Common Foot Pain During Pregnancy on Your Feet

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Pregnancy brings a lot of joy to many women. It is a wonderful experience, however, for some, it’s a pretty painful episode. To be clear, I’m not talking about pain around the abdomen but the foot pain during pregnancy on your feet. Important to realize, women, gain weight during pregnancy which can average between 25 to 40 pounds, which adds extra strain on your heels. Consequently, your weight gain can cause your ankle, feet, and arches to hurt during pregnancy.

Common foot problems during pregnancy

Pregnancy weight gain can put a lot of strain on your plantar fascia and cause it to become inflamed. For those of you who do not know what plantar fascia is, it is a thick tissue that runs across the bottom of your boot and connects your heel bone to your toes. Many pregnant women experience irritation and pain of the plantar fascia due to the added pressure that their bodies gain; which could lead to common foot problems including over-pronation, plantar fasciitis, and edema.

Over-pronation

Over-pronation is very common among pregnant women. It happens when your foot begins to collapse, causing the foot to flatten which consequently adds stress to other parts of your foot. Your foot arch flattens out due to the extra weight and your feet begin to roll inwards while walking. This can cause strain and/or inflammation on your plantar fascia, potentially causing severe discomfort, which could potentially lead to other foot problems such as plantar fasciitis.

Plantar fasciitis

Plantar fasciitis is no joke which is pretty common among pregnant women. It occurs when your plantar fascia becomes inflamed and is stretched due to walking with no adequate support and/or weight gain. This common foot condition causes stabbing pain that usually occurs after the first steps in the morning.

Edema

Swollen feet during pregnancy is normal, which is known as Edema. Edema normally occurs in the latter part of pregnancy. Swelling is usually caused by additional blood and fluid accumulated during pregnancy. You can experience swelling in your legs, ankles, and feet. For whatever reason, if swelling is not symmetrical in both feet, this may be a serious problem so you should consult your doctor immediately

Tips to

avoid foot pain during pregnancy

Now that you understand what is causing your swollen feet during pregnancy, there are a number of ways to help you eliminate or ease your aching feet. Remembering these strategies can make pregnancy just a little easier for you.

Eliminate

Foot Pain during Pregnancy

• Ice. Apply an ice pack can reduce swelling and soothe your pain.
• Elevate. Put your feet up whenever possible or when they get swollen. Prop them up on a stool or something similar.
• Breaks. Take regular breaks to stretch your plantar fascia, legs, heels and calf muscles to encourage circulation.
• Exercise and walk. The more you move, the more your blood flows out of your legs and into the rest of your body.
• Slow down. As soon as you feel tired or pain, your body is telling you to cut and rest.
• Well-balanced diet. Maintain a well-balanced diet, avoiding salty and fatty foods.
• Drink plenty of water. Flush out excess fluids by drinking plenty of water.
• Comfortable footwear. Wear comfortable shoes that stretch to accommodate swelling in your feet.

How supportive footwear and orthotic insoles help reduce foot pain during pregnancy

One of the best ways to prevent your feet from swelling and ease your pain is by keeping your feet supportive with comfortable footwear and orthotic insoles. The best footwear during pregnancy is one that provides extra support and shock absorption to keep you on your feet pain-free. In addition, custom orthotics and over-the-counter orthotics can help prevent over-pronation while giving you firm, comfortable support. They will support your arch while stabilizing your heel and give you the support you deserve.

Don’t let foot pain during pregnancy ruin your experience

Pregnancy is a beautiful experience which brings a lot of joy to many women, so don’t let foot pain ruin this journey. Be sure to get yourself comfortable footwear and good pair custom orthotics or over-the-counter arch supports, your feet will thank you as they’re helping you carry your soon to be bundle-of-joy. For women’s comfort shoes and arch supports near you, visit Lucky Feet Shoes. We have multiple stores in Southern California for your all your footwear needs! Come in for a FREE FOOT ANALYSIS and walk out with happy feet!

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6 things to know about your feet during pregnancy

Pregnancies can come with a list of side effects, ranging from nausea and backaches to swelling of the feet and lower limbs. Though not referenced as often as other symptoms, up to 80% of healthy pregnant women go through edema, which is swelling caused by excess fluid trapped in the body’s tissues. 

Here, Rebecca Burmeister, D.P.M, M.P.H., a podiatrist at Michigan Medicine, the University of Michigan’s medical center, dives into the various changes your feet may experience during pregnancy.  

1. You may have less arch support

During pregnancy, hormone changes are often the root of many other body changes. Since hormones circulate the entire body, their impact can reach anywhere in the body. According to Burmeister, two hormones that are usually in our bodies, but heightened when pregnant, are relaxins and progesterones. 

“They both have an effect on relaxing your muscles and allowing your ligaments to have more stretch or flexibility to them,” said Burmeister. “It is especially important for the pelvic region to have flexibility during the actual birthing process, which is one of the main reasons these hormones increase during pregnancy. However, these two hormones can cause any ligament in the body to have maybe too much flexibility.”

In fact, according to Burmeister, some studies have seen relaxin increase ten-fold for pregnant women, which naturally leads to looser ligaments called ligament laxity. This means that, for the feet, there’s less arch support. 

“Also, the increase in weight during a pregnancy exacerbates the pressure on these looser structures of the feet, which can cause various types of pain and problems to the feet, such as muscle or tendon strains and plantar fasciitis,” said Burmeister.

