Postpartum joint pain

[Mummy1new]

Hi,

I have a 4 month old baby and for the last 3 months I have been suffering from terrible joint pain, in all my joints and find it difficult to walk in the mornings. The doc suspected I may have a thyroid condition but tests were clear. Now suspecting arthritis but waiting for blood tests to return. Just wondered if anyone else had experienced this? Starting to worry I may have an awful autoimmune disease.
Thank you

I think I read that vitamin D deficiency can cause joint pain. Have you been tested for that? Did you take vitamin D throughout pregnancy? Have you been breastfeeding? If so you should have carried on taking it (no one told me this so I didn’t take it until I realised!)

Yes! I had this. I had spd and then it didn’t go after birth. Awful pain in most joints - wrists, fingers etc as well as the load bearing ones.
I had all the bloods done and x rays - nothing much seen except some inflammation.

It didn’t start to resolve until I stopped breastfeeding

Hello,

Thank you for getting back to me. Not breastfeeding and didn’t suffer from SPD. I haven’t had vit D levels checked so will ask doc to do that. I took pregnacare vitamins throughout pregnancy.

Thats about the same amount of time after I had ds that I was diagnosed with autoimmune arthritis. It's possible that it's just your body recovering from pregnancy, but it is also a known time for AA issues to appear.

Hello,
Thank you for replying. How were you diagnosed with AA? Blood test?

Thank you

Yes, in my bloods my inflammatory markers were up, but no rheumatoid factor. I was also having a big psoriasis flare up at the time (I've had it since a child), so it was relatively easy to confirm it was psoriatic arthritis - a type of aa arthritis linked to psoriasis.
My GP referred to rheumatology and they (about three months later?) confirmed his diagnosis.

Thank you for replying.

Have you heard of Postpartum Arthralgia? I had this after Dd, and had never heard of it before. I thought I had arthritis, which can be triggered by pregnancy. It resolved after about 9 months I think.

Hello,

No I haven’t, what is that?
X

This is so weird. I was just saying to DH today I’m going to have to see the doctor next week because my ankles and knees are absolute agony to walk on. Im 4 weeks post partum!

Sorry to hear you are suffering to. It really is quite disturbing as I feel about 100 and am imagining I have all sorts. I did have quite a traumatic pregnancy, fourth degree tear, episiotomy and forceps, four months later things are still difficult in terms of walking and so on not sure if this is linked or not.

I can’t remember exactly! Because Dd is 4, but it’s one of those things that took all my attention at the time - I remember checking my health insurance policy to see if it covered RA. I think it’s somthing to do with the hormone relaxin which is in your body during pregnancy, and causes joints to relax and stretch, but it’s not present afterwards and the pain is the joints adjusting. It was so painful, especially first thing, I was convinced it was something really serious.

Thank you for replying xx

Hi, I am currently dealing with the exact same thing and would like to hear your outcome? Many thanks.
Ps I am prepared for a Rheumatoid arthiritis diagnosis so please don't feel uncomfortable telling me that if that was the case with you? I hope it wasn't x

Hi @LauraB8383, did you manage to get to the bottom of this?

Hi @Mehripoop hmm kind of. I have had further rheumy appts and they now don't think it is RA or any auto immune condition as my pain has improved on it's own. They think it was a post partum thing and it will go on it's own in time. In fairness, I am 90% better. My symptoms at one point meant I couldn't get out of bed, the bath, clench my fist etc, so I am sooo much better now and very relieved. Apparently it is very common postpartum, although I feel there is very little information out there about it and it caused a lot of unnecessary worry!

@LauraB8383 that’s such a relief to hear! I feel so physically weak. Especially my arms- elbows and wrists!

My arms and wrists were terrible, as were my fingers, ankles, neck, knees...everywhere! It was more if an ache than weakness though, although they were very weak as a result. I truly thought it must be RA as it matched all the symptoms. I am now 8 months PP and I only have pain in my left ankle now and my back which was pre existing. Give it some time. I think it can take a year x

@mehripoop

Thanks @LauraB8383. I’ve literally stressed over everything this postpartum. Last time, I had a c section and was oblivious to all other aches. This time it feels like every single part of my body is shutting down! Just have to stay positive

I had a c section with this birth as i had twins but the pain didn't start until 3 months PP. I do vaguely recall having a bit of pain with my first born but nothing like this time. I am sure it will get better for you, My husband is a worrier and researched it beyond belief and I he said it was really quite common so I'm sure it will pass for us both completely...but in the meantime you have my sympathies as it was sooo hard dealing with the pain and having newborns. Fingers crossed x