Arthritis in pregnancy is one of the issues that become a problem for some mothers due to weight gain and fetal growth. If you have arthritis and want to get pregnant, be sure to stay with us in this article. In the following, we will explain what problems arthritis causes during pregnancy and what are its symptoms? What is the cause of this complication in pregnancy? Which factors increase the probability of this complication during pregnancy? How can it be treated? Can medicine be used during pregnancy? Can diet and exercise help improve arthritis? If this problem is not treated, what complications will occur for the mother and fetus? If you have arthritis and want to know what problems you will have during pregnancy, you should see a rheumatologist, orthopedic doctor, or gynecologist. The doctor explains the symptoms of arthritis and offers you treatments to control this condition. You can contact the best doctors through your doctor’s website. In addition to the face-to-face appointment system, Doktorto also offers online and telephone consultations. What is arthritis in pregnancy? If you have arthritis, you probably have concerns about pregnancy. One of the diseases of pregnancy is arthritis. During pregnancy, the body undergoes many changes. In addition to chemical and hormonal changes, you will also have physical changes. As the fetus grows and increases in weight, the pressure on the joints and muscles increases. Weight gain increases the pressure on the knees and makes it difficult for you to walk. One of the complications of pregnancy is fluid retention in the body and edema. Water accumulation in the legs causes stiffness in the ankles, knees and hips. This condition, along with excess weight, can cause tearing and wear of joints and bones. It is even possible that you have no history of arthritis before pregnancy and you may experience joint and bone problems during pregnancy. Be careful that arthritis does not affect pregnancy and you can get pregnant without any problems. But if you take arthritis drugs, be sure to inform your doctor before pregnancy. Some drugs have a negative effect on the fetus, and some can cause side effects long after stopping the use. Symptoms of arthritis in pregnancy Arthritis in pregnancy is associated with symptoms. Among its most important symptoms, the following can be mentioned: the pain is more in the knee area and it makes walking difficult. Pressure on the spine causes muscle spasms and numbness in the legs. Accumulation of water in the body causes carpal tunnel syndrome. Water accumulation in the legs causes stiffness in the ankles, knees and hips. Fatigue increases in women suffering from the autoimmune disease of rheumatoid arthritis. Usually, these symptoms are resolved or greatly reduced after delivery. Weight gain during pregnancy causes pain and discomfort. Arthritis can affect any part of the body. Fluid retention in the legs increases pain in the joints and muscles in this area. When should you see a doctor? If you have a lot of pain and discomfort during pregnancy or it is very difficult for you to walk, be sure to inform your doctor. If you feel that the swelling of the legs is increasing due to the accumulation of water and the swelling has reached your thighs or even your face, you should see a doctor. Which doctor should be consulted to check the symptoms of arthritis in pregnancy? If you have arthritis during pregnancy and the symptoms of this condition have affected your daily activities, be sure to see a gynecologist. After checking the symptoms and examination, the doctor will refer you to a rheumatology doctor. You can consult a rheumatology doctor or a gynecologist through your doctor’s website. In addition to the face-to-face appointment system, Doktorto also offers online and telephone consultations. The cause of arthritis in pregnancy. People with arthritis should know that their symptoms may worsen during pregnancy. Some people have joint and muscle problems during pregnancy without any history. The reason for that is the physical changes during this period. Weight gain is fetal growth and pressure on joints. Weight gain especially puts a lot of pressure on the knees. The accumulation of water in the legs also aggravates the problems of the joints and bones. Weight gain and fetal growth put pressure on the joints and bones of the back and aggravate the symptoms of arthritis. Diagnosis of arthritis in pregnancy. Many women who experience symptoms of arthritis during pregnancy had this condition before pregnancy. In this condition, no test is performed to diagnose arthritis. The doctor will ask about your symptoms and the severity and location of the pain. Examine the legs to assess the degree of ankle and knee swelling. Treatment of arthritis in pregnancy To