Pregnancy is an exciting and wonderful journey, but it typically comes with its share of physical discomforts, including joint pain. As the body changes to accommodate a growing baby, many women experience pain and stiffness in their joints, particularly in the later stages of pregnancy. This pain can make everyday activities challenging and affect the individual’s sense of overall well-being.
At Long Island Spine Rehabilitation Medicine, our doctors understand the unique challenges of pregnancy-related joint pain. Our holistic, nonsurgical approach is designed to provide pain relief and restore mobility while prioritizing the health of both mother and baby. Our empathic physiatrists are dedicated to supporting you through gestation with safe and effective therapeutic treatments.
Reasons for Joint Pain During Pregnancy
Joint pain during pregnancy can be attributed to several factors:
- Hormonal changes: The body’s release of relaxin, a hormone that loosens ligaments and joints in the pelvis to facilitate childbirth, can affect joints elsewhere in the body, leading to pain and instability.
- Weight gain: During pregnancy, weight gain puts extra stress on the joints, particularly in the lower back, hips, knees, and ankles.
- Postural changes: As the baby grows, the mother’s center of gravity shifts, causing changes in posture which can increase strain on the joints.
- Fluid retention: During pregnancy, the mother’s body tends to retain fluid, leading to swelling and increased pressure on the joints.
Certain pre-existing conditions, such as osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis, may worsen joint pain during pregnancy, though they may also improve.
Symptoms of Joint Pain During Pregnancy
Many women experience the following symptoms along with joint pain during pregnancy:
- Pain and stiffness in the lower back, hips, pelvis, knees, and ankles that tends to worsen at the end of the day or after periods of inactivity.Â
- Swelling in the joints, particularly in the hands, feet, and ankles as a result of fluid retention.
- Reduced mobility due to joint pain, making everyday tasks—like walking, climbing stairs, or even sitting and standing—more difficult.
- Instability caused by the loosening of ligaments can cause joint instability, increasing the risk of injury.
These symptoms can also significantly affect the pregnant woman’s mood and behavior, making her feel less attractive, more clumsy, and less vibrant, ironically just at the time that she is carrying new life. Â
Protecting Your Unborn Child
For all of our practitioners, the safety and well-being of your unborn child are a top priority, so we are cautious when diagnosing and treating joint pain during pregnancy. Therefore, we make sure to take a thorough medical history, including any notable aspects of this pregnancy and any previous pregnancies. We also collaborate closely with your obstetrician to ensure that our treatments align with your overall prenatal care plan.
You can depend on our skilled professionals to provide effective pain relief without ever compromising the health of your baby. To this end, we will do a thorough physical examination to help identify areas of pain, swelling, and instability. Because X-rays can be harmful to the embryo or fetus, the only imaging test we are likely to administer is an ultrasound, a test entirely safe for your unborn child.
Effective, Safe Treatments for Joint Pain During Pregnancy
At Long Island Spine Rehabilitation Medicine, we offer a number of treatments for pregnant women with joint pain, all of them safe for use during gestation. These include:
- Physical therapy tailored to the patient’s particular needs will help to relieve pain by strengthening muscles, gently stretching tendons and ligaments, and improving flexibility.Â
- Ergonomic guidance to improve posture and minimize strain on the jointsÂ
- Heat and cold therapy to help reduce inflammation and pain in affected jointsÂ
- Acupuncture, an ancient Chinese medical treatment, to relieve pain by reducing inflammation, increasing circulation, and stimulating the body to produce endorphins. Acupuncture is completely safe for pregnant women and the children they carry. In addition to pain relief, it provides a sense of well-being.
The Takeaway
If joint pain is detracting from the joy of your pregnancy, now is the time to contact Long Island Spine Rehabilitation Medicine. Our highly capable, compassionate physiatrists are well-prepared to relieve your pain and keep you calm and comfortable as you approach your due date.