October 8, 2014 | views: 5,367
Very often, women complain that their legs hurt during pregnancy, because the lower limbs experience a load no less than the stomach from the sharply increased weight. At certain moments, the complaint may look like pain between the legs during pregnancy, and it is impossible to explain your feelings in any other way. What is it, how to understand and how to treat?
Why do your legs hurt so much during pregnancy? You need to know this. Of course, any woman will definitely be told that pain in the legs during pregnancy is simply inevitable, and one must “endure” it as standard. How could it be otherwise, the weight grows, the center of gravity goes somewhere into the depths of the spine into unusual perimeters, the pelvic bones crunch. By the end of pregnancy, many can no longer even move normally. But this is an extremely wrong approach to interpreting your own feelings! Pain can have a different nature and various causes, including pathological ones. For example, if during pregnancy there is pain between the legs, this may indicate such a dangerous thing as symphysitis, and that there is not enough calcium. and that the tone of the uterus is increased. Each type of pain must be described to the doctor and diagnosed.
Even standard sensations “in position”, such as pain between the legs during pregnancy, cramps in the calf muscles, etc., can be avoided, or this manifestation can be reduced to a minimum if you follow the simplest rules.
Although it seems paradoxical, swelling is relieved by increasing the amount of fluid you drink. When the body is dehydrated, it tries to accumulate and retain the much-missed water.
But the amount of salt needs to be reduced. If possible, replace salt with safe preparations that do not contain sodium, or simply eliminate saltiness from the diet. Although we would like to, we know.
A few rules on how to reduce leg pain during pregnancy. When consuming protein foods, you need to increase the amount of drinking. But if possible, it’s better not to get carried away with sweets.
You should not stand on your feet for a long time or sit with your knees crossed. If you have to do this due to duty, please relax at home, raising your feet on a pillow.
If you have pain between your legs during pregnancy, then learn to sleep on your left side, this is good for the baby and for the mother’s blood circulation.
And don’t forget that even having a big belly is not at all a reason to depict a duck emerging from the water. Walking “slouch”, sticking your stomach forward, arching your spine and maintaining balance with your feet wide apart is not a very healthy phenomenon. Often, pain between the legs during pregnancy occurs precisely because of overstretching of the muscles in the perineal area.
At a minimum, if your legs hurt during pregnancy, you need to explain to your doctor all the sensations, from the smallest to the regularly tormenting ones. Diagnosing any problems is the prerogative of doctors. If no pathologies have been identified, and the nature of the pain is exclusively natural, that is, the legs suffer due to hormonal changes and weight gain. You can use the following tips.
Be sure to use anti-varicose ointments approved for pregnant women. For example, creams based on horse chestnut extract. Their use does not affect the health of mother and child in any way.
If you have pain between your legs during pregnancy, then you should go to exercise therapy, having received the appropriate direction. And if you have the opportunity to visit the pool, that’s absolutely great.
If your legs ache during pregnancy, then it is better not to take a foot bath at all, but contrasting douches will not hurt.
Finally, you can use compression stockings or tights (season permitting) to normalize blood circulation in your legs and reduce pain.
Hi all! Tell me, girls, it’s been almost 6 months, in recent days the bones between my legs have started to ache more than usual, it hurts to put on pants or if you take a wider step, it hurts. I walk like a robot, is this normal at this stage? I understand that everything is moving apart now, but what worries me is that it hurts quite a lot. Has anyone had the same? And maybe take a pill, for example? See a doctor only after 10 days.
Hi all! Tell me, girls, it’s been almost 6 months, in the last few days the bones between my legs have started to ache more than usual, it’s painful to put on pants or take a wider step.
Aunt Raccoon © Ha! And my doctor tells me that a pregnant woman shouldn’t have any pain, so I don’t even complain to her about anything! Once I complained about pain in the sacrum, and she told me: so you need to be kept in a hospital. . That's it, I don't complain to her about anything anymore.
Same situation! The same bullshit! I’m afraid to tell her something directly, but I couldn’t stop for a long time, so she’s trying to put me in the hospital at every opportunity.
Same situation! The same bullshit! I’m afraid to tell her something directly, but I couldn’t get over her for a long time, so she tries to tell me at every opportunity.
So I, through my husband, climbed into the toilet at night, you put your legs wide so that you can slide down, so they started to hurt more, and I also started feeling pain a long time ago, especially when you walk down the street, it’s slippery, you barely eat, you strain your legs so as not to fall and here it is, numbness. But no matter, today it’s still bearable. God endured and commanded us. This is our female fate
So I, through my husband, climbed into the toilet at night, you put your legs wide so that you could slide down, so they started to hurt more, and I also started feeling this a long time ago.
