Loss of Circulation

Hi Christina -

I experienced the same thing during my pregnancy, the pain could be excruiating at times. Near the end it was difficult for me to even use my hands. My doctor said it was carpal tunnel caused by the exta fluid from pregnancy. It continued to be painful for about 3 days after delievery then slowly got better. It's been 8 months and I haven't had any problems for about 6 months now. I did try wearing a wrist split at night that did help a little. Good luck!

Find out what a chiropracter has to say. You may find some relief there.

Hi Christina,
Congratulations on your pregnancy!

I am a certified prenatal massage therapist and doula, and mom to 2 boys.

This is a very common complaint for women during pregnancy. Like Sciatica, it can occur because of the increase in fluid volume and muscular changes that can compress the nerves (in this case it is the nerve bundle that originates in your neck). I recommend getting prenatal massage at least once during the rest of your pregnancy, as this helps increase your circulation, get the lymph fluid moving, and decrease muscle tension. It is also a really good way to ensure that you are relaxing and that your body keeps a lid on stress-induced hormones so you are ready to have a great birth.

Feel free to email me at ____@____.com
Congratulations again,
E. B.

FYI: Carpal tunnel syndrom have many of the symptoms you are describing. Have a doctor check for that. It requires a test where they shock you with little needles in your hands and thumbs. You probably should check it out after delivery if the symptoms do not subside.

Hi Christina,
I've had similar problems in both of my pregnancies. The first one was the worst. They called it De Quervains Tendinitis and it was mostly in my hands/wrists. It bothered me so much at night (painful and numbness)that I would splint my thumbs myself (the splints they sell at the store don't immobilize your thumbs). This time around it was better and just one thumb would get numb at night. My son is 2 weeks old and it hasn't gone away yet, but the first time all of it went away after I had my daughter (don't remember how long it took now...she's almost 6 yrs old!) So, hang in there-it will go away soon! Gotta love that last month of pregnancy! (groan) ;)
A.

Hi Christina ~
This is not that uncommon it is carpal tunnel type pain I had this with both my pregnancies and I had a hand brace that I would wear at night(couldn't stand wearing it during the day) it helped some. However it will not go away. It got a little better after I had my DD's.

I experienced it with all three of my pregnancies. It's carpal tunnel syndrome and does usually go away after you give birth and the swelling goes down. My hands and arms never "looked swollen" but the swelling is on the inside compressing against the nerves which is what causes the pain. I had to wear splints at night to help alleviate the pain. Other things I tried were running my hands under cold water to "wake them up," but you are right, it's very painful. If you don't have any wrist splints, you can take an Ace bandage and wrap that semi tightly around your wrists. It gives you more mobility of your wrist, but puts enough pressure that it usually alleviates the pain. I hope that helps. Good luck and congratulations!

Hi Christina,

Congrats on your little one inside you!! I recommend finding a chiropractor that is experienced with adjusting pregnant women. Without my chiropractor, I'd be in constant pain, and even more during pregnancy. Everything is changing and pulling when you're pregnant, you carry your weight differently; it only makes sense that it could affect your spine, which houses your nerves, which control your whole body. If a nerve is even slightly pinched, it could cause literally any problem in your body, depending upon which nerve it is. The nerves that go to your arms and hands are located in your upper back - between the shoulders, if I recall correctly.

Hope that's helpful - enjoy your little one!
C.~

I would talk to your OB again the next time you're in and tell him or her that it's really painful; ask if he or she has any suggestions to help. Good luck and Mazel Tov on the baby.

keep counting the babies kicks....

around this time i had to take ###-###-#### acetomenophin tablets to reduce the pain. u may have to sleep in a recliner. place pillows between your legs and wrap your hands around one as well....

Hi I am a physical therapist and If it is your arms too then it maybe comming from your neck or your first rib maybe out. A chiropractor that is very very gentle in royal oak/berkley Dr. Dean he would be a good person to have you checked for mis alignment. He is also very reasonable. Good luck. K.

I am willing to bet you have (transient) carpal tunnel syndrome which causes those symptoms - your body beccomes relatively edematous as you go through pregnancy (the same as your feet and legs) which causes compression of those nerves, so this is completely normal, albeit annoying, during pregnancy. Something I learned from my OB which I didn't know is that your whole body retains fluid - it just really shows the most in your legs and ankles, typically, as dependent edema. I had what you have during my first pregnancy and it was painful - I actually slept with wrist guards on that I had from my roller blading days and it helped a little bit. My carpal tunnel went away about a month after pregnancy as the fluid decreased. If you notice any other unusual swelling in your extremities or it suddenly gets much worse, call your doctor because it could potentially be PIH/preeclampsia which you do not want to mess around with whatsoever.

I had the same problem with all of my pregnancies, and it was not a pinched nerve,. Becasue it is your arms, try sleeping with your shoulders and upper arms a little elevated, like putting a pillow under them,even if you are on your side. Changing the position can change the flow of circulation. There is a lot of escess fluit in your system right now, and hopefully it will go away soon after delivery. I know sleeping is hard at this stage, but try different positions. Also, I developed carpal tunnel and splints that you can get at the drugstore with the metal bar in them can help.

Hi Christina ~
I'm an OB nurse, and unfortunately, this is not that uncommon....it's simlar to carpal tunnel type pain...you could try tylenol, but doubt that would help much...I'm not sure if you could get a hand brace at Meijer's or maybe a home health care products store, and that might help. Luckily you're almost done, it should get better not long after delivery.
good luck!
D.

Hi Christina, This is not something you should have cked out now, but, a few weeks after you have the baby, go into your doc and get cked out for fibromyalgia. I was having the same things happening to me when I was pregnant, and assumed it was because of the pregnancy - sometimes that's all it is. But it kept happening after the pregnancy, and, the pain you're having could just be from poor circulation, but, it could be nerve pain. A year after my baby was born, I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia. It could be hormones, but, better 2 b safe than sorry. Take care, and congratulations!

I agree that it is likely a pinched nerve problem. Dr. Michaela Walter, at Bee Well in Birmingham, is a chiropractor specializing in pregnant women and children. I would definitely see her for the remainder of your pregnancy and for at least a few months after that. Actually, I truly believe that chiropractic care, when practiced regularly, helps keep you healthier and out of a medical doctors office. Good luck.

D.

Hello Christina, This is carpal tunnel. Ask your doctor for splints. You wear them at night to keep the wrists straight so they don't put pressure on the nerves. It works much better than medicine, as it prevents the problem, rather than treating it after it occurs. Good luck and congrats!

Pregnancy induced carpal tunnel...i experienced the same while I was preggers w/my little (9 months) my ob sent me to physical therapy & it helped a little....if you have a heating pad wrap it around your wrist for about 5 minutes...this is where you can get hubby to help out w/palm side up have hubby (using/both hands) gently massage the wrist w/his fingers do this for about 3-4 minutes or as long as you can stand if you're in pain and then do the same w/your hands after massaging....essentially a warm up...you can do some stretches w/your arm resting on a flat surface you very gently stretch your hand towards you; you will use your free hand to push the hand you are stretching for a little resistance do this for about a minute shake it off & then do it a again...repeat a couple time then alternate. If this helps then before you stretch each time warm up your wrists w/the heating pad; massage & then stretch...you can actually do the stretches & massage yourself but I enjoyed the wrist & hand massage when hubby did it ;0) My pain & symptoms resolved after about 2 months completely w/the help also of a hot/cold rock massage...I know a gal that is certified (but she won't do any work on you while pregnant or until you've had your first postpartum checkup.....http://www.heel-n-soles.com) Congratulations on your little one!