Arthritis is a condition characterized by stiffening and swelling of joints resulting in decreased range of motion. Although this is a common geriatric problem, arthritis after pregnancy may occur in a few women. This condition could be due to physical changes after pregnancy and childbirth. It may be present for a few weeks or a few months after pregnancy. Postpartum arthritis may cause a lot of discomfort to the mother, and hence knowing the right treatment and caring measures could be helpful. Continue reading the post for more information.
Is Arthritis Common After Pregnancy?
Arthritis is common in people of all ages. It may aggravate after pregnancy and a few women are likely to experience arthritis flare-ups for some time after delivery (1). They may have postpartum joint pains in their wrists, hands, ankles, and feet.
Causes Of Arthritis After Delivery
New mothers may have postpartum joint pains or arthritis for the following reasons.
During pregnancy, most autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis or psoriatic arthritis, go into remission because of the vigorous antibody and cell-mediated immune responses. The symptoms may again flare up after pregnancy (2).
The immune system usually becomes stronger after pregnancy. The overactive immune system may lead to pre-existing allergies or autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA), lupus, or psoriatic arthritis (3).
Age, genetics, obesity, physical inactivity, smoking, infections, occupation, and diet deficiencies may also lead to arthritis flare-ups during the postpartum period (4).
What Should You Do If You Have Postpartum Joint Pain or Arthritis?
Some measures that might help in managing and treating postpartum joint pain or arthritis are:
Can You Get Rheumatoid Arthritis After Pregnancy?
There is a risk of developing autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis after pregnancy. Although there is no substantial evidence to support this claim, there is a belief that complex hormonal and immune-related shifts occur during and after pregnancy. This could be a plausible reason for an increase in the rate of rheumatoid arthritis after pregnancy (6). However, pregnancy alone need not be a reason for getting RA, as other factors such as genetics play a more important role.
Does Breastfeeding Make Rheumatoid Arthritis Worse?
Breastfeeding may not worsen rheumatoid arthritis. But some mothers with RA may have severe pain while holding the baby for breastfeeding.
Does Postpartum Arthritis Go Away?
Unfortunately, there is no cure for arthritis. However, early treatment and a healthy lifestyle could help you manage the condition (7).And lead a near normal life.
Physical examination to assess the swelling and movement of joints Blood tests Erythrocyte sedimentation rate to detect inflammation in the body C-reactive protein to detect inflammation Complete blood count to know about general health Rheumatoid factor to check the antibody present in people with this condition Anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide Joint scans X-rays MRI Ultrasound Arthroscopy, where a thin tube with light and camera is inserted in the joint to detect bone disease and tumors
