Pelvic and hip pain during pregnancy

What is the difficulty?

The body puts all its energy into bearing a child, which is why chronic diseases worsen. The symptoms of gonarthrosis or coxarthrosis appear especially acute in the first trimester, and then, as a rule, subside. Therefore, ideally, if you are just planning a pregnancy, it makes sense to undergo preventive treatment, for example, a course of intra-articular injections of a synovial fluid prosthesis. The drug will ensure normal functionality and painlessness of the damaged joint for one and a half to two years.

This will also help the joints of the lower extremities cope with the increased load after childbirth, because with the birth of the baby you have to be on your feet a lot of time. Therefore, in order to prevent complications, it is necessary to consult a rheumatologist as early as possible. Specialist:

• determine the severity of the disease and identify functional disorders in the joint;
• draw up a complete clinical picture based on laboratory tests and studies;
• will give comprehensive recommendations on how to behave during pregnancy in order to protect joints from rapid destruction.

It is advisable to treat arthrosis at the stage of pregnancy planning

Relief from joint pain during pregnancy

If your knee or fingers hurt during pregnancy, you should visit a doctor about this problem. Methods for relieving joint pain during pregnancy should be prescribed by a doctor.

As a rule, specialists try to treat pregnant women with non-drug methods if the pain does not cause the patient to suffer. If the pain is severe and a serious cause of its occurrence is identified, medical intervention cannot be avoided.

Various methods are used to treat physiological and pathological joint pain. Physiological pain is eliminated in the following ways:

1. Weight control with a low-carbohydrate diet recommended by your doctor;
2. in the early stages, you should rest more, and also do yoga and gymnastic exercises that reduce pain;
3. for edema, it is advisable to reduce the amount of fluid you drink per day;
4. avoiding sudden movements with excessive joint mobility under the influence of relaxin;
5. taking calcium and vitamin D supplements if there is a deficiency of these substances;
6. wearing a splint for carpal tunnel syndrome to protect the nerves from pinching.

All of the above measures can only be taken after consulting a doctor. Non-drug treatments can be as harmful when prescribed independently as medications.

If your fingers, as well as the joints of your limbs (for example, your knees) hurt, you need to determine exactly what disease is causing the pain. The following drugs may be prescribed to treat joint pathologies:

• anti-inflammatory;
• hormonal;
• antibacterial;
• painkillers.

The listed types of medications are prescribed only when absolutely necessary. The doctor will weigh the pros and cons before recommending such drugs to a pregnant woman.

What are the features of treating arthrosis during pregnancy?

During pregnancy, the usual treatment regimen for arthrosis is unacceptable. The dose of drugs is significantly reduced or drug therapy is completely abandoned. Almost all non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are contraindicated for pregnant women. In some cases, intra-articular corticosteroid injections are allowed.

Depending on the course of the disease, a woman may be recommended orthopedic devices - a corset, knee pads, elbow pads, and a Shants collar. A strict orthopedic regimen must be followed to prevent complications. In case of exacerbation and inflammatory processes in the joints, you should seek help as soon as possible, since inflammation can negatively affect the course of pregnancy.

A rheumatologist, therapist and obstetrician-gynecologist take part in the treatment of arthrosis in pregnant women.

Diagnostics

Consists of the following steps:

1. A visual examination, during which the doctor’s task is to study the volume, configuration and symmetry of the joints.
2. Palpation. The temperature of the joints that hurt is determined. Check for thrombosis.
3. Trendelenburg test. The procedure evaluates the performance of the valves of the veins of the lower extremities. It is done like this: the pregnant woman is in a lying position, one of her legs is raised up and massaged by the doctor along the entire length. Next, the doctor waits for the blood to go down, emptying the superficial veins. A tourniquet is placed on the thigh to prevent blood flow. The woman is then asked to try to quickly get to her feet and the tourniquet is removed. The doctor watches how quickly the blood begins to flow through the veins in the opposite direction, and records how quickly they fill. Observes changes in the pattern of veins and sensations of the pregnant woman. If everything is in order, blood should fill the veins in no faster than half a minute.
4. Also, if necessary, laboratory tests of the synovial fluid located in the joint cavity, tissue biopsy, ultrasound and MRI are carried out.

Is it possible to undergo physiotherapeutic procedures?

Physiotherapy is most suitable for relieving joint pain during this period of life. The devices affect damaged joints and do not affect the development of the fetus. There is equipment that can be purchased for your home and used if necessary.

During pregnancy, women are sometimes referred to sanatorium-resort treatment. There they can take mud baths, be treated with clay and other methods to improve muscle tone and cartilage tissue.

What physiotherapeutic methods are safest for joints? The expert says:

What hurts in the back or leg during pregnancy?

The cause of pain in the lower back, buttock or leg is not always the sciatic nerve. In most cases, problems are caused by ligaments, muscles and joints. It is their work that you should pay attention to when diagnosing and treating such back pain.

