Im in my 3rd trimester and suddenly my joints, especially fingers and wrists, are paining a lot. My MIL had RA so im a bit worried. Can pregnancy actually trigger this or is it just normal aches? Planning to ask doc but wanted ur thoughts.
Oh, I totally panicked when my hands started hurting and swelling in my 7th month, and I immediately thought it was arthritis! But my doctor laughed and reassured me it was just normal fluid retention putting pressure on my nerves. It went away right after delivery, so don't stress yet!
With twins, my hips and knees felt like they belonged to an 80-year-old, so I get the joint pain! But pregnancy itself doesn't directly cause rheumatoid arthritis, though hormone changes can sometimes trigger autoimmune issues postpartum. Definitely tell your gynac if you are having severe stiffness or pain.
I've been feeling some weird stiffness in my fingers lately too and was wondering the same thing. Is the pain mostly in the mornings for you? I am planning to ask my doctor during my next checkup, maybe we should both get it checked.
Honestly, right now my whole body feels like it has some kind of arthritis from carrying my baby 24/7! But joke apart, pregnancy can cause a lot of hormonal joint pain, though actual rheumatoid arthritis is different. Better to check with your doctor instead of googling like I did at 2 AM!
Hormonal changes can sometimes trigger autoimmune flares, but it is always best to let your doctor run tests to be sure. Since I had gestational diabetes, I had to be very careful with inflammation and my diet. Try avoiding inflammatory foods like sugar and processed snacks to see if your joint discomfort improves.
I'm not sure if it actually causes it, but pregnancy definitely makes my joints ache, especially after a heavy meal! Sometimes I feel like eating spicy chaat, but then the next day my fingers feel all puffy. You should ask your doctor if it's normal swelling or something else.
While pregnancy can cause a lot of joint loosening and discomfort, rheumatoid arthritis is a proper medical condition that needs a doctor's diagnosis. I had a lot of knee soreness, but my doctor allowed me to do gentle prenatal yoga and light walks, which helped. Make sure you don't start any exercises without asking your gynac first.
