Swollen fingers

[Pelephant]

Just completed W1R2 in the heat. when it came to the 5 minutes walk down I noticed that my hands and fingers had swollen like sausages. I couldn't grip anything for 20 minutes or so. They are fine now. It was very hot, though I have been drinking lots of water all day. Does this happen to anyone else?

[Hidden]

Yep, happens to me quite a lot. I can get to the stage where I can't get my rings of my fingers because I have sausage fingers! It always goes away after a while so I've never worried about it.

I don't have great circulation (permanent cold hands and feet) so I've always assumed that it's related to that ... I have no medical evidence to substantiate my hypothesis though!!

[sfb350 Graduate]

I get the same thing quite often when it is hot, it doesn't seem to be related to how active I've been though. I don't worry about it though.

If it is something new to you, though, and it is happening frequently it might be worth getting it checked out.

[GoogleMe Graduate]

I have less problem with this running than walking (it can be really painful) because of the arm action I think, so it might be worth looking at how you are moving your arms when you run.

[Mitts Graduate]

I have a very stiff upper back so when I'm doing the walking parts, I raise my arms straight up and then stretch them alternately even further up. You could try that, clenching and unclenching your fists and waggling your fingers too. Then normal arm position for the running parts. I'm only at W2R3, so I don't know how it'll work out as the runs get longer. All the best!

[MuirDragonne]

This happens to me with every run. I think it may have something to do with elevated blood pressure during running and the fact that our body temperature goes up while we run as well. I'm not a doctor though, so if you're worried about it definitely ask your GP about it.

[Hidden]

This might help explain why it happens:

livestrong.com/article/2113...

[Soozz Graduate in reply to Hidden]

Thank you, I noticed this for the first time yesterday after running 28 mins and was a bit concerned as I have high blood pressure and am on medication. I now feel reassured, having read the article.

[Anniemurph Graduate]

Yes, it happens to me too. I've very overweight so I've always put it down to this. It used to happen if I went for a long walk even in winter, so I don't think it's to do with the heat. It doesn't bother me that much now - I run my hands and wrists under the cold tap when I get in and that seems to sort it - it goes away after a few minutes then.

[shelleymcb Graduate]

you are not the only one. I get this in my fingers, not swollen that anyone else would notice, but definitely tight around my rings & I think I would struggle to take them off if I tried. my hands, like the rest of me, get very hot & I always end up with a bright red face. I take a bottle of tap water with me so spray some of this on my hands & give them a bit of a shake if I feel as if they are getting hot. helps cool me down, even if only in my mind.

fingers also get a bit tingly but I can also say that I dont have this problem when I run inside on a treadmill. when I use the treadmill I have a home fan on pointed straight at me so that keeps me cooler than running outside without any wind & with the hot sun.

if you are really worried, perhaps mention this to your doctor on your next visit. & like someone else mentioned, it could be down to running style & something as simple as relaxing your shoulders & hands & not clenching fists may help.

good luck with the rest of the plan. x