Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
General health

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Original poster

Achy joints after giving birth?

24 replies

superbabysmummy · 13/02/2013 03:07

Has anyone else experienced achy joints after giving birth? DD is nearly 4 months and I am constantly in agony ... Knees, wrists, back... My ankles & knees feel like they could snap at a moments notice & getting up and down is torture, which with a little one has to be done a lot! Doc says it's probably excess fluid and it'll go on it's own. Exercise will help etc. I have put on a bit of weight but not excessive amounts and have always been very active. Has anyone else experienced anything like this?

OP posts:
flybynight · 13/02/2013 09:14

I had painful joints after all four of my children - usually starting about 5-6 weeks after birth and lasting a few months. It wasn't bad enough to restrict my movement much, but seeing the osteopath a couple of times helped. Swimming as well. Osteopath put it down to the relaxin leaving my system. Don't know if it is true but it seemed to make sense. Certainly vanished as soon as I got pregnant again!

Original poster
superbabysmummy · 13/02/2013 12:02

I thought about going swimming, will give it a go :-) Saw the osteopath through pregnancy for SPD so might pick up where I left off with her again, thanks

OP posts:
TheTiger · 13/02/2013 12:05

Yep I have this too, mainly my knees. I thought it was just me!

Meglet · 13/02/2013 12:07

Yes, I did. I was fit enough to take it easy at the gym, and in good shape, but my joints took a few months to get back to normal.

whenwillisleepagain · 13/02/2013 12:28

yes, one of the many things I had blanked out after having each of my two kids, but now you mention it, at about same stage as you are now, I recall being worried about it

poozlepants · 13/02/2013 12:32

Me too- hips, shoulders and ankles. Awful. My SIL had a terrible time with her wrists and fingers.
I saw a physio who said it could take a good few months after I finished bfeeding. I got a pair of orthotics from the podiatrist which realigned me.

HumphreyCobbler · 13/02/2013 12:34

yes - I thought I had developed arthritis! My GP just dismissed it but Mumsnet informed me it was the relaxin leaving my body.

I found it terrible first thing in the morning - my feet were crippled and I used to come down the stairs on my bum.

Why does nobody KNOW about these things?

HumphreyCobbler · 13/02/2013 12:36

I mean my GP/HealthVisitor by that btw. Other women on mumsnet knew Grin

LackaDAISYcal · 13/02/2013 12:39

Worth asking GP to check your thyroid as an underactive thyroid could explain the joint problems and weight gain and thyroid problems are common after pregnancy but usually settle in time.

minicreamegg · 13/02/2013 12:41

Yes I remember getting sore knees after ds3Hmm I'm ok now (he's 11 month) but my back still aches some days probably due to sitting in MN too much

Original poster
superbabysmummy · 13/02/2013 19:26

Humphrey, that's exactly what I do... My ankles feel like they are going to snap first thing in the morning, I practically crawl to the stairs and take one long painful one at a time!

Standing up from the settee is a nightmare and very jealous of all the mums at baby groups who can stand up with their babies, I have to put mine on the floor and crawl the something's can used to heave myself up, going back for the distressed baby who's wondering where on earth I have gone! Shock

Pleased to hear other people can relate, thought it was just me too, not pleased we've all suffered though. They don't tell you this at NCT!

OP posts:
YouHaveBeenOutbid · 13/02/2013 19:35

I had this too. Have you had your vitamin D levels checked? I turned out to be deficient, a rheumatology consultant recommended high dose supplementation and it sorted me out. Had to wait till 8 months post birth before I got referred though. I kept being told it was normal.

HumphreyCobbler · 13/02/2013 20:17

It will get better superbabysmummy. I wish I had thought more about vitamin supplementation as suggested on this thread.

Hermionewastherealhero · 13/02/2013 20:20

Oh my goodness! I have this! My knees, hands and ankles ache. I told my mum this morning I thought I was getting arthritis! Baby is 22 weeks. Should I see someone or see how I go?

HumphreyCobbler · 13/02/2013 20:23

IME hcps will look at you blankly when you mention it. You may have a better experience than I did though.

stopbeingsilly · 13/02/2013 20:32

Absolutely agree about getting your vitamin D level checked - my joint pain improved hugely after a three month course of prescribed supplements

Original poster
superbabysmummy · 13/02/2013 20:36

Herminone, see someone I reckon. I'm going back to docs to insist on those supplements ...Smile

OP posts:
Posterofapombear · 13/02/2013 20:40

I still have this now. DD is 19 months old.

No thyroid issues.

GP said breastfeeding 'does strange things'

Mydelilah · 13/02/2013 20:58

I had this, could barely walk at times. Turns out I was massively hypothyroidic as another poster suggested upthread. It happens to 1 in 20 women after pg. I now take supplements and its fine. Other symptoms include weight gain, extreme tiredness, bad temper, light depression (basically how most women feel with a new baby!). Suggest you get to docs and ask for blood tests. Stay well

Original poster
superbabysmummy · 13/02/2013 21:04

I'm FF so can't be due to bf'ding... Def going to go back to docs and insist they help

OP posts:
HumphreyCobbler · 13/02/2013 21:12

would that hypothyroidism disappear eventually on it's own? I am rather suspicious that is actually what I had now

Mydelilah · 13/02/2013 21:32

Typically you have it for life (I've been taking supplements for 4 years now). The symptoms could come and go I guess... Or you learn to live with them as combined they make life shitty, but they are a bit wishy washy and could be explained by other things IYSWIM

Jenny70 · 14/02/2013 13:52

Could be arthritis (or similar).

During pg, you make immune suppressants so your body doesn't reject the baby as a foreign object.

After delivery this stops and it can trigger an auto immune response - arthritis in joints being one.

My friend had this, dismissed as a whinger or even PND before pushing for radioactive body scan. Her sore joints were all completely lit up (high activity) and non sore joints were normal. I think she took anti inflamm to calm her system and 15+ yrs later is fine with no meds.

I have an auto immune disorder and blood tests of my ESR (something settling rate) indicates disease activity. If Dr is doing blood tests, ask if that is worthwhile...

Fish oil can help if you are just stiff, but google to check dosage, many supplements are too weak to make a difference.

IndigoBarbie · 15/02/2013 22:35

Hi, I was extremely swollen during my pregnancy and it took around 18-20 months for my joints to return to normal!!! No one told me.........My ribcage took the longest, but my ankles and my fingers were quicker, but agony mostly in the morning until I 'got going'........I didn't take any supplements or anything to get rid of it, just some mornings I noticed that I felt better. I think cutting out some sugar might have taken the edge off it though :) Best of luck xxx

New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread