Knees hurt during pregnancy: possible causes and treatments

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-01-07 12:45

While carrying a child, a woman faces many unpleasant moments and dangers. One of the most common problems is knee pain. It can occur for a number of reasons. Why do my knees hurt during pregnancy, what to do in this case?

Features of the structure of the joints

Every joint in the human body is constantly in motion. This is due to the fact that due to this the mobility of the body is achieved. A joint is a cartilaginous junction of two bones, the gap between which is filled with synovial fluid to provide mobility. The joint is surrounded by tendons and ligaments, with the help of which muscle fibers are attached to it.

Pain in the joints can occur due to various pathologies of both the joint itself and the tissues located nearby.

Physiological causes of pain

During pregnancy, the female body undergoes many changes in a short time. Some of them are invisible to the expectant mother, and some can significantly worsen the quality of life. Why do knees hurt during pregnancy? Natural physiological causes include the following:

1. The increase in body weight that occurs during gestation and increases the load on all joints of the body, including the knees.

2. Due to the large belly, the center of gravity shifts forward, so the load on the knees increases.

   

3. Changes in hormonal levels, namely the release of a large amount of the hormone relaxin, which is necessary to prepare for childbirth. The hormone softens the cartilage and increases the elasticity of the ligaments. As a result of this process, the ligaments of the knee joint no longer fix it so tightly, the load increases.
4. Lack of calcium, since in the process of formation the child takes a large amount of useful vitamins and minerals from the mother's diet, useful substances reach the woman's body in smaller quantities. The problem is solved by the use of vitamin complexes or a balanced diet.

If knees hurt during pregnancy due to the factors described above, then in most cases the problem is solved on its own after childbirth.

Psychological reasons

Even a desired pregnancy is a huge stress. And not only for the female body, but also for the psyche of the expectant mother. Why does my knee hurt during pregnancy? Among the psychological causes, depressive states are often distinguished, which may occur due to such factors:

1. Fear of irreversible changes inbody. Dissatisfaction with the appearance of your body, as in the process of bearing a fetus, it changes very much.

2. Increased sensitivity to external factors, which causes irritability, excessive emotionality.

   

3. Change in social circle.
4. Change in the rhythm of life, the need to visit medical facilities, as well as spending a lot of time alone.

Also, the future mother has quite natural fears about the he alth of the child.

Pathological causes

If during pregnancy the legs below the knee or knee joints hurt, then the causes of this condition may also be associated with pathological processes in the body. These include the following:

1. Physical injury - dislocation, fracture, bruise.

   

2. Inflammatory process in the connective tissue of the knee joint.

3. Autoimmune diseases - systemic lupus erythematosus or vasculitis.
4. Rheumatoid arthritis.

In some cases, pain may be associated with a pinched sciatic nerve.

Who should I contact?

If your knees hurt in early pregnancy, it is recommended to consult a general practitioner, as the causes of discomfort may not always be associated with pathological processes in the knee joints. If the therapist suspects anydisease, then it is within his competence to refer a pregnant woman to narrow specialists - a surgeon, a rheumatologist, a traumatologist, an orthopedist, an osteopath.

Diagnosis

Specialists of a narrow focus are required to examine a pregnant woman, find out the symptoms, and also conduct a number of additional clinical studies that may be needed to make a correct diagnosis. The most commonly used diagnostic methods are:

1. Palpation. In order to find out the exact localization of pain in the knee joint.

2. Trendelenburg test, which helps to determine the performance of the valves of the veins of the lower extremities.
3. Ultrasound diagnostics for visual assessment of the state of the knee joint.
4. Magnetic resonance or computed tomography is used in rare cases, as it is considered harmful to the fetus, however, in some cases it cannot be dispensed with.

5. An x-ray is necessary if a mechanical injury to the limb is suspected.

   

Also, in some cases, a biopsy of synovial fluid from the joint, a general and biochemical blood test are necessary.

First Aid

If your knees hurt during pregnancy at 40 weeks, then discomfort can be caused by banal overwork. It may be associated with a significantly increased weight of a pregnant woman, a shift in the center of gravity, and as a result, an increased load on the knee joints. In this case, an adequate firsthelp for a woman is a good rest in a supine position.

If the pain does not go away even after a quality rest, then you should contact the clinic for additional examinations.

Folk treatments

Carrying a child is a special period in the life of every woman, during which a large number of classic medications are undesirable for use. In this regard, many doctors resort to treatment with folk remedies that are considered safe. The following therapies are popular:

1. Coypu fat is a great way to relieve pain. It is enough to apply a thin layer on the sore spot. After a while, the discomfort and discomfort will go away.

2. Warm bath with a decoction of birch and coniferous leaves. To prepare the product, you will need about 500 g of dried herbs, which must be brewed in 4 liters of water. After this, the broth must be filtered and poured into a bath of warm water. It is recommended to take water procedures daily for 20 minutes.