She tries to put me in the hospital at every opportunity.
At the last appointment, she very persistently tried to admit me to the hospital, she even sent me for an ultrasound, the ultrasound showed that everything was fine, so she found a million more reasons to admit me, I had to quarrel with her and write a refusal to be hospitalized. Apparently they are given a bonus if they supply patients to the hospital. Money is allocated for birth certificates - you have to work it off.
K.Katerina: . yeah, there is such a thing.
K.Katerina: . At my last appointment, she very persistently tried to admit me to the hospital, she even sent me for an ultrasound, the ultrasound showed that everything was fine.
Aunt Raccoon © at the last appointment she very persistently tried to admit me to the hospital, she even sent me for an ultrasound, the ultrasound showed that everything was fine, so she found a million more reasons to admit me, I had to quarrel with her and write a refusal to be hospitalized. Apparently they are given a bonus if they supply patients to the hospital. Money is allocated for birth certificates - you have to work it off.
Nope, we don’t have that (TTT), he’ll just ask if everything is okay, and I. Yeah, everything is fine, nothing to worry about!
But today they called me from our residential complex and offered me a free trip to a sanatorium for 3 weeks. yahoo :yahoo :yahoo I'll have fun
But today you will call me.
Aunt-Raccoon © Not far from the city of Chebarkul, Forest Fairy Tale near Chelyabinsk, Spruce is also called. And they called me, they stunned me, I refuse, but they persuade me! (the midwife is well known), okay, she says, let’s think about it and call you back. I tell my husband, this way and that, he says, absolutely cuckoo. go ahead. You will rest, breathe some air, when you can rest for free in a sanatorium. A trip from March 19 for 3 weeks, it’s just a shame, I’m going there on my birthday, I’ll be 25 years old on March 26.
Aunt-Raccoon © Not far from the city of Chebarkul, Forest Fairy Tale near Chelyabinsk, Spruce is also called. And they called me, they shocked me, I refuse.
Pregnancy for a woman is not only a source of pleasant sensations, joy from the birth of life; Sometimes a woman experiences illness, deterioration in health, and worsening mood. This is due to the nature of the changes occurring with the expectant mother. The back makes itself known, the lower back ache.
The legs begin to give out: they are not always ready to accept the new weight of the owner. The belly in later stages is a difficult test for the legs. A shifted center of gravity increases the stress placed on our poor limbs. Excessive worries for a pregnant woman are dangerous, but vigilance will help you notice a serious illness in time: pain in the legs has many causes. A woman who has felt some pain should know the reasons for its occurrence and a way to safely relieve the condition.
Why do many women experience pain and heaviness in their legs despite being in a great position? The primary role is played by rounded shapes (simply increased weight). Another factor is a shift in the center of gravity due to the growth of the abdomen. A pregnant woman may feel discomfort if her shoes become tight and her nails begin to grow painfully. Sometimes a woman notices that her usual shoes are too small for her, but does not rush to the store. Such savings are unreasonable. The right shoes will not only prevent foot pain, but will also be a salvation for the spine. Throbbing pain is an indicator of fluid accumulated in the body, a sign of emerging edema (often found in pregnant women).
Cramps are another pregnancy nightmare. There is more blood, progesterone increases, excess coffee and tea do their job, the woman lacks calcium, and anemia becomes her companion. In the third trimester, cramps are most frequent and usually plague a pregnant woman at night. Another nuisance is that after a long walk, aching pain begins (a companion to varicose veins, a disease in which the veins become enlarged).
Varicose veins are often detected in pregnant women. Those who did not have problems with veins in their “pre-pregnancy” state can also experience the delights of this disease. The early stage of the disease is the best time to start health procedures; pregnancy is not a reason to refuse them.
In addition to the suffering that varicose veins bring to the expectant mother, the disease can provoke a lack of oxygen in the womb (if the general blood supply system fails, the baby will feel it). The delivery of nutrients depends on the condition of your circulatory system. The doctor will diagnose varicose veins if you feel a burning sensation, aching pain, or heaviness in your legs in the evening. External manifestations will also help - swelling, spider veins. A visit to the doctor is necessary - the treatment tactics determine whether the disease will progress or stop in its infancy.
By increasing the amount you drink, you alleviate your condition. Dehydration accelerates the formation of edema. Avoid salty foods. The right menu is a guarantee of good health. Cheese, meat, fish and legumes are the basis of proper nutrition. Be sure to get protein with your food, the little man growing in the womb needs it! Watch your portions especially carefully - a pregnant woman does not need excess weight.
