Pain all over the body after pregnancy and childbirth

[Shasha123]

Hi there,

Has anyone experience pain all over the body after pregnancy and childbirth?

My DD is already 9 month old and I have been suffering from sore body mostly, neck, back, sole of the feet, but sometimes joints and calves. But basically whole body. Sometimes I can't even stand or walk or lift. It has been going on for so long and I have seen Neurologist, 2 Rheumotologists, had MRI, ultra sound and blood tests done, physiotherapists, pain physiotherapists, osteopath, massage, zumba, etc you name it. I have tried all and all tests were normal. But so much pain that I feel so stress everyday and get frustrated. I can't even stand in the kitchen to cook so my DH has been preparing dinner since I had birth. My whole body feels like block of solid iron. I feel very depressed and seems like the pain is at peak when I feel stress.

[figsaretheonlyfruit]

Bumping for you

[Corabell]

I experienced a great deal of joint and muscle pain - I was diagnosed with hashimoto's disease ( hypothyroidism) about 9 months post partum. I also had hairless and severe fatigue though. I take it your thyroid has been checked? What about vitamin d/b12?

[Shasha123]

Blood test showed Vitamin D is insufficient so I'm taking supplements but still no improvement. No one has mentioned about thyroid. Rheumotologist said if I stop breastfeeding it may get better so I have stopped all day time feeding. Now only morning and before bed. I feel sad because we both enjoy breast feeding and my daughter really miss her day time feeds. I too feel fatigue, every morning I wake up feeling extremely tired and low mood. Never had been like that before birth. Used to be very energetic, sporty and bubbly but not anymore :( Who did you see? GP or private doctors? NHS was too slow so I saw all private doctors and have spent thousands of £. I kind of lose hope now :( But I must get better to look after my child.

[SomersetMaughan]

Agree with Corabell re Thyroid function Test, also Full Blood Count & B12

Usually your GP would do the above, I would have thought, after you had explained all your symptoms.

[Thebigredcar]

I have lupus and your symptoms sound similar to me, it can also be triggered by pregnancy and childbirth. You really need to see a rheumatologist

[Thebigredcar]

Sorry just seen you've seen a rheumie. Things like lupus take a long time diagnose.

[Shasha123]

I have already seen 2 Rheumotologists, one from NHS and one private, NHS one said it might be fibromyalgia so there is medicine as treatment but since I am still breastfeeding that method can't be used.

Private Rheumotologists described it as Hyper mobility syndrome. She suggested to stop breastfeeding as the relaxin hormone can make the tissues and muscles weak.

So I am in process to stop breast feeding but my daughter is very upset so I am taking it very slowly.

The pain feels like when I am stressed and tired I feel more pain. But raising a child is stressful and exhausting isn't it? Specially my daughter doesn't nap and she is super active all the time.

Do you think I should go to GP and start from 0 again? Or how shall I approach to this problem now. I kind of gave up on doctors so thinking to try yoga, pilates and swimming.

[Corabell]

Ask for a full thyroid panel ( tsh, t4 and t3) - a lot of your symptoms can be as a consequence of thyroid disease. Thyroid uk has an excellent website so have a look there to see if you have further symptoms. Some people with hypothyroidism are misdiagnosed with fibromyalgia at some point in their search for a diagnosis.

Low vitamin d can cause a great deal of pain. I had painful hips/ feet/ ankles and constant muscle aches and when I managed to get my vitamin d levels up the pain did reduce.

Low b12 can also cause fatigue and pain. It's possible to be in the normal range but be far off optimal so it might be worth checking your blood results and seeing if b12 has been checked.

How is your ferretin? As with b12 you can be in the normal range but far off optimal and after pregnancy and birth your iron stores will be depleted.

Please check these things out - I hope the answer is simple for you and not one of the more complex conditions. I felt so, so ill after having my baby and like you I breastfed and felt like the life was draining out of me - in fact I tolerated symptoms because I thought all new mothers felt as bad as I did!