Even in the case of true neuritis, the culprit of the pathology is often a muscle. In the gluteal region, the sciatic nerve passes under the small but tight piriformis muscle. When it spasms, the nerve is compressed and inflamed.

If the buttocks or lower back ache or “shoot”, the stabilizer muscles of the back make themselves felt. Normally, part of their work is performed by the powerful abdominal muscles. During pregnancy, their function is “turned off”. Relatively small back muscles have to withstand ever-increasing loads.

The same can be said about pain in the back of the thigh. The muscles of this zone have to constantly “pull” the displaced center of gravity of the expectant mother. Despite the fact that the described pathologies are not particularly dangerous, if there is any pain, a pregnant woman should contact her doctor.

Methods of treatment and pain relief

If the doctor excludes potentially dangerous conditions, the pregnant woman is recommended to correct unfavorable factors. Considering that medications are contraindicated during this period, emphasis is placed on physical methods. The following measures have the greatest effect:

• Correct physical exercises under the supervision of a rehabilitation specialist. The basis of the fight against pain in the musculoskeletal system is active work with the muscles. Therapeutic exercise stabilizes and strengthens weak muscles, allowing you to feel active longer throughout the day.
• Gentle massage and stretching. In addition to strengthening weak muscles, you need to relax spasmodic muscles. Relaxation has a remarkable effect on piriformis syndrome, trigger points of the buttocks and legs. Massagers and kinesio tapes also help the expectant mother.
• A good bandage for pregnant women. The right abdominal support belt relieves back muscles and often completely eliminates pain. It is important to choose a certified and high-quality bandage so that it is not only safe, but also works effectively.

If you experience any pain during pregnancy, consult your doctor. After the doctor’s visit, we recommend visiting one of the many Medtechnika Orthosalon stores. We have comfortable and effective bandages for pregnant women, massagers, tapes and pleasant anatomical pillows. Professional consultants will help you choose the most suitable products to make your pregnancy more enjoyable and comfortable.

What other methods are used

With a strict ban on medications, many resort to traditional medicine - they make compresses, lotions, and rubs based on medicinal plants. The effect of such measures is not quick, and there is always a danger of miscarriage or premature birth. Therefore, any plants should be used with caution, after consulting with your doctor.

Among the most popular plants for compresses, which most doctors do not object to, is cinquefoil. Sometimes it is replaced with burdock. Doctors are also loyal to honey. During pregnancy, you can use it to make compresses on the damaged joint, applications and lotions; the product is allowed to be consumed orally, along with other beekeeping products - pollen and propolis. Bee products improve immunity, remove toxins and saturate the body with vitamins and microelements.

Apitherapy is allowed if the woman is not allergic to honey

Tunnel (carpal) syndrome: characteristic symptoms

Pain occurs, as already mentioned, due to compression of the median nerve, therefore the most common localization of the syndrome is the fingers (with the exception of the little finger, since its innervation is not carried out by the median nerve, but by the outgoing branches of the ulnar nerve), wrist, palmar surface of the hand .
The period characteristic for the manifestation of this disease, when the left wrist most often hurts, is the 3rd trimester of pregnancy.

The nature of the discomfort is determined by the fact that the hands and wrists hurt, swell and become numb during pregnancy, and sometimes there may be trembling of the fingers.

Added to the above is vasoconstriction, increased sensitivity of the hands to cold, as well as pale skin. The disease most often manifests itself at night, but symptoms may also occur during the day.

If pain occurs in the little finger or on the back of the hand, then this indicates the presence of another disease, since these parts of the hand have different innervation.

Often the syndrome goes away after childbirth. The woman's normal, prenatal metabolism is restored. . However, if the disease remains, then you need to consult a hematologist (nephrologist, neurologist, cardiologist) so that he can prescribe drug therapy. Physiotherapy also helps to avoid frequent pain.

If the situation does not improve, then surgical treatment must be used.

What women diagnosed with arthrosis need to remember

If you decide to have a child, take care of your joints and general condition of the body in advance.

• Get rid of excess weight, since it will already increase as the fetus grows, which means the load on the joint will increase exponentially.
• Eat right, avoid chemical preservatives, flavor enhancers and flavorings that negatively affect the condition of joints, ligaments and joint fluid.
• Swim whenever possible while pregnant. Swimming will help strengthen your muscles and give strength to your ligaments.
• Take a walk in the fresh air so that the body is saturated with oxygen and metabolic processes occur in full.
• With your doctor, select suitable gymnastics aimed at increasing the range of motion of the joint and improving its flexibility. Exercises will help avoid stagnation and stop the progression of arthrosis.

What are the forecasts?

Arthrosis is not a reason to refuse to bear a child. The main thing is to take control of the situation from the very beginning. At the first suspicion of exacerbation, contact a specialist and do not take your usual painkillers in the usual dosage.

Critically evaluate your lifestyle and habits, reduce physical activity that is dangerous for the damaged joint. Don’t forget about the disease after childbirth, because then the load will increase significantly. As soon as your doctor allows it, undergo a planned course of intra-articular injections of a synovial life prosthesis - and enjoy motherhood!