An increase that has crossed the 12-kilogram mark is undesirable. Excess weight is an obligatory companion to edema. Take care of your legs - you don't need long walks if you have varicose veins. A good tip: Raise your legs up more often when you have a free minute. After sitting down, place your legs straight (a bad habit is to put your legs crosswise). Choose a gentle exercise routine if you are a natural athlete. Love to sleep on your left side (the inferior vena cava is on the right).
The pressure will decrease and the pain will dull. Avoid wearing tight socks and stockings. Compression underwear (socks, tights) will protect blood vessels and improve your well-being. A big belly is not a reason to slouch or become unattractive. With a straight spine, the weight is correctly distributed and the blood does not stagnate. Pay attention to your shoes: comfortable, high-quality lasts and the absence of high heels will make life easier.
If possible, walk barefoot in the dew, walk in the sand. A warm water bath relaxes. Massage and gel application are excellent treatments for the feet. Cold water will dull the pain in the feet. Then you need to dry your feet. Horse chestnut cosmetics are harmless to your condition, and the effect of applying the cream is noticeable. Regular physical therapy is the best prevention of blood stagnation. Swimming is beneficial for pregnant women. Swimming will prepare the body for the false process of childbirth. Visiting a pool or pond improves blood supply and regulates weight gain (prevention of varicose veins).
But it is better to avoid open sun and prolonged tanning. Ultraviolet radiation is harmful to the walls of blood vessels and provokes the formation of varicose veins. It is better to postpone baths until the baby is born. A contrast shower is indicated for varicose veins (water is directed from bottom to top, cold and warm jets alternate; taking a shower will not harm your child). It is better for the husband to carry heavy loads. Heavy bags are not for pregnant women, and neither is physical activity. Your task is to give birth to a strong baby and not provoke a deterioration in your own health.
When a child's legs hurt, especially during sleep or at night, this is considered a sign of his growth. This does not happen to everyone; for many, the pain is not so severe and they simply do not feel it. As a rule, such painful growth occurs from 2 to 3 years, when the entire skeletal system is formed. However, pain can also appear in 7-9 year old children. And this can also be considered growth, since at this age many children begin to stretch out greatly.
In any case, no physician has yet been able to identify the cause of the growth mechanism. According to doctors, when bones begin to grow quickly, the muscles simply cannot keep up with them, as a result of which the muscles and tendons become tense, fit tightly to the bones and compress the joints, which causes a feeling of discomfort. The places of pain can also be different - from the upper thigh to the lower ankle of the legs. Growing pain has its own characteristics; it is not sharp, piercing, but nagging, like after an intense workout in the gym.
The fact is that the child is constantly in motion all day long - he plays, runs, jumps, and during sleep the muscles relax, but the tension remains and causes pain. However, growing pains should not be confused with cramps. The latter represent an acute pain that blocks all steps of the slightest movement. There is no clear interval and frequency of pain, as well as the reasons for its occurrence. Today the child is cheerful, playing and having fun, and tomorrow he spends his evenings at home, complaining of unwell legs.
Not everything is as harmless as we would like to see. Sometimes the cause of leg pain can be the onset and development of a serious disease such as rheumatoid arthritis. Only a doctor can make an accurate diagnosis.
Particular attention should be paid if the pain is accompanied by:
Once the diagnosis of arthritis has been completely ruled out, it’s time to find other ways to deal with night pain.
In addition to physical manual manipulations, you cannot do without taking special medications for quick and effective pain relief. It can be:
They are produced in the form of syrups and that is why they are easy to use and tasty even for the most fastidious patients. Before use, use the attached instructions for the drug, and you must be completely sure that the child does not have any allergies, since there are a huge amount of additives in these “miracle drugs”. If the pain is associated specifically with growth, then it will be short-term in nature and may relapse no earlier than in 2-3 years. And a few sleepless nights are mere trifles for loving parents.
Pregnancy brings not only the joy of expecting a future child, but also a lot of pain. And that's okay. Our body is changing, various new processes begin to operate in it that prepare us for future motherhood. Pain in the back, lower back and other parts of the body is quite natural.
And how my legs hurt! And this is not surprising. They have to bear so much weight. A belly is good, but by the end of pregnancy it is already a belly that puts pressure on our poor limbs. During pregnancy, the center of gravity shifts, which puts stress on the legs. A woman should not be suspicious, but she should not lose her vigilance either. Pain in the legs can be the cause of a serious illness, so a woman needs to find out the nature of these pains as early as possible.
What are the reasons why leg pain becomes an inevitable phenomenon during pregnancy? First of all, a woman’s weight increases, which puts stress on her legs. In addition, the center of gravity shifts, which also causes pain in the legs. During pregnancy, due to uncomfortable and tight shoes, nails grow in, which also causes discomfort. Due to the accumulation of fluid in the female body, throbbing pain begins and swelling of the legs occurs.
