairly effective advertising with someone on a fictional charity walk touting the wonders of this product.

"NSAIDs are commonly used by athletes competing in endurance events and are a risk factor for hyponatremia and altered renal function." from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16679974

 

[flatlandcycle]

Wine and Dine 1/2 Race program, Medical Information:

Page 36 (printed), page 20 (pdf)


http://as1.wdpromedia.com/media/rundisney/pdf/wine-dine/Wine&Dine13_Program.pdf

 

[RnbwSktles]

Interesting info about NSAIDs, I had no idea! I have been using a topical NSAID gel that my doctor prescribed for my knee. I am not sure if it's helping or not, but I figure I will use up all my refills and see how it goes. I assume this does not affect the kidneys like an oral version would?

 

[bumbershoot]

It goes into the system so I bet it would have similar effects. If you did not read the full package insert before starting to use it please do now. If you don't have that look up the exact drug you are using on drugs.com. I find that site to be a marvelous resource.

I have the same "salt lick" problem and I am also almost deathly allergic to aleve. First thing that finally clued me in was ridiculous and weird swelling! Only then did I read the FULL side effects sheet to realize that I'd had all symptoms, including the start of an ulcer, if not quite to stroke and heart attack yet.

Full package inserts are very important!

Not saying I think you are using an aleve gel, just telling you to read the full info on whatever you are taking. It could be the answer.

 

[bumbershoot]

I was on my phone earlier and couldn't look anything up.

I googled "NSAID gel" and got to a Voltaren page. On the website for the product itself, nearly half the page is taken up by warnings. One warning is:

Get emergency help right away if you have any of the following symptoms: shortness of breath or trouble breathing, chest pain, weakness in one side of your body, slurred speech, or swelling of the face or throat.

And you said "my whole face gets really swollen".


I also googled your username and "voltaren", and it seems you asked a question about it last year. IF that's what you're using, YES it can cause problems. And they ask, on their product website, to get reports of problems. Seems they are still studying it (remember that all drugs that are taken off the market at one point were approved by the FDA!).

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

The reaction I had to Aleve that finally made me wake up was when I was sitting there, watching my fingers swell like sausages, then a few minutes later go back to normal, then swell back up again, etc. I had the Aleve bottle sitting in my sightline and I finally added 1+1. Went back to my doctor (who had helpfully diagnosed me with being overweight and depressed before) and mentioned the Aleve, and with that added bit and the SAME EXACT SYMPTOMS (that got me diagnosed with being overweight and depressed) got me diagnosed with acute naproxen poisoning.

Be careful with all pain relievers.

 

[cewait]

Interesting info about NSAIDs, I had no idea! I have been using a topical NSAID gel that my doctor prescribed for my knee. I am not sure if it's helping or not, but I figure I will use up all my refills and see how it goes. I assume this does not affect the kidneys like an oral version would?

Short answer - It may affect your kidneys and renal system just like the oral. What lessens the risk is the fact that the NSAIDs may not be as concetrated in the blood stream and subsequently in the kidneys as the oral version. Nonetheless, I would ween off of the topical NSAIDs 24-36 hours pre-run and not re-apply until your normal kidney function resumes post run.

 

[RnbwSktles]

Short answer - It may affect your kidneys and renal system just like the oral. What lessens the risk is the fact that the NSAIDs may not be as concetrated in the blood stream and subsequently in the kidneys as the oral version. Nonetheless, I would ween off of the topical NSAIDs 24-36 hours pre-run and not re-apply until your normal kidney function resumes post run.

Yeah I will admit I am not one to normally read all the fine print. I guess I will now! I have done 2 half-marathons so far with the gel and didn't notice anything, but I'd rather not take the chance. I have a half this Saturday, so tonight will be the last application of that!

 

[dumbo_buddy]

Last year I used voltaren as prescribed by a doctor for my knee. He told me that I could use it on race day. I haven't used it in months and usually just take aleve. But the gel didn't give me any problems.

