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Being pregnant is one of the most joyful times of a woman’s life. When it is accompanied by joint pain, however, it can get to the point of being debilitating. If you are trying to enjoy this wonderful time in your life, and find yourself dealing with joint pain instead, don’t despair. There are steps that you can take to relieve your joint pain and go about your day glowing with joy.
In This Post:
Why Am I Experiencing This Pain?
The first step is to understand why you are experiencing joint pain in the first place. Your body, as you know, is undergoing amazing changes at this time. All of these changes are putting sudden stress on your body, causing pain in joints such as elbows, fingers, hips, and knees. Hormones are being produced, and your muscles are stretching, preparing your body for birth.It is not uncommon for pregnant women to experience carpal tunnel syndrome, causing stiffness in the hands and wrists. The fluid gain causes increased pressure.Women who continue to exercise during their pregnancy may experience additional joint pain due to the additional stress they are putting on their bodies. In addition to retaining fluid, your muscles are doing increased work, causing pain.It is important to remember about the weight gain that happens during pregnancy. On average, a woman gains 25 pounds over the nine months that she is carrying a baby. This extra weight is putting stress on your joints. This can cause backaches as well. With the growing baby putting a strain on the joints, you may be experiencing joint swelling, which can be painful. The growing uterus also puts a strain on the blood vessels, another cause of swelling and pain. If a pregnant woman is experiencing back pain, it is important to check posture. With a growing baby in the front of the body, it is natural to stand or walk with shoulders slumped. Keep good posture in mind, and don’t stand for longer than necessary.
Should I Call The Doctor?
Unless your joint pain is so severe that it is restricting your daily activities, you can wait until your next appointment to speak to your doctor. The majority of pregnant women experience joint pain, and if you know what is causing it, you can usually remedy the problem on your own. If you are finding that you can’t get out of bed, can’t move about the house on your own, or are in severe pain and finding no relief, then you should consider notifying your doctor.
What Can I Do To Relieve The Joint Pain?
Don’t worry, you won’t have to live with the pain until the baby is born! There are things you can do to find relief. You may want to consider the following:
* Get a prenatal massage – treat yourself to a weekly or bi-weekly prenatal massage. You will feel relaxed and reduce pain and swelling. A massage will even put you in a better state of mind. Before you start, let your therapist know specifically of the area in which you are experiencing joint or arthritic pains, so that they can do their best to help you find the relief you need.
* See a chiropractor – There are few classified exercises and techniques out there work on adjustments for natural pain relief. Pregnant women can continue such practices followed by definite rules.* Try a body pillow for sleeping – As your baby grows, you may be forced to sleep on your side, and you may wake up with joint pain. You can find a special body pillow that is designed for a pregnant body. The full-length pillow can be put behind your back, or tucked between your legs in order to relieve pressure and make you more comfortable. [amazon_link asins=’B00DVKJXFE,B0000635WI’ template=’CopyOf-ProductGrid’ store=’preemietwinswp-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’cdbe4cd4-9581-11e7-a61d-e307ebea2a0b’]
* Use a heating pad – sit on a comfortable chair, on the couch or in bed with a heating pad applied to the painful area. Alternate heat with applying a cold water bottle. This combination should help you find relief from your aching joints.
* Sit with feet elevated – Sitting with your feet elevated whenever possible helps circulation, therefore reducing joint swelling and pain. Don’t cross your legs either, as this can cause circulation issues resulting in swelling. Take short 2 or 3 minute walks whenever you can. If you are working in an office setting, remember to stand up and stretch every ten minutes or so, and allow yourself time to move around the office when you need to.
* Speak to your doctor about over the counter pain relievers – get approval from your doctor to take over the counter pain relievers, such as Tylenol. This will greatly help reduce your pain.
* Remember to rest when you need to – allow yourself time to rest! Remember, your body is doing an amazing thing right now, and it takes hard work and energy. If it’s possible, let yourself sleep for an extra 20 minutes each morning. Or, simply take the time for yourself whenever you need to!