Cramps also plague women. They occur due to increased blood volume, high levels of progesterone, lack of calcium, iron in the body, excessive coffee consumption and anemia. Cramps most often occur at night. Pregnant women in the late stages of pregnancy suffer from them. Varicose veins also occur, which are characterized by aching pain after prolonged walking or standing.
Varicose veins become common during pregnancy. A woman who did not have problems with veins before pregnancy is at risk during pregnancy.
Varicose veins can lead to a lack of oxygen in the baby, because at this time you have a common circulatory system. Your blood becomes a source of nutrients for the baby. Your baby's condition depends on you, so consult a doctor as early as possible. Varicose veins are easy to recognize: there is a burning sensation in the legs, they ache and ache, they itch, tingle, there is heaviness and fatigue in them, spider veins and swelling appear, and frequent attacks of leg cramps.
1. First of all, drink more fluids. Swelling gets worse when the body is dehydrated. Eat less salt, which delays the removal of fluid from the body. A healthy diet will help you prevent foot pain. Stick to a diet that contains foods such as beans, fish, meat, and cheese.
2. You need protein. Watch your weight. You can gain weight by eight to twelve kilograms. It is excess weight that will contribute to the appearance of edema. You shouldn't be on your feet for a long time. If this is unavoidable, then sit down and elevate your legs if possible. If your legs swell frequently, you should raise them as often as possible. There is no need to cross your legs while sitting. By doing this you interfere with normal blood circulation. Be careful while exercising. You should sleep on your left side. On the right side is the inferior vena cava, which carries a large amount of blood.
3. If you sleep on your left side, then the pressure will decrease and you will be able to avoid leg pain. Socks should not pinch your feet. Special bandages, tights, knee socks, stockings, which are made of compression knitwear, will help avoid problems with blood vessels. Correct gait will help you avoid discomfort in your legs. To do this, the weight must be distributed throughout the body, and the spine must be straight. Do not bend your lower back back. Shoes should be comfortable without heels, and the last and insole should be of high quality.
4. It is very useful to walk on morning dew, river or sea sand. Feet need to be relaxed with a bath of warm water, and then apply a gel with a cooling effect and massage the feet. If you are suffering from pain in your feet, you should place your feet in a basin with very cold water and move from foot to foot, or start pouring on your calves and ankles. Then wipe them dry. Currently, there are many ointments and creams that have a preventive and therapeutic effect. They are made from horse chestnut, so they do not cause any harm. Physical therapy and massage help prevent blood stagnation and reduce the likelihood of painful sensations in the legs.
5. Swimming has great benefits. We recommend doing it. Don't spend a lot of time in the sun or tan. Ultraviolet radiation contributes to the appearance of varicose veins, as it weakens the walls of venous vessels. It is not recommended to take baths. It is best to take a contrast shower, which will strengthen the walls of blood vessels and reduce pain in the legs. Do not engage in heavy physical labor and do not lift heavy objects under any circumstances. Remember that you are responsible for the health and life of your unborn child. Be attentive and scrupulous to yourself.
Starting from the 22nd week, there comes a period when, in the event of premature birth, the baby has a theoretical chance of survival. The volume of the abdomen is becoming larger, it makes it difficult to bend over and walk quickly. Fetal movements in the sixth month of pregnancy are clearly felt, and by their nature one can judge the well-being of the baby inside.
Pregnancy noticeably changes your daily routine and mood. It is during this period that the expectant mother may begin to manifest the so-called “nesting instinct” - a condition in which an irresistible desire arises to prepare for the birth of the baby. Therefore, after 20 weeks, many pregnant women with increased zeal begin to sew, knit or buy clothes for newborns, look after a stroller, crib, changing table and even baby dishes. In addition to the “nesting instinct,” the following sensations may be present in the sixth month:
Increased fatigue and drowsiness - if up to 20 weeks it was enough to simply rest, sitting on a chair or in an armchair, to restore strength during the day, now many expectant mothers need a nap during the day. This need becomes especially noticeable after going to the hospital, shopping and other crowded places. The duration of night sleep also changes. A woman can go to bed at 10 pm and wake up no earlier than 9 am.
Frequent urination - an enlarged uterus puts pressure on the bladder, so you have to visit the toilet much more often than in previous months of pregnancy. Some expectant mothers are already forced to wake up at night to empty their bladder, but the majority of pregnant women do not yet experience such inconvenience at this stage.
