Pregnancy and Chronic Pain
Pain Conditions and Pregnancy
While some women who suffer from chronic pain conditions find their symptoms worsen during pregnancy, others may experience a lessening of their symptoms or pain. Below, we have collected some information on common pain conditions and pregnancy. If you have any pain condition, including those not listed below, it’s best to speak to your health care to learn more about treatment options to fit your needs.
According to Arthritis Care, 70-80% of pregnant women with arthritis find that pregnancy relieves their symptoms. The arthritis tends to return when the baby is born, however. Women with ankylosing spondylitis report no difference in their condition when pregnant whereas women with osteoarthritis of the knee and hip find their symptoms worsen during pregnancy.
Women with chronic arthritis are advised to work with an obstetrician and rheumatologist before becoming pregnant. Many anti-rheumatic drugs are considered to be safe during pregnancy, but women must follow their health care providers’ advice carefully to limit flares, minimize pain and reduce the chance of complications or extended hospital stays. Many women with rheumatoid arthritis find relief from their symptoms during pregnancy.
Back pain is thought to affect approximately 80% of all pregnant women, many of whom have had no back problems in the past. Treatments include a prescription “pelvic belt” or other type of brace, ice or heat, exercise, stretching, medication, massage and chiropractic intervention. For more information, read Back Care When Pregnant - Maintaining a Healthy Spine from Spine Universe and Back Pain During Pregnancy from the Mayo Clinic. If you are experiencing severe back pain, make an appointment immediately with your health care provider as this can signal a more serious condition.
RLS is estimated to affect up to 15% of pregnant women. Characterized by a tingling, twitching or burning feeling in the legs or arms that is felt during rest and only relieved through movement, RLS can cause fatigue and frustration. The good news for pregnancy-induced RLS, however, is that it often disappears within a few weeks of giving birth.
Health care providers now believe that RLS may be caused, in part, by low iron levels. If you are suffering from this condition, ask your health care provider if you should take an iron supplement. Also tell your health care provider about all prescription or over-the-counter medications or supplements you are taking and ask if they may be contributing to or triggering RLS symptoms. Massage, exercise, stretching and hot and cold packs also may help. For more information, visit The Restless Legs Syndrome Foundation.
Women with fibromyalgia report varying degrees of symptoms during pregnancy. Some find their condition is temporarily relieved while others find it is worsened both during pregnancy and after giving birth. Though fibromyalgia is not considered to be a risk to the developing fetus, most health care providers recommend women on medications for fibromyalgia wean themselves off of them before or immediately after becoming pregnant. Talk to your obstetrician and pain specialist as soon as possible to determine the proper treatment options for you.
As the baby grows, its weight increases pressure on the mother’s hip joints. Many women report generalized pain and/or numbness (caused when the baby’s head rests on the sciatic nerve), which can increase in the latter stages of pregnancy. Although the symptoms may be severe, health care providers generally recommend treatments including massage, Rolfing, chiropractic care, pregnancy belts or braces, heating pads, certain exercise routines (including yoga and Pilates) and supportive shoes and sleeping aids to help minimize pain. Try to keep good posture and hip alignment while sitting and standing. If you have a preexisting hip pain or nerve condition, talk to your health care provider before becoming pregnant to learn more about preventative treatments.
Weight gain and hormonal changes can increase preexisting joint pain or cause pain in women who have never had joint problems before.
Joint pain can be caused by a number of different reasons. As the body prepares itself to give birth, it releases hormones to relax the joints and muscles that will be used during labor. This joint loosening can cause or increase pain symptoms. Weight gain and changes in posture and movement also can cause joint strain.
If you are suffering severe joint pain, talk to your health care provider. He or she can recommend various treatments to safely help you through the pregnancy. Options may include acetaminophen (Tylenol), massage, ice packs or warm (under 100 degrees) baths. If the pain is in the hips, chiropractic adjustment also may help.
Pelvic Pain
Arthritis
According to Arthritis Care, 70-80% of pregnant women with arthritis find that pregnancy relieves their symptoms. The arthritis tends to return when the baby is born, however. Women with ankylosing spondylitis report no difference in their condition when pregnant whereas women with osteoarthritis of the knee and hip find their symptoms worsen during pregnancy.