treat arthritis in pregnancy, the doctor may prescribe drugs. Be sure to provide complete information about your condition to the doctor. You should inform your doctor about any medication or supplement you are taking. There are many ways to manage the symptoms of arthritis during pregnancy. In addition to taking medicine, some measures at home can be effective. Medicines for arthritis in pregnancy There are various medicines for the treatment of arthritis. But since some drugs affect the fetus and may even cause birth defects, drug administration should be done with caution. But some arthritis drugs do not cause problems in pregnancy and can be taken under the supervision of a doctor. The dosage should be determined by the doctor. Quoted from women4womenobgyn regarding the prescription of medication for arthritis after childbirth: exacerbation of arthritis symptoms in women is common up to a few weeks after birth. There are medications you can take for this condition. These drugs do not cause problems in breastfeeding and are not transferred to the baby through milk. During this time, you should continue the exercise and stretching exercises prescribed by your doctor. Prescription drugs for pregnancy arthritis, which are usually used for some time after delivery, do not pose a risk to the baby. Diet and exercise for arthritis in pregnancy in some people, arthritis causes dry mouth and difficulty in swallowing. This condition makes eating difficult. But you must have good nutrition for your health and the growth of the fetus. Take supplements during pregnancy under the supervision of a doctor so that you do not lack nutrients. Exercise is very important during pregnancy. Certain exercises increase flexibility. Try to include exercises related to increasing muscle strength in your program. For people with arthritis, walking and swimming are very good options. Be sure to consult your doctor about the type of exercise to make sure the fetus is not harmed. You should not do heavy sports during pregnancy. Exercising helps reduce the symptoms of arthritis during pregnancy. Home treatment of arthritis in pregnancy Some home measures can help relieve the pain of arthritis. These natural remedies are a good alternative to drugs that cause serious side effects. You can help manage arthritis by taking the following steps. Using hot and cold compresses helps relieve pain and reduce arthritis symptoms. Massage therapy relieves joint pain and stiffness and improves range of motion. Get enough rest during pregnancy. Elevating your legs during rest reduces the pressure on your legs and back. Some lifestyle changes can help reduce arthritis pain. Your pain may be relieved by changing your posture, shoes, clothing, or certain activities. Try deep breathing and other relaxation methods and techniques. Adequate rest, hot and cold compresses, massage therapy, exercises and relaxation techniques can help reduce the pain and discomfort caused by pregnancy arthritis. Which medical team can be referred to for the treatment of arthritis in pregnancy? If arthritis has caused severe symptoms during pregnancy and has affected your daily activities, you should see a gynecologist or rheumatologist for arthritis management. According to your condition, the specialist prescribes the necessary medicines and teaches you some things to relieve the pain. To connect with the best rheumatology doctor, gynecologist or orthopedic specialist, you can apply through your doctor’s website. In addition to the face-to-face appointment system, you can also consult with a rheumatology doctor over the phone. Complications of arthritis in pregnancy Arthritis in pregnancy can increase the possibility of some complications. If you have this disease, you should be familiar with its possible complications and consult your doctor about any of these risks. Some of the complications of arthritis in pregnancy are: Risk of preeclampsia: In people with arthritis, the risk of preeclampsia is higher. This disease causes high blood pressure in pregnancy and an increase in excess protein in the urine. This situation is serious and sometimes threatens the life of the mother and fetus. In most cases, it occurs during pregnancy, but in rare cases, it may appear after delivery. Low birth weight of the baby: Studies show that women with arthritis are more likely to have a baby with a low or smaller birth weight than other women. The possibility of needing a cesarean section: Due to the increase in body pain, especially in the back, it may be difficult for the mother to give birth naturally, and a cesarean section should be performed. In people with arthritis, the risk of preeclampsia is higher. This disease causes high blood pressure and excess protein in the urine. This situation is serious and