[Corabell]

If you have a condition causing fatigue please be careful with exercise - it can further exhaust you and make you feel worse. When I was exhausted/ fatigued I pushed myself to do more exercise ( I thought that I was simply "unfit") and I made my fatigue far, far worse.

[Shasha123]

Thank you so much for your suggestions. I'm thinking the same its all because of birth and most of the women are feeling the same. But all of my friends are all already back to normal but I'm still hanging here.

I will ring my GP on Monday and get appointment. I feel that women after birth is neglected a lot. But let's think positive and start again because this isn't life. My baby is growing and I haven't had enough fun with my baby. I want to enjoy pain free life with her.

[clarella]

Hi Op,

I'm sorry you're going through this. I had a very similar experience. So I can share what my experience has been but you need to do what you think is right. (Sorry if it's a little garbled; I'm rushing!)

I had hypothyroidism already but wasn't on enough thyroxine and ran in to issues around 6 mo. There were issues in and off afterwards till around 18 mo when I went very down hill. I found I was slightly underactive still but it was the joint issues that started to get worse. I need to add I'd been put on sertaline and we are still not sure if it partly contributed to muscle weakness.

Period returning was a big issue. I also had a ferritin of 50, which is borderline but I've since found I have to have it above 70 (as some women find) so do check this.

I was told I have hypermobility too - however, they didn't specifically say stop bf. I was given a leaflet that alluded to joints being worse when bf, but I know MANY women feeding long term. I'm still bf at 3.5. I did lots of research and the reasoning is shaky. Basically joints get looser in pregnancy. Relaxin is not produced during bf. It's actually produced slightly during your periods. Progesterone and oestrogen are however surpressed by bf, which is where the theory comes in about bf being an issue. Oestrogen can be strengthening and progesterone loosening, but both play other roles too. But it was the return of periods that made everything worse for me!

It is possible it could be a factor for you but NOT due to relaxin! (I spoke to a lactation consultant too). I don't know if periods have helped as well as hindered (I really notice flares at ovulation and just before my period).

I was weak due to the hypermobility, hypothyroidism (which weakens you) and then hyperthyroidism caused by being on too much thyroxine also. I may have had low vit d too - this weakens you too.

What helped me was:

• seeing a really good physio who understood hyper-mobility, pilates, some gentle yoga, and gentle swimming, only when I felt OK. The physio gave brilliant exercises and found my pelvis was off (spd) and it was affecting my back.

• Pacing - bean theory. Read about it in regards to me/ chronic fatigue. It's really hard but does help.

• Magnesium and calcium. Epsom salt baths and spray. Take supplements too.

• Vit d. Preg and bf are a huge drain. What dose are you on?

• Getting iron tablets. Find out your ferritin level if done or request. If periods aren't back yet it should go up quickly esp if taking prescribed iron. (Periods drain it)

• Getting thyroid sorted out. Do check this and find out the results. Check here or health unlocked.

• I did night wean and got a little more sleep but I think that's only been a small factor. My personal last jigsaw piece was being diagnosed with mild asthma.

Ask GP or receptionist for print out of all tests done. Certainly b12 as mentioned below

[clarella]

Low vit d can cause awful fibro like symptoms.

If bf I think taking 5000 a day helps it get into your milk too. The upper daily dose is weight related; I worked out its 9000 for me (8.5 stone).

What was your birth like also?

[clarella]

www.pelvicpartnership.org.uk

This website talks about pgp which is essentially hypermobility in the pelvis and breastfeeding. Bf NOT being the issue; the issue is biomechanics and weak muscles.

Katy bowman talks a lot about all this too; she bf both her children (possibly tandem fed?) long term.

An amazing upper back stretch is to roll up a large towel and place one end under a pillow, the other end protruding out down to your bra strap. Lie like this, legs down flat if possible for ten mins or more. Really helps upper back after hauling and bfing a baby around!