Difficulty breathing - the uterus rises significantly and begins to put pressure on the diaphragm. This leads to a situation where the woman feels like she cannot take a deep breath. Typically, this symptom is characteristic of later stages of pregnancy, but in some cases it can be observed in the period from 20 to 24 weeks.
Swelling of the feet - appears due to increased kidney function. A provoking factor may be prolonged stress on the legs, heat and high fluid intake. In Soviet times, there was an opinion among gynecologists that in order to reduce swelling, a pregnant woman should reduce the amount of water she drinks per day. However, studies by their foreign colleagues have proven that liquid can be consumed in any quantity, but most of this liquid should have a diuretic effect. The ideal option would be cranberry juice, which will not only perfectly quench your thirst, but also be able to relieve swelling in a few hours.
Weight – by the end of 24 weeks, the weight of the fetus reaches 900 – 1000 grams. If hypoxia was diagnosed during fetal development, the values will be determined slightly lower (750 - 800 grams). From this moment on, the weight will grow every day, because weight gain is the last milestone that the baby must overcome in order to be born without complications for his health.
Internal structure - during the sixth month of pregnancy, the final formation of all organs occurs. Now, during the remaining three months, they only need to mature in order to immediately get involved in work after the baby is born. But even in the case of premature birth, the internal organs are already able to function if the child ends up in a specialized clinic and is assisted by life support devices.
Appearance – the baby looks thin, his skin is wrinkled, his abdominal circumference is too large in relation to the size of his arms and legs. The shells of the ears are so thin that they appear papery and can easily become deformed. Due to the small layer of subcutaneous fat, the child is not yet able to maintain heat on his own. To imagine how small his size is at the end of the sixth month, it is enough to know that at this stage the circumference of his forearm is equal to the circumference of your thumb.
Calf muscle cramps sometimes become a serious problem for pregnant women. It is noteworthy that they appear at night, when the legs do not experience any stress. To relieve the spasm, you need to pull the toe of your foot towards you. Convulsions in pregnant women occur due to a lack of magnesium in the blood, so in such cases the doctor prescribes the patient a course of Magne B6.
A drooping abdomen should alert you and be a reason to immediately consult a doctor. Especially if the stomach has become lower in a few hours or a day. An indirect sign that the fetus has descended is a sudden relief of breathing and the appearance of a feeling that nothing is pressing on the diaphragm. You need to go to an appointment with an obstetrician-gynecologist even if, in addition to prolapse of the abdomen, there is no pain or bleeding.
Premature dilation of the cervix - if this process is stopped in time, then pregnancy can be carried to a later date. There are frequent cases when in the middle of the second trimester the doctor discovers that a woman’s cervix is dilated by 1.5 - 2 fingers, but thanks to timely therapy, the child can be carried to 36 - 37 weeks. Of course, you will have to sacrifice your usual routine and lie under the supervision of doctors in a hospital, but the baby’s life should be worth more than refusing to endure temporary inconveniences.
Detection of less than 3 vessels in the umbilical cord - as a rule, this becomes clear after Doppler ultrasound, a procedure that allows you to examine the uteroplacental and fetal placental blood flow. Normally, the umbilical cord should have 3 vessels: two arteries and one vein. But in some cases, the doctor detects only 2 vessels: a vein and one artery. This is considered a deviation from the norm and requires close monitoring of the pregnancy, as there is a risk of developing fetal hypoxia.
If the baby is not positioned head down on the ultrasound, then there is no need to worry about this - the baby still has a few more weeks to roll over into the correct position. There is a time ahead when the chances of survival in case of premature birth will increase every day, so soon future parents can start buying furniture and a stroller for their son or daughter.
Pregnancy is a condition that is accompanied by a lot of “side effects”. The complaint of discomfort and swelling in the legs in the first trimester is one of the most common. Why do your legs hurt during early pregnancy, and is there any reason to worry?
To understand the reasons why legs ache, hurt, pull or twist in the early stages of pregnancy, it makes sense to divide them according to the manifestation of symptoms.
The majority of pregnant women encounter this problem when the baby is already quite large, in the second or third trimester. However, often the legs begin to ache as soon as the baby makes itself known.
One of the possible reasons for the manifestation of such an unpleasant symptom is varicose veins. Often, dilated veins “signal” precisely in the first months of pregnancy. Which, however, is quite logical: physiological changes make themselves felt.
How to fight? Special compression garments, relaxing foot baths, reducing the load (walk less, rest more if possible).
If your calves feel tight from the very beginning of pregnancy, the best advice would be to consult a doctor. Of course, if mommy didn’t play sports the day before (which is doubtful, given the “special” situation). Unfortunately, such symptoms indicate urolithiasis or may signal renal failure.
