Postpartum stiff hands and joint pain

[scienceofhappiness123]

Hi All, my DD is 8 months and I stopped breastfeeding 2 months ago. A few weeks later I started experiencing stiff fingers in the morning. I didn't think much of it as it would disappear after a few minutes but it has remained for quite a while now and I have also started getting pains in my finger joints. Not seen any swelling yet and no signs of fever.

I saw a rheumatologist who checked my bloods for all types of diseases but all come back clear. I thought the aches and pains would subside but seems to be getting worse.

Has anyone experienced issues like this?

I experienced this after giving birth (didn’t breastfeed). I think my GP said it’s from hormones because all my tests came back clear too. It got better with time for me but took a few months to go altogether.

Currently pregnant with baby #2 and starting to feel it again at 29 weeks.

Hi OP - 9 Weeks pp and having this. wrists, fingers, knees and ankles all horrendously stiff and sore. Having bloods Monday to check for post natal RA and other inflammatory conditions

If there is psoriasis in your family it could be the onset of Psoriatic Arthritis triggered by the hormones. It has very similar symptoms to RA but bloods come back clear.

Please mention it as early diagnosis/treatment makes a huge difference. Often it gets missed because RA is ruled out by bloods and if you don't have active psoriasis then it's not often considered.

I have only develop psoriasis skin lesions in my late 40s and only one of my many uncles ever had symptoms. My DH has PA that was triggered when he had pneumonia.

Hi,

I started to get really stiff fingers / hands / feet around 7 weeks postpartum. It was especially bad at night when I had to get up to make a bottle. But even during the day it was quite painful at times.

I was very worried and started googling like crazy because I thought something was wrong.

I went to my GP and did the blood tests (vitamins, thyroid function, auto-immune diseases) and everything came back normal. I started taking osteocare supplements, started yoga again and went to a chiropractor and it helped (not sure if this is related, or that it just went away on its own).

It gradually started to get better, getting worse again right before I would get my period and now I am completely fine now (5.5 months pp). I think it has to do with the hormone relaxin, as my chiropractor said, and it just takes time to leave your body.

Just wanted to reassure everyone here. I was sooo worried, but I think if your blood tests come back normal, you should be ok although I would really recommend seeing a chiropractor after you give birth.

I had lots of (mild) joint pain and aches for a year or so after DC1, didn’t get any tests, it just stopped. Didn’t happen after DC2.

Did they check your vitamin D?

Did this resolve itself?