Weights making hands swell ?

[DinosaurDiana]

For the past couple of months now I’ve found that my hands are swollen in the morning, it goes down within 30 mins.
Twice a week I do an exercise class that includes a section of arm exercises, and I have always used 3kg weights.
I had two weeks off over Xmas and the swelling more or less disappeared.
Would it be worth dropping the weight or should I just stop, any suggestions ?

[Spodge]

What else changed over Christmas? I think it unlikely that a class using 3kg weights you have always used will suddenly cause daily swelling if you don't do the class daily.

[ShowOfHands]

I wonder too if something else changed? Difference in diet? Hydration?

Light weights twice a week shouldn't have that impact.

[Bourbonbiccy]

Are they sore at the joints or just swollen ?
Are you swollen anywhere else ?

[DinosaurDiana]

I’ve been doing the same class for about 6 years, did it 4 times a week in first lockdown.
Now doing it 2 times a week while gyms shut.
Went to the GP with swollen hands and tingling in my hands/arms and found out I was iron deficient at Christmas, started iron, but had 2 weeks off exercise at the same time.
Hands either weren’t swollen or were very slightly swollen at that time.
I’ve gone back to class. I was woken by sore arm muscles last night and my hands were swollen this morning. They’ve also been swollen last week.
Just can’t work out what it is.

[DinosaurDiana]

No, not sore at the joints and nowhere else swollen.
I’m peri-menopause so wondered if it might be something to do with that.
I don’t want to lower my weights - don’t want to get old !!

[ShowOfHands]

Perhaps a return trip to the GP? If your arm muscles are sore, are you then sleeping in a different position to compensate. I know when pregnant I had carpal tunnel and if I slept in certain positions, it was much worse.

You can stay fit and healthy in many, many ways so if it turns out you are injuring yourself, there are so many alternatives to that one workout.

[QueenoftheAir]

3kg weights are titchy. They're really not going to make your hands swell! Even 10kg weights don't, in my experience.

I'd guess it's something to do with the nerves running from your neck/shoulders to your hands. I've had trouble with carpal tunnel swelling (through trauma to my wrist, not related to weight training), and my hands feel like they're swollen and tingling in my fingers - only they're not actually swollen - it's an effect of the nerve damage.

[Thewildthingsliveatmyhouse]

I've had something similar in the past. GP thought it might have been carpal tunnel but tests were negative. I eventually took myself to a chiropractor and found out I had thoracic outlet syndrome. It was from sitting at my desk and typing all day.

If it eased over Christmas it might be worth looking at your set up, if you work at a desk? Just a thought.
Hope it gets better soon