It's all about the rapid growth of the uterus, which compresses the ureters. This leads to fluid retention and inflammation. If your legs are pulled in the early stages of pregnancy, you should visit a specialist. Perhaps this is a “harmless” lack of potassium, and mom just needs to balance her diet.
Watch the video about pain and swelling of the legs during pregnancy:
If “your” pain in the legs in the early stages of pregnancy can be described as twisting, then most likely we are talking about restless legs syndrome. This misfortune happens at the very beginning: the expectant mother only needs to make one careless movement - and painful muscle contraction will not take long to occur.
Other sensations in the legs that accompany the expectant mother along with the way her legs twist in the early stages of pregnancy:
The reasons are the same: the load increases, the outflow of blood slows down. The need for various elements becomes significantly higher. The top ones often include vital ones: magnesium, calcium, iron, vitamins B and D. You can try to get by with properly selected complexes for expectant mothers and fruits. Other prescriptions must be made by a doctor.
Experts believe that the reason that cramps in the legs in the early stages of pregnancy are caused by erratic hormones (the body gets used to it), softening of the ligaments (ligamentous apparatus), lack of calcium, increased load on the body and weight.
Oddly enough, “ordinary” flat feet can cause a lot of trouble for a pregnant woman. Including painful sensations in the legs. Gentle physical activity and properly selected shoes can relieve pain caused by flat feet. Stiletto heels and high-heeled shoes should be put aside for a non-trivial time. The current version is a very comfortable, soft and stable model with a small heel (3 cm).
If none of the listed reasons seems suitable, it makes sense to ignore the “pregnant” symptoms and visit specialized specialists. After all, the expectant mother could, for example, simply pull a ligament.
Experts say that if your legs swell in the early stages of pregnancy, this is not good. Fluid retention is eloquent evidence of a malfunction in the body. It is not difficult to understand that your feet are swollen: the expectant mother will feel discomfort when putting on her favorite shoes. A feeling of heaviness in the feet and skin tension are secondary symptoms.
Possible causes of edema:
The exact reason can be understood by getting tested at your next appointment at the antenatal clinic. It is imperative to draw the doctor’s attention to this point.
Edema is bad because it can be both obvious and hidden. With the latter, the internal organs, including the uterus (walls), swell. At the time of birth, this leads to weak labor.
We recommend reading the article about weight changes in early pregnancy. From it you will learn about normal and pathological body weight, correct weight measurement, optimal weight gain by week, and recommended diet.
While the doctor finds out the cause of the problem, the expectant mother must follow six simple rules:
Pain and swelling of the legs in the early stages of pregnancy is not as innocent a phenomenon as it may seem to many expectant mothers. Obstetricians and gynecologists advise not to turn a blind eye to such symptoms, because now the foundation is being laid for the successful development of your child.
Causes of pain - diseases
When a child’s legs hurt constantly, you need to show him to a doctor.
The cause of night pain in the leg can be an injury that bothers the child not only at night, but also during the day.
Sometimes a child’s legs hurt and “ache” because the cause is a common cold, sore throat, flu, tonsillitis, or inflammation of the adenoids.
Pain in the child’s legs may also occur due to disturbances in salt metabolism in the body, as well as due to improper mineralization of bones.
Often pain in the legs occurs due to scoliosis or flat feet, when the load of body weight is unevenly distributed over the entire area of the foot.
When a child suffers from back problems, the weight of the body falls not on the area of the foot, but mainly on the knees and shins, which hurt from constant overload.
Causes of pain in the legs can be diseases of the heart, blood, thyroid gland, kidney failure and adrenal gland diseases, as well as diabetes or arthritis.
The attending physician must warn the parents about all such cases, if the child has such diseases.
When the cause of leg pain is not a disease
In children, from the age of three to ten years, or even longer (sometimes until graduation), active growth of legs is observed.
It often happens that the bones of the legs grow faster than the muscles, which is why the muscles are stretched, as a result of which the legs hurt at night, when the child’s body is growing more actively. In addition, at night, when all metabolic processes in the body slow down and the child’s body goes into a state of rest, the pain that children do not feel during the day, due to their mobility, makes itself felt.
How can I help my baby?
Choose comfortable shoes for your child, appropriate size, and preferably made from natural materials. It is important that the shoes lightly fix the foot and that the sole is sufficiently hard. It is unacceptable for a child to constantly wear soft shoes, such as sneakers.
Every mother should be aware of the general health of the child.
You need to know what the general tone of the baby’s body is, whether the temperature is normal, whether the appetite is good, whether the child has caries, whether everything is in order with the stool, and so on.
