What should pregnant women do if they have joint pain?

The ten months of pregnancy are the happiest but also the most difficult period in a woman’s life. Pregnant women will experience many changes both psychologically and physiologically due to various physiological changes during pregnancy. Moreover, as the fetus continues to grow, the body shape of the pregnant woman is also changing. Some pregnant women may find soreness in their joints. So, what should you do if you have joint pain during pregnancy?

1. Reasons for what to do when pregnant women have joint pain

Joint pain in pregnant women is mainly due to the increase in estrogen secretion in the body after pregnancy, which causes water and sodium retention in the body, and the fluid in the joint cavity also increases accordingly, causing the joints to swell and become more prone to joint pain and discomfort. This change is a physiological phenomenon during pregnancy and not a disease. After delivery, as the body's endocrine system gradually recovers, the aforementioned joint symptoms will gradually disappear. There are three main reasons for finger joint pain in pregnant women.

1. During pregnancy, women's bodies experience an increase in endocrine hormones such as estrogen and prolactin, which often causes a decrease in the elasticity and strength of muscles and tendons. The tension in the joint capsules and ligaments near the joints also decreases, causing joint relaxation and pain in the joints and wrists, similar to symptoms of aseptic arthritis.

2. High blood pressure during pregnancy, especially in the middle and late stages, puts a heavy burden on the heart, lungs, and kidneys, causing edema, which is more likely to be obvious locally, especially in the extremities.

3. As the pregnant woman's body prepares for childbirth, her endocrine system causes the joints and ligaments to relax, which is commonly known as bone opening. Therefore, not only the hands, but also the waist, legs, feet and pelvis will gradually feel uncomfortable in the late pregnancy. This is normal. If any abnormal situation occurs, or if any part of the body is particularly uncomfortable, you should consult a doctor in time.

2. What to do about joint pain during pregnancy

At the same time, considering the safety of medication during pregnancy, you can choose external medication treatment, such as applying ginger slices to the painful area. We can also choose health care treatment, such as local hot compresses and massage, which can usually relieve the symptoms of joint pain and discomfort. In addition, pregnant women have weaker constitutions and are more sensitive to adverse external factors. In this case, if pregnant women do not get enough rest and are often exposed to cold water, it is easy to induce hand pain and joint pain. In this case, just avoid using cold water and the joint pain will gradually get better.

In late autumn, winter and early spring, pregnant women are advised to wash their hands with warm water and raise their arms frequently to increase the return of venous and lymphatic fluid, which can relieve pain in the hand joints.