Ways to Cope with Arthritis During Pregnancy

Arthritis affects millions of people around the globe. Due to joint pain experienced by the affected person, mobility and flexibility are significantly reduced, impairing the quality of life. However, what to do when you’re pregnant and suffer from arthritis? Consult Dr. Nataraj H M, an Orthopedic doctor, and the Best Arthritis Specialist in Bangalore, to cope with arthritis during this special time of your life.

Arthritis During Pregnancy

First, it’s important to remember that while most women experience joint pain during pregnancy, at the same time, not all have arthritis. Joint pain can occur due to weight gain and larger pressure on a woman’s joints.

When it comes to arthritis, not all women experience it the same way throughout pregnancy. According to studies, this happens because pregnancy might dampen the immune system to prevent a woman’s body from considering the baby as an “invader.” This means the immune system doesn’t work as actively as before pregnancy, thus decreasing inflammation and pain.

Symptoms of Arthritis During Pregnancy

Women with arthritis usually notice how their joint pain aggravates during pregnancy. This happens due to weight and usually affects the knees and hips. Although women experience signs and symptoms of arthritis during pregnancy in different intensities, in most cases, they include:

• Looser and unstable joints might also cause the “waddle” when a woman walks even if she doesn’t gain too much weight.
• Knee problems are annoying due to increased weight and because muscles along the side of the knee weaken.
• The spine curves slightly to support uterus growth which can lead to muscle spasms in the back. In some cases, this can also lead to numbness in the legs.
• Joint stiffness increases due to water weight gain, particularly in weight-bearing joints.
• Increased fatigue.

Now that you know how arthritis during pregnancy is expressed, it’s time to see different ways to alleviate the pain you experience and improve the quality of life to improve the well-being of yourself and your child.

1. Medications
   To alleviate joint pain associated with arthritis, doctors usually recommend painkillers. However, when you’re pregnant before you start your medications, you should consult your doctor and make sure they recommend some that won’t harm your baby.
2. Diet
   Pregnancy involves a healthy diet as the ideal way of supplying your baby with the healthy nutrient they need to develop properly. Furthermore, many healthy foods can relieve symptoms of arthritis joint pain, such as:
   
   • Omega 3 fatty acids – They prevent inflammation in the body and reduce symptoms of arthritis. Also, regular intake of Omega 3’s is necessary for a baby’s brain development and overall health. Good sources of Omega 3’s are salmon and seafood (make sure they don’t have high levels of mercury), walnuts, etc.
   • Broccoli, cauliflower, and other cruciferous veggies – Protect joints from inflammation and arthritis.
   • Vitamin D – Decreases the progress of arthritis.
   • Olive oil – Reduces pain and joint stiffness.
   • Ginger – Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties which protect your joints
   • Vitamin C – Effective antioxidant.
3. Exercise
   Physical activity is important throughout your pregnancy. It improves your overall health and prepares your joints for delivery. There are many gym classes for pregnant women that you can sign up for, or you can perform some low-impact exercises at home. The Even 20-minute walk will do wonders for the flexibility of your joints.
4. Pain Relief Tips
   Experiencing joint pain is never easy, particularly when you’re pregnant and already dealing with many pregnancy symptoms. Check out below, and you can see some useful tips to relieve instantly joint pain and stiffness:
   • Apply hot compresses to affected areas to relieve.
   • Apply ice packs to relieve pain.
   • Rest often, but not too much, as prolonged inactivity can aggravate the pain
   • Pay attention to your posture because poor posture can form additional stress on your joints and only aggravate the pain.
   • Avoid high heels.
5. Motivating Yourself
   Here are some tips that you can use to motivate yourself and improve mental strength to deal with arthritis during pregnancy:
6. Remind yourself that the joint pain you experience will be worth it when you finally meet your bundle of joy.
7. Remind yourself that although your disease is active, so is your entire body creating life, and nothing can beat that.
8. Mind that your disease won’t limit you unless you let it
9. Be aware that your husband also has difficulty adjusting to the situation, which is why he needs support. Here, supporting each other is the greatest motivation you need.

Conclusion

During pregnancy, joint pain can worsen because weight gain forms a larger pressure on arthritis-affected joints. There are many ways you can cope with arthritis, including a healthy lifestyle. Before taking medications, consult Dr. Nataraj H M, an Orthopedic doctor, and the Best arthritis Specialist in Bangalore, for evaluation and treatment if you have symptoms.