Be attentive to your child during the day and listen carefully at night.
If your child suddenly wakes up at night and complains that his legs hurt, massage and stroke his legs to calm him down.
If the pain is quite severe and does not allow the child to sleep, you can bandage his legs lightly with an elastic bandage.
If you don’t have a bandage at hand, then put warm socks or leg warmers on your shins, or even just bandage your legs with a warm scarf, scarf, etc.
As for painkillers, you should not give them to your child without the doctor’s permission.
Many children have pain in their legs at night, which prevents them from sleeping. Children cry and complain of twisting pain in their legs, or pain similar to a pulled tendon. This is observed from the ages of 3 to 10 years, and sometimes longer - right up to graduation.
Medicine explains this phenomenon by the fact that during the growth of a child, his legs grow faster than the rest of the body. Bones grow quickly, but muscles cannot keep up with them. It turns out that the muscles are stretched, which is why they hurt.
At night, the child’s legs hurt due to the fact that metabolic processes that actively occur during the day reduce their intensity closer to sleep. Vascular tone and blood flow speed decrease, which is why growing limbs hurt.
Causes of pain in a child's legs
First of all, you need to show the child to the doctor. It often happens that a child’s legs hurt due to certain diseases.
The cause of pain in a child's legs may be flat feet or scoliosis.
Pain can also be associated with back diseases, in which the load is distributed incorrectly throughout the body, passing to the legs and knees. In this case, you need treatment from a surgeon to cure the underlying disease.
Sometimes the cause of leg pain can be a cold, flu or sore throat, adenoid disease or tonsillitis.
Often a leg (or legs) injury causes pain not only at night, but also during the day.
It is necessary to study the general condition of the child: temperature, appetite, whether there are any stool disorders, caries, what is the general tone of the body, etc.
It will be necessary to do the appropriate analyzes and studies. Because in the human body everything is interconnected.
Sometimes pain in a child’s legs is a response to many diseases: diabetes, thyroid problems, kidney and adrenal diseases, blood diseases, heart diseases, arthritis and others.
Impaired bone mineralization or salt metabolism in the body can also cause pain in a child’s legs.
When a child cries at night and complains of pain in his legs, it is enough to simply stroke or massage his legs. The child will calm down, the pain will subside, and a restful sleep will follow.
Sometimes you can bandage your child's shins with an elastic bandage. Just not too tight so that your feet don’t get cold. If there is no elastic bandage at hand, some mothers bandage their children’s legs with a scarf or handkerchief.
You need to listen carefully to the child and watch him day and night.
Shoes for a child should be comfortable, fit the size, and have a hard sole. Wearing sneakers all the time is not recommended.
So, let's start by listing those diseases that can provoke pulling sensations in the legs. The list includes all possible conditions and diseases. Below you can find a detailed description of each of them.
Here's what can cause leg muscles to pull in women and men:
Let's start with a large group of diseases that are associated with impaired vascular tone. They can be associated both with loss of elasticity of large blood vessels and with impaired circulation in the smallest capillaries. This group includes atherosclerosis with damage to blood vessels by atherosclerotic plaques and narrowing of their lumen, varicose veins, obliterating endarteritis, and diabetic angiopathy. All these conditions are associated with blood stagnation and accumulation of oxidation and breakdown products in muscle fibers. They are what give the feeling of heaviness and fatigue in the legs. External manifestations in the primary stages are almost invisible. In advanced cases, you can see thinning of the skin and the appearance of vascular patterns. If left untreated, they can lead to trophic ulcers and limb amputation.
To establish an accurate diagnosis, you need to contact a vascular surgeon and do a duplex scan of the veins and arteries of the lower extremities and pelvis. Be sure to take a blood test for sugar and clotting time. Check your blood platelet levels.
If pulling sensations in the lower extremities are associated with osteochondrosis and damage to the nerve endings in the spinal column. it is quite easy to distinguish them. You should know that:
To confirm the diagnosis, it is enough to do an MRI of the spinal column and make sure that some nerve endings are suffering from compression.
Very often, discomfort in the legs can occur due to a deficiency of microelements and vitamins in the human body. In particular, severe nagging pain in the leg muscles at night, accompanied by convulsions, occurs with a lack of magnesium.
Usually, after starting to take a complex vitamin-mineral preparation, including calcium, magnesium and vitamin C, the pain completely disappears after 2-3 days. To clarify the diagnosis, you can take a blood test for the quantitative content of microelements and vitamins. To avoid this situation, watch your diet. Typically, in women, such symptoms appear after prolonged adherence to diets with limited dietary diversity.
pulling sensations in the legs and muscle cramps in the lower extremities can occur as a result of acute or chronic intoxication of the body. This may be due to impaired renal function, acute infectious diseases and colds. In this case, the following happens:
To prevent and treat this condition, it is necessary to detoxify the body and eliminate the cause that caused it.