sometimes threatens the life of the mother and fetus. Complications of arthritis drugs in pregnancy to control arthritis, anti-rheumatic drugs should be prescribed. These drugs play an important role in controlling symptoms. But some of them are not safe in pregnancy and can be dangerous for the mother and the fetus. For example, methotrexate is prescribed to treat arthritis. But this drug should be stopped three months before pregnancy. Because it increases the possibility of birth defects. If you use arthritis drugs and plan to get pregnant, be sure to consult a gynecologist or a rheumatologist to learn about the side effects of your drugs. You can also use the drug consultation at your doctor and get complete information about the drugs. Some anti-rheumatic drugs cause side effects during breastfeeding and should not be taken. Prevention of arthritis in pregnancy There is no way to prevent arthritis in pregnancy. But by observing some points, this disease can be controlled and the pressure on the joints can be reduced. Among them: Do not use painkillers as much as possible. If your joints hurt, the best method is cold and warm compresses. Try to get enough rest. During pregnancy, the lower the pressure on the back, knees and ankles, the less the pain. Wear appropriate shoes. High-heeled shoes increase the pressure on the legs during pregnancy. Maintain good posture while walking. Sleep on a firm mattress to reduce muscle spasms. Stockings can reduce fluid retention in the ankle. Exercise every day to increase your flexibility. Arthritis of the knee in pregnancy During pregnancy, the symptoms of arthritis may affect any part of the body. But increasing weight causes more pressure on the knees and causes knee pain. Knee arthritis during pregnancy affects walking and can make your daily activities difficult. Leg pain during pregnancy is one of the common problems that resolves after delivery. Frequently asked questions If you have arthritis during pregnancy or you have arthritis and you are worried about its complications during pregnancy, you have probably encountered questions about this. For this reason, we have raised some of your frequently asked questions and provided their answers. Does losing weight help treat arthritis in pregnancy? Extra weight during pregnancy increases the pressure on joints and bones. Weight control can reduce pressure and relieve back and knee pain. Is arthritis dangerous in pregnancy? Usually, this complication does not cause any problems during pregnancy and the pain can be controlled with measures at home. But sometimes, arthritis may increase the risk of preeclampsia (high blood pressure during pregnancy) or low birth weight. Also, these women may need a cesarean delivery. Does arthritis continue after childbirth? Arthritis symptoms are usually relieved after the birth of the baby. In some cases, after giving birth, the symptoms of arthritis worsen and last for several weeks. For this condition, the doctor prescribes medicines. Can I have a natural birth despite arthritis? If there is a lot of pain and pressure in your lower back, it may be difficult to give birth naturally. In this situation, the doctor suggests a cesarean delivery. But if the pain and symptoms of arthritis are mild, you can talk to your doctor about natural childbirth. Is arthritis genetically transmitted to the baby? Some types of arthritis are more common in families and can be inherited. Of course, heredity is not the only factor of transmission, and other factors, especially environmental factors, are also influential in this issue. For this reason, the probability of transmitting this disease to the child is low. Conclusion and guide to see an arthritis doctor during pregnancy can cause problems due to weight gain and fetal growth. If you had arthritis before pregnancy, its symptoms will probably worsen during pregnancy. Weight gain increases the pressure on the back and knees and causes pain in these areas. Also, fluid retention in the legs is one of the complications of pregnancy that aggravates arthritis. Anti-rheumatic drugs help manage arthritis. But some of these drugs cannot be used during pregnancy. Even some of them cause complications for the mother and the fetus long after stopping the use. The doctor prescribes safe medicines for pain relief. In addition, you can use hot and cold compresses. Rest helps relieve pain. Elevate your legs while resting to reduce pressure. If you have arthritis during pregnancy, you should see a rheumatology specialist, gynecologist or orthopedic doctor for pain relief and arthritis treatment. You can communicate with these doctors in person, online or by phone through your doctor’s website. Your doctor takes care of your health!
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