Stiff fingers postpartum

[Healthworry]

Hi there

Since having my daughter 2 months ago I wake up with stiff finger joints every morning. They are getting more stiff as the weeks pass and I now also have aches in my finger bones during the day.

GP tested for rheumatoid factor, iron, thyroid and inflammation which all came back normal. She has referred me to a rheumatologist for an opinion suggesting psoriatic arthritis potentially though I've no history of psoriasis.

I'm very worried it is arthritis at 31. Did anyone else experience stiff fingers in the morning postpartum? What was the outcome? Could it be from low estrogen while breastfeeding I wonder?

Yes I had this, and stiff feet too! GP tested all sorts and they all came back normal. It’s just recently got better (the hands, my feet are still a bit stiff) and my baby is 9 months old. No idea what it was, and neither did my GP.
I sympathise with you, it’s so horrible being stiff and in pain whilst taking care of a little one x

Have they tested b12 and folate levels? I’ve got pernicious anaemia and that was an early symptom.

I had this after my 1st baby. It started in my fingers then spread to my ankles and knees. Getting downstairs in the morning was excruciating! Exercise seemed to help a little but it only went away completely when I got pregnant with my 2nd child a year later.
It was so strange, the pain just disappeared over night and never came back even after baby no. 2 was born. I still don't know what caused it!

Yes, I remember everything was stiff. Even my spine was stiff. It was a challenge to go from lying to sitting. I told the doctor who said it was because I wasn’t looking after myself properly. Very unhelpful comment as I’m pretty sure I was looking after myself properly. Never got to the bottom of it but it went away eventually.

Are you breastfeeding? My hands, fingers and wrists were very sore and stiff with the odd positions I was holding DS whilst feeding him! Apparently this is normal, in addition to the fact your baby is sucking all your nutrients from you!

Have quite a few close friends who suffered sore/stiff joints post partum - think it's fairly normal.

Hope you get to the bottom of it. My discomfort passed about a month or so in!! X

Vitamin D?