   

3. A bandage with honey and s alt helps if your knees hurt during pregnancy. To do this, you need 1 tbsp. natural honey, which must be mixed with 1 tbsp. table s alt. The mass must be wrapped in gauze or light cloth, and then applied to the sore spot for 30 minutes. The tool has an anti-inflammatory effect. Bee honey should only be used if there is no individual allergic reaction.
4. Pine buds with sugar. To prepare the product, you need to take 300 g of green pine buds, mix with 300 g of sugar, fill the jar with the contents and put it in a dark, cool place for 5 days. After 5 days, the kidneys will give juice and some of the sugar will dissolve. The resulting mixture should be rubbed on the sore spot every evening. After 30 minutes, it is recommended to wash off the mass with warm water.
5. The use of ordinary cosmetic clay can significantly improve the condition. To do this, it must be diluted with water, according to the instructions, and then applied in a thick layer to diseased joints. It is recommended to repeat the procedure daily.
6. Crushed horse chestnut should be poured with vodka and kept in a water bath for about 20 minutes. The resulting mixture is also used to relieve pain and relieve inflammation.

If your knees hurt during pregnancy, then the standard course of treatment with folk remedies is about 14 days. It should also be remembered that any methods of treatment, even alternative ones, should be used only with the permission of the attending physician.

Drug therapy

If your knees hurt a lot during pregnancy, then the only way out may be the use of medicines to relieve discomfort and discomfort. The most commonly used drugs are:

1. "Paracetamol" with an increase in body temperature, if it is caused by an inflammatory process in the knee joints.
2. Gel "Malavit" has a weak analgesic and anti-inflammatoryaction. Applied externally, directly on the skin of the knee.

3. "Fastum-gel" can be used exclusively in the first two trimesters of pregnancy. In the third trimester of gestation, the use of this remedy is not recommended.

   

4. Gel "Traumeel C" - a homeopathic remedy that relieves swelling and relieves pain.

Unfortunately, during pregnancy you can not use a large number of medications, so you can start treatment of the disease only after childbirth and cessation of lactation. Up to this point, it is recommended only to stop the pain with drugs that have no effect on the fetus.

Also, some orthopedists recommend getting orthopedic shoes during pregnancy. In order to prevent the development of joint diseases that are associated with improper weight distribution.

If your knees hurt during pregnancy, but this discomfort is associated with an injury, then a trauma doctor may prescribe an elastic bandage (for sprains), apply a cast, or recommend the use of an orthosis.

Postpartum treatment

If your knees hurt during late pregnancy, then it is quite logical to start treatment after the baby is born. In this case, the treatment is prescribed more substantial than local anesthesia. It includes the following methods:

1. Therapeutic exercise, which is aimed at strengthening the muscles of the lower extremities.
2. Injections of corticosteroid drugs that have a powerful anti-inflammatory effect. The following drugs are often used: Prednisolone or Dexamethasone.
3. Physiotherapy procedures - ultrasound therapy, electrophoresis, darsonval, help to quickly restore joint function.
4. Surgery may be required in advanced cases. It can be aimed at complete replacement of the joint or restoration of its mobility without the use of implants.

If your knees hurt during late pregnancy, then manual therapy can be prescribed to reduce discomfort. Massage can improve blood circulation in the injured limb, as well as reduce pain.

In some cases, a woman is invited to experience acupuncture - acupuncture. This method does not apply to official medicine, however, numerous reviews of women from all over the world prove its effectiveness.

Features of food

If your knees hurt during pregnancy, then, first of all, it is recommended to review your diet. The thing is that a child needs a large amount of vitamins, macro and microelements for proper development, so if the daily diet of the expectant mother does not include he althy foods, then the fetus has to take them from the reserve reserves of the mother's body. Calcium has a positive effect on the function of bone and joint tissue, and with its deficiency, it begins to break down. Toknee pain did not occur due to lack of calcium, the following foods should be included in the daily diet:

1. Dairy and sour-milk products - milk, hard cheese, cottage cheese, kefir and others.
2. Different types of meat.
3. River and sea fish.
4. Liver.
5. Chicken eggs.

Also, the diet of a pregnant woman must include seasonal vegetables, herbs and cereals.

To maintain the body, many doctors recommend taking vitamin complexes. It is advisable to start using them even at the stage of pregnancy planning, so that the body can store useful substances.

Preventive measures

What to do if knee joints hurt during pregnancy? It is much easier to prevent discomfort than to treat it later. To do this, it is recommended to adhere to the following preventive measures:

1. Reducing stress on the knees involves keeping track of your weight. It is important to gain weight within the normal range.
2. In the last trimester of pregnancy, when the weight of the child is maximum, and the center of gravity is shifted forward, you need to devote as much time as possible to rest.
3. Wearing comfortable shoes can significantly reduce the load on the legs and spine.
4. Daily self-massage will improve blood circulation, as well as lymph flow. This will avoid stagnation and the discomfort associated with it.
5. Importantdo not neglect wearing a special bandage for pregnant women, which not only supports the belly of an impressive size, but also distributes the load on the legs.

Some doctors may also recommend wearing compression stockings to help prevent varicose veins.