A general blood test, a general urinalysis, a biochemical blood test and an ultrasound of the kidneys will help establish the diagnosis. A similar picture is observed with gout and diseases associated with metabolic disorders.
This question is often asked by women who have successfully completed all the proposed examinations. They did not reveal any pathological changes in the vascular and endocrine systems. All blood and urine parameters are normal. No varicose veins are observed. And yet, the pulling sensation in the legs at night persists, despite any methods of treatment and prevention.
Such cases have recently become more common in medical practice. They are connected with the mental state of a person. Restless legs syndrome causes all the same symptoms as varicose veins and endarteritis. But there are no structural changes. The head needs to be treated here.
The reason for this condition is that the brain, under the influence of constant stress, does not allow the muscle fibers to completely relax. The body is in a constant state of full combat readiness. This also manifests itself in relation to unpleasant sensations in the lower extremities. They usually begin at the moment of falling asleep. You desperately want to move your legs, constantly changing their position. In this case, seizures do not occur. Only a feeling of muscle tension and hypertonicity. This prevents you from falling asleep, relaxing and recuperating. Gradually, restless legs syndrome can lead to neurosis and a nervous breakdown.
In this case, physical activity with an emphasis on strength exercises on the leg muscles helps. Try doing a small set of exercises 2 hours before going to bed. Include running in place for 15 minutes, 10 squats, and a few kicks with each leg. If this does not help, then you should contact a neurologist to prescribe comprehensive rehabilitation treatment. Try to avoid stressful situations. Learn to keep your emotions under control and manage them.
Swelling of the legs during pregnancy is a problem that almost every woman faces while carrying a child. Edema appears especially often during pregnancy in the later stages in the second half of pregnancy , closer to the third trimester. The legs swell during pregnancy, they hurt, there is a feeling of heaviness, and it becomes difficult to stand on your feet for a long time.
Why do legs swell during pregnancy? Edema during pregnancy, in most cases, is a temporary phenomenon and quickly disappears shortly after birth. The most common causes of leg swelling during pregnancy:
In some cases, when edema is caused by pathological disturbances in the functioning of the body, the condition of a pregnant woman may constantly worsen. In this case, swelling will spread not only to the legs, but also to other parts of the body.
There are 4 stages of edema:
During pregnancy, sodium salts accumulate in the mother's body, which tend to attract water. Under the influence of certain factors, physiological edema develops. Such factors may be: eating a large amount of salty foods, high ambient temperature, excessive physical activity. Physiological edema is a completely natural phenomenon during pregnancy and should not cause concern. If the provoking factors are eliminated, the swelling will easily disappear.
The greatest danger is posed by swelling of the legs in pregnant women, which is caused by gestosis. In the initial stage, it leads to the formation of dropsy, which over time can lead to nephropathy - damage to the renal apparatus, and subsequently to eclampsia. Eclampsia is almost incurable and is characterized by frequent attacks of seizures, which can sometimes be so severe that the woman falls into a coma.
Preeclampsia can cause severe disturbances in the blood supply to organs, including the placenta. The fetus ceases to receive enough oxygen and nutrients, as a result of which the normal development of its organs and systems is disrupted. It is in this state that the foundations for future chronic diseases are laid.
Other complications of gestosis may include intrauterine fetal death and premature birth.
You should consult a doctor in the following cases:
If the legs are slightly swollen, this does not mean the presence of edema. Often this is simply due to an increase in body weight during pregnancy. Swelling can be detected by the enlargement of the foot, when it becomes difficult to squeeze your foot into your usual shoes.
Swelling can also be determined by how the surface of the leg reacts to compression. To do this, a simple experiment is carried out: you need to lightly press your finger on the skin of your leg, then release. If the skin immediately evens out, then there is no talk of any swelling. But if after squeezing a small dent remains, it means there is swelling of the leg.
What to do if your legs swell during pregnancy? How to get rid of edema during pregnancy? For natural causes of swelling in the legs, no special treatment is required. The doctor may prescribe some medications that improve blood circulation - for example, Heparin, Venitan, Troxevasin, Lyoton ointments, as well as horse chestnut-based cream.
In addition, a special diet and a number of preventive measures are usually prescribed:
To prevent the occurrence of edema, it is recommended to follow the following preventive measures:
This video talks about the causes of leg swelling during pregnancy, the symptoms and dangers of this problem. After watching the video, you will learn how to relieve swelling during pregnancy and prevent its occurrence.