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Infant feeding

bf and joint/ ligament pain

30 replies

ej23 · 06/06/2014 23:03

Currently bfing dc3 (7.5 months) and have been getting lots of random, wandering joint/ ligament pains. It started in my foot a couple of months ago and then gradually progressed to other areas- hands, fingers,thumbs, wrists,forearms, neck. At first i thought i must be starting with arthritis but then read it can be to do with levels of the hormone relaxin still in the body. Am hoping it is this. My neck has been so stiff this last couple of days and now i keep getting pins and needles in my thumb- driving me nuts. Anyone else suffering or suffered with this?

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MildredH · 06/06/2014 23:19

Yes! I'm so glad to read someone else say this as at times I've thought I was imagining it.

Mine is mostly finger pain. I saw the GP who examined me and has sent me for bloods ( which I haven't gotten around to having taken). He said likely effects of relaxin.

Also suggested dehydration would exacerbate. I did increase my water intake and it definitely helped.

DD is 6mo now so I find time to both drink and pee but in the early days both were tricky!

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TitsCrossed · 06/06/2014 23:23

Yes, me too! Relaxin is the cause in me I'm sure, but it's also possible to get other inflammatory conditions so a trip to the GP to rule other things out is in order.

(My thumbs really hurt, but that turned out to be too much Plants vs Zombies on phone...)

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ShotgunNotDoingThePans · 07/06/2014 00:17

//grin
Just wanted to say, please think about your posture as once painful muscular/joint conditions set in they can stay with you for a long long time. I thought my pain would stop after I was no longer lugging my youngest around but he''s now 13.
One thing that does help me is practising Alexander Technique, but I've recently finally found a physio who actually seems to be getting to the bottom of things and is sorting me out (I think).
You can avoid so much pain and discomfort by sorting out your posture as it relates to everything you do, but especially the extra things caring for a baby entails.

Sorry for lecture.

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ShotgunNotDoingThePans · 07/06/2014 00:18

Meant Grin!

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harverina · 07/06/2014 00:27

Yes I have found this too - and like you say it's not consistently in the same place Hmm my legs ache a lot though.

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TitsCrossed · 07/06/2014 00:58

And are you taking vitamin supplement? Esp vut D is v imp for bfers.

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ej23 · 07/06/2014 09:54

Sooo nice to know am not the only one! I have been taking pregnacare supplements though there was a period when I ran out and didn't bother to buy more and it was during that time these pains started. I religiously take them now and also flaxseed oil supplements. Also agree that on days I remember to drink more I seem to suffer less. Mentioned it to GP when there with one of dcs but he didn't seem worried. Thinking should prob go back and get bloods checked to rule out other stuff. ( Googled myself into frenzy recently self diagnosing!)

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MsFanackerPants · 09/06/2014 02:08

I think this is effecting me too. I'm at the GP tomorrow to get bloods done because I think I'm still anaemic (or anaemic again) but my joints ache so so much. I'm hypermobile and had neck problems for ages but it's been almost unbearable. My ankles were so painful last week I cried.

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flipflopsonfifthavenue · 09/06/2014 14:56

yes! had it with DS for over a year, basically until I stopped bfing at about 18mo. Was worst in thumb/forefinger joints (comes from lifting baby up under their arms - that pincer movement is not really used until you're lifting babies at all hours!), elbows (at peak, I could barely lift a glass of water off the table) and knees (often climbed up stairs on hands and knees...)
eventually went for blood tests, found I was MASSIVELY low in Vit D and calcium. Took jumbo course of vit D, then multi vitamin and got a lot better. I think that quitting bfing was what helped in the end.
Am pregnant with DC2 now so going to be more prepared and take a post-natal vitamin, which I didn't do with DS.

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tatyr · 09/06/2014 19:52

I agree with ... Shotgun, look a how you do things, carrying, changing nappies , lifting, look to reduce the things that cause pain. I used a multitude of slings/ carriers to reduce the load on my arms and keep myself symmetrical. Am also hypermobile. Although the pain seems neverending it does wax and wane. Am still feeding 20mth old once day and no troubles with joints other than the usual longstanding ones . Pilates is on my plan when i get time

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Oodlives · 09/06/2014 21:05

Yes to vit D get it checked and /or take supplements while bf.