Women with chronic arthritis are advised to work with an obstetrician and rheumatologist before becoming pregnant. Many anti-rheumatic drugs are considered to be safe during pregnancy, but women must follow their health care providers’ advice carefully to limit flares, minimize pain and reduce the chance of complications or extended hospital stays. Many women with rheumatoid arthritis find relief from their symptoms during pregnancy.
Back Pain
Back pain is thought to affect approximately 80% of all pregnant women, many of whom have had no back problems in the past. Treatments include a prescription “pelvic belt” or other type of brace, ice or heat, exercise, stretching, medication, massage and chiropractic intervention. For more information, read Back Care When Pregnant - Maintaining a Healthy Spine from Spine Universe and Back Pain During Pregnancy from the Mayo Clinic. If you are experiencing severe back pain, make an appointment immediately with your health care provider as this can signal a more serious condition.
Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS)
RLS is estimated to affect up to 15% of pregnant women. Characterized by a tingling, twitching or burning feeling in the legs or arms that is felt during rest and only relieved through movement, RLS can cause fatigue and frustration. The good news for pregnancy-induced RLS, however, is that it often disappears within a few weeks of giving birth.
Health care providers now believe that RLS may be caused, in part, by low iron levels. If you are suffering from this condition, ask your health care provider if you should take an iron supplement. Also tell your health care provider about all prescription or over-the-counter medications or supplements you are taking and ask if they may be contributing to or triggering RLS symptoms. Massage, exercise, stretching and hot and cold packs also may help. For more information, visit The Restless Legs Syndrome Foundation.
Fibromyalgia
Women with fibromyalgia report varying degrees of symptoms during pregnancy. Some find their condition is temporarily relieved while others find it is worsened both during pregnancy and after giving birth. Though fibromyalgia is not considered to be a risk to the developing fetus, most health care providers recommend women on medications for fibromyalgia wean themselves off of them before or immediately after becoming pregnant. Talk to your obstetrician and pain specialist as soon as possible to determine the proper treatment options for you.
Hip Pain
As the baby grows, its weight increases pressure on the mother’s hip joints. Many women report generalized pain and/or numbness (caused when the baby’s head rests on the sciatic nerve), which can increase in the latter stages of pregnancy. Although the symptoms may be severe, health care providers generally recommend treatments including massage, Rolfing, chiropractic care, pregnancy belts or braces, heating pads, certain exercise routines (including yoga and Pilates) and supportive shoes and sleeping aids to help minimize pain. Try to keep good posture and hip alignment while sitting and standing. If you have a preexisting hip pain or nerve condition, talk to your health care provider before becoming pregnant to learn more about preventative treatments.
Joint pain
Weight gain and hormonal changes can increase preexisting joint pain or cause pain in women who have never had joint problems before.
Joint pain can be caused by a number of different reasons. As the body prepares itself to give birth, it releases hormones to relax the joints and muscles that will be used during labor. This joint loosening can cause or increase pain symptoms. Weight gain and changes in posture and movement also can cause joint strain.
If you are suffering severe joint pain, talk to your health care provider. He or she can recommend various treatments to safely help you through the pregnancy. Options may include acetaminophen (Tylenol), massage, ice packs or warm (under 100 degrees) baths. If the pain is in the hips, chiropractic adjustment also may help.
Pelvic Pain
Including Interstitial Cystitis, Pelvic Congestion Syndrome and Pelvic Floor Dysfunction
Some degree of pelvic pain is relatively common in both pregnant women who have a history of pelvic pain and those who do not. While the diagnoses and causes may differ, it is important to speak to your obstetrician immediately if you discover new symptoms, a worsening of your symptoms or if you have questions about how to treat a preexisting condition during pregnancy. The treatment options for pelvic pain are limited and include weight maintenance, back and pelvis strengthening exercises, prescription girdles to keep the pelvic bones in proper alignment and supportive footwear to relieve pressure.