Interesting though. I will have to think about skipping my aleve before my long runas. Thanks for everyone's input.

 

[Bookwood]

One of the people I ran a half marathon with a couple weeks ago complained about his hands swelling and just feeling cold even though it was in the 70's-low 80's by the finish.I don't think the sun came out until after the race was over and there was really nice breeze since the race was next to the ocean,but none of the other runners felt cold.I was the only runner with some experience and even bought everybody Gu gels and sport beans to take while running.I knew about making sure you get some sodium intake during the run and I let them know to make sure they take their Gu's and also take Gatorade in the stops.My question is why was he the only one who finished this way even though he had some sodium in his Gu's and beans along with water and gatorade.He also is a former smoker and finished winded and in the worst shape of all of us,like he told us he probably couldn't have gone one more mile.I told him to go see medical after he finished but he shot it down even though we all told him several times to go.He said he went home and went to sleep and from what he tells me he felt great afterwards and the next day.The rest of us had some soreness in out knees while he said he felt very little knee pain and actually went for a 4 mile run by himself the next day.Are people just different,did he need more sodium,or less sodium.I didn't run next to him so i have no idea just how much he drank at the stops??

The answer is everyone is different, something work for some people others not. Everyone should be "testing what works for them" for themselves. I'm a proficient sweater so need more electrolytes during a longish run than even my daughters do (plus I'm older.) I carry a bottle of "tried and true" Power ade with me when I start a race (mainly cause I hate that yellow Gatorade, and it's usually what seems to be on race courses.) By the end of the race I'm drinking what's on course but at least I can start with something I like. LOL.

 

[flatlandcycle]

Power ade

Hopefully not the HFCS variety. Just another potential factor in renal impairment.

I feel like Willy Wonka, "Don't...stop...come back."

 

[jpeka65844]

Hmmm...weighing in here. I never wear my rings on a long run b/c of this very issue.

In addition to the swelling (which I also get in my toes, not my feet, just my toes), I have a horrible itch. Like I-want-to-cut-off-my-fingers-and-toes-to-stop-it itch. Sometimes it will also spread to my upper thighs and I begin to scratch. Before I know it, I've scratched bruises into my skin.

I always attributed it to allergies. Seems to be worse if I'm hot AND and around grass.

I do become a salt lick after I run and can feel the "powder" on my face when I'm finished. However, I have no other symptoms that alert me to dehydration. Otherwise, I feel absolutely fine.

I've had it my entire life even before I took up running.

Weird.

 

[Bookwood]

Hopefully not the HFCS variety. Just another potential factor in renal impairment.

I feel like Willy Wonka, "Don't...stop...come back."

What's HFCS variety of Power ade?

 

[cewait]

PowerAde in the bottle.

We as consumers have a real difficult time finding the powdered PowerAde since is is not marketed in the US to consumers. The powdered version uses a different carb source - not HFCS.

I suggest training with green Gatorade - diluted to 50% as a training substitute. It's not an exact match with powdered PowerAde, but close. Re logic behind diluting is that Disney dilutes the sport drink on course by about 50% to allow for a better chance of dissolving all powder before pouring into cups.

 

[Figment1990]

PowerAde in the bottle.

We as consumers have a real difficult time finding the powdered PowerAde since is is not marketed in the US to consumers. The powdered version uses a different carb source - not HFCS.

I suggest training with green Gatorade - diluted to 50% as a training substitute. It's not an exact match with powdered PowerAde, but close. Re logic behind diluting is that Disney dilutes the sport drink on course by about 50% to allow for a better chance of dissolving all powder before pouring into cups.

Coach- I swear Disney's diluted powerade did me in during the wine and dine (or definitely contributed to it). Going to be bringing my own electrolytes for tink and princess but WHY doesn't Disney at least let u know this ahead of time? I trained during the humid months with regular powerade and did well.

 

[Bookwood]

Thanks for the information Coach.

Guess I'm going to be checking my Power Zero too for FCHS, I really something besides Gatorade was a good choice- I just don't like the flavors.