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ej23 · 09/06/2014 22:25

Have made appmnt with GP. Will ask to get bloods checked. Neck and wrists hurting today and now randomly right hand middle finger is killing- can hardly bend it! Just caved and taken 2 ibuprofen. This is driving me mad.

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ej23 · 12/06/2014 20:31

So, went to GP's today to discuss my random ligament/ joint pains. Asked if I could be tested for low vit D but she said this wasn't something that they usually did and she'd have to look into it. (!!?) She said to get my bloods checked and that will cover iron, Rheumatoid arthritis and thyroid. Back in tomorrow for that. Anyone else in same boat and got blood results back?

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TitsCrossed · 13/06/2014 22:48

Where are you ej? If in UK then vit D testing certainly is widespread! It has been a big thing partic in the last 5 or so years. Loafs of people are deficient, partic women after pg/bf, even more so after more than 1 baby. Also pretty common in some children and people from sunnier climes.

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ej23 · 13/06/2014 23:23

In N. Yorkshire and yes I thought it was a growing and recognised issue too! The GP I saw said my vit D should be fine as plenty of sun recently and fact that I'm taking pregnacare supplement. Not really sure how the vit D thing works. Wondered if I was deficient, could it be that supplement was just giving me what I need daily and not enough to give me a boost as it were.?

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ej23 · 20/06/2014 12:34

So, blood results came back normal and am now awaiting a test for carpal tunnel. Bought wrist splints ( £12.75 each!) to wear on a night. Was chuffed that results were negative for arthritis but have since had bubble burst by 2 people telling me that often RA does that and doesn't mean you haven't got it.

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TitsCrossed · 21/06/2014 22:22

Good news about bloods. Did you have carpal tunnel in pregnancy? I did but I was lucky that mine has resolved now (dd 5m).

Your friends are right about the blood test for RA, there can be false negatives, but usually with RA there are other signs apart from pain (eg joint deformity, redness, swelling etc). Changes can also be seem on xray if your Dr strongly suspects it.

I think if it were me I'd ask for a vit D blood test. There's a high chance that you'll have low levels after 3dc/bfing! If it is then you may be prescribed a high dose vit d supplement for a time, then go back to standard supplements. Vit D deficiency is greatly underdiagnosed ime, when we started testing people at my practice we were surprised at how many people had very low levels.

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ej23 · 22/06/2014 15:41

Thanks for the advice TitsCrossed. Am going to make another GP appmnt tomorrow. Feel like it's getting worse and have broken down several times over the weekend about it. Have started to worry that have got some awful nerve disorder or something as random pains have spread to more areas - arms, legs, neck and cheek. Definitely gets worse throughout the day. Someone told me yesterday that she got parvovirus when bfing 3rd child. So maybe should ask to be tested for that as well?! Feeling very low and anxious at the minute.

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ej23 · 24/06/2014 10:38

Have just ordered £ 25 vit d test online as asked GP again yesterday and was fobbed of. If I test low I will kick off at surgery!

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TitsCrossed · 24/06/2014 10:54

I just saw that thread and thought of you! If it's normal at least you've ruled out out.

Look after yourself, try and eat and sleep well (I know, I know, not easy in your situation, but you must prioritise your health).

One more question, and please don't take it the wrong way, do you think you may be depressed? I ask because depression can worsen and also be the cause of pains. You mention feeling low and anxious in your last post... It can be a bit chicken and egg sometimes, are you anxious/low about your physical symptoms or are your physical symptoms worse due to anxiety? Or both!

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ej23 · 24/06/2014 12:25

Yes I have been getting myself down worrying about these aches and pains and yes I suppose this could make them worse. Annoying as usually very healthy. It's just freaking me out that every day the pain creeps into new places. When it comes it lasts for maybe 10 seconds or so and then reappears somewhere else minutes later. Bizarre.

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Oodlives · 24/06/2014 14:26

I get exactly that! Really intense stabbing pains that then disappear.

I've never met anyone else who does and no one seems to explain it.

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ej23 · 24/06/2014 16:38

Hi Oodlives, are you bfing? How long have you been having this?

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Oodlives · 24/06/2014 21:23

I've had it for years and years. As long as I can remember. Always thought it was normal until I mentioned it to dh one day. They're much worse /more frequent at the moment.

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ej23 · 25/06/2014 20:22

Crikey, Oodlives, you shouldn't have to put up with pain all that time. I would speak to GP if I were you. I hope you get some relief soon. I'm determined to get myself sorted.

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