Understanding Postpartum Joint Pain
Postpartum joint pain is a common condition observed in many women after giving birth, Typically it is caused by hormonal changes or physical stress caused by giving birth. Sometimes it can also be a result of the changes in the body mechanics during pregnancy. While it can be uncomfortable, it's usually temporary and can be managed with proper care and treatment. If you are experiencing joint pain after giving birth, please speak to your healthcare provider.
Symptoms of Postpartum Joint Pain
One of the most common signs of postpartum joint pain is persistent discomfort, pain and swelling in your joints [1]. However, it is also possible to experience:
- stiffness in your joints,
- limited mobility
- struggle to use the full range of motion
- the joints can become swollen, red, tender or warm to the touch [1, 2, 3].
Joint pain can vary in the amount of time you feel the pain. Typically if it persists for three days or more, it might be a sign of a more serious problem [2, 3]. In severe cases, the joint might become completely immobile, or you might have severe joint pain [2, 3]. However, joint pain can be elicited by other issues as well such as the flu, arthritis or a consequence of deformed joints after an injury [2, 3]. However, having joint pain does not necessarily imply that you have arthritis, as it is possible to be experiencing discomfort in your joints without inflammation [1]
What Causes Joint Pain?
Joint pain can be a cause of many actions and processes occurring in your body. One of the most common causes of joint pain is arthritis. This also includes osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis.
Osteoarthritis, is a very common condition in adults aged over 40. It results from the breakdown of the cartilage that serves as a cushion for the joints [2, 3].
Rheumatoid arthritis is also quite common, in fact, it affects about 1.5 million Americans. It causes pain in the joints, and inflammation and results in a fluid buildup in the joints. This happens as the immune system attacks the membrane that lines the joints [2, 3].
Another cause of joint pain is bursitis. Bursitis is an inflammation of the cushioning pads around the joints. This inflammation can be caused by infections of the bone or joint or joint overuse. Interestingly, certain infectious diseases, such as mumps, influenza, and hepatitis, can cause joint pain as well [2]. Similarly, joint pain can be caused by viral infections like parvovirus B19, hepatitis virus, human immunodeficiency virus, arthropod-borne virus, and coronavirus [4]
Other conditions like:
- lupus,
- gout,
- chondromalacia of the patella (breakdown of the cartilage in the kneecap),
- tendinitis (infection of the tendon)
- cancer,
- fibromyalgia,
- osteoporosis,
- sarcoidosis
- and rickets
can also result in joint pain [2, 5]. In some cases, joint pain can be caused by structural pathology in the joint, often originating in the bone or synovium [6].
In children, joint pain is not as common. However, in some cases, it can be caused by benign conditions like trauma, overuse, or hypermobility syndrome, or more serious conditions like Lyme disease, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis or other orthopaedic conditions [7].
Postpartum Joint Pain: Can Giving Birth Cause Joint Pain?
Yes.
Giving birth can cause joint pain. Typically, this starts during pregnancy but can persist even after childbirth.
Postpartum joint pain is typically a result of several factors. It can be caused as a result of ligament relaxation due to hormonal changes experienced during pregnancy. Hormones like relaxin and progesterone can cause ligament laxity and joint instability.
The increased weight on your lower extremities or a postural shifts which are caused by the postural accommodation to the pregnancy can also cause postpartum joint pain[8].
During and after pregnancy, the common areas of joint pain are the sacroiliac (hip) joint, the lumbar(lower) back, the knee and the pelvic joint [8].
Some women experience severe joint pain, especially in the area of pelvic joint. This happens as the pubic bone separates either during pregnancy or during delivery. In addition to the joint pain, this also may cause difficulties with walking [8].
In rare cases, severe conditions such as osteomyelitis of the femoral head can occur after childbirth. This may lead to severe hip pain and require long-term rehabilitative therapy and even total hip replacement [9].
Interestingly, women with generalized joint hypermobility tend to experience higher pain intensity during pregnancy and even more so if they have a higher body mass index [10].
However, it's important to remember that joint pain can be managed during and after pregnancy. The available strategies to reduce postpartum joint pain are correcting the postural dysfunction, ensuring adequate flexibility and strength around the affected joints, performing regular exercise or using heat therapy or a belly band [8].