With all these factors combined, your foot may become wider, especially near the ball of the foot and toes. You may also find yourself needing to buy a larger shoe size, with the widening and lengthening effects during those 9 months becoming a permanent change after pregnancy.

2. Your walk could change

Some studies have also found that the gait — the way you walk — can change throughout pregnancy. To support a growing abdomen, your spine and pelvis may begin to curve inward, leading to a leaned back posture. The change in your center of gravity, gradually shifting the weight towards the heel of the foot to compensate, can also lead to a “waddling gait,” which is very normal amongst people who are pregnant. 

3. Ingrown toenails become more dangerous

An urgent issue that can arise from foot swelling are ingrown toe nails. While increasingly soft tissues on the side of toe nails or the nail itself are common during pregnancies, for some people, the combination of soft tissues and changing toe nails can lead to painful ingrowns. Those nails are prone to infection, entailing redness, swelling, warmth, drainage and sometimes even pus drainage, on top of pain.

It’s important to see a doctor immediately in that situation, since it can require a small sterile procedure in a clinic or antibiotic to remove the ingrowing parts and fully treat the infection.

4. Edema is to be expected (but can be managed)

Edema is when fluid is trapped in your body’s tissues, causing swelling often in your legs, ankles and feet, but other bodily parts can also experience this. Burmeister says a lower sodium diet, compression socks, elevation and hydration, are key to warding off this issue, or keeping it at bay.

Can’t put compression socks on yourself (depending the term you’re in)? Ask a family member or friend to help! There are also devices called sock donners you can purchase to help with this, explains Burmeister.

5. Your feet will change post-pregnancy 

It’s no surprise that swelling feet during pregnancy may mean a larger shoe size. But what about after pregnancy? 

Changes to the feet that happened during pregnancy — including a longer or wider foot structure — tend to be a lasting change, according to Burmeister.

Multiple pregnancies can lead to multiple changes in your feet, says Burmiester, with studies suggesting that the most significant foot changes occur during the first pregnancy.

“But the changes are unique for each woman and each pregnancy,” she said.

When picking new shoes, Burmeister says to stick to this test: when you’re buying shoes, stand up in them. While standing, there should be a thumb’s width space between the longest toe and the tip of the shoe. Don’t rely on your regular shoe size, she expresses, as sizes vary by brand, but that spacing technique will be a consistent measurement. 

6. Persistent foot pain during pregnancy isn’t normal

If your leg and foot swelling is preventing you from living a healthy and active lifestyle during your pregnancy, Burmeister says to speak with your doctor, as there’s often non-invasive treatments that can alleviate issues.  No matter what’s causing the pain, if it persists, “it’s always a good idea to talk to your doctor.”

If it becomes difficult to see your own feet as your belly grows, have someone routinely check them if you can’t easily reach or examine them yourself.

And the simplest piece of advice to remember? Don’t ignore your feet!

This article was additionally edited by Johanna Younghans.

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Pregnancy

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Womens Health

Pain in legs during pregnancy

Feet in pregnant women hurt for various reasons. Since there is a considerable load on the legs during pregnancy, this is not surprising. Just don’t ignore the pain. Sometimes, if a woman feels pain in her legs, we can talk about pathology.

We tell you what pain in the legs during pregnancy can be associated with and what to do to alleviate the symptoms.

Why my feet hurt during pregnancy

During pregnancy, the center of gravity usually shifts, which creates an excessive load on the legs. Therefore, many women who are carrying a child experience pain in their feet. In general, during pregnancy, a woman’s body is rebuilt, so pain can also occur for other reasons that are also not associated with the development of diseases.

Causes of leg pain in pregnant women

The most common causes of foot pain in pregnant women include:

• Natural increase in body weight;

• The shift in the center of gravity, which increases the load on the feet;

• Excessive accumulation of fluid in the body can cause swelling and, as a result, throbbing pain;

• Aching pain, swelling after walking or standing for a long time – these symptoms appear in women prone to varicose veins;

• Cramping that cramps the legs or only the feet can occur due to an increased concentration of progesterone in the blood, as well as due to iron and calcium deficiency.

Consider the cases when the feet hurt during pregnancy due to existing diseases.

Flat feet

If flat feet have already been, then during pregnancy, if the disease is not treated, it only gets worse. There are cases when a woman had the first stage of flat feet, and in the last trimester – already the third. Usually, transverse flat feet are more acutely tolerated. Its symptoms:

• Burning in the feet;

• By the end of the day, the legs are very tired, they may swell;

• In the evening there are cramps in the area of ​​​​calves and shins, which are accompanied by pain in the feet;

• Pain in the area of ​​​​the kneecaps, pelvis and back – these symptoms appear when flat feet are neglected;

• Calluses and growth that affects the base of the thumb;

• Hammer toe deformity.

It is important to diagnose the transverse flatfoot of the foot in time. Usually orthopedic traumatologists deal with this issue. To diagnose the disease, the doctor sends an x-ray. Pregnancy is not an absolute contraindication for x-rays. Radiation should be avoided only in the first three months of pregnancy. Before the procedure, be sure to warn the doctor about your situation.

Only after studying the radiographs, the doctor can confirm the diagnosis. Further steps will depend entirely on the stage of the disease. At the initial stages, the disease is cured by conservative methods, in advanced cases, surgical intervention is required.

Conservative treatments include:

• treatment with medications if there is inflammation;

• wearing orthopedic insoles and other devices;

• physiotherapy;

• massage;

• exercise therapy.

In the fight against flat feet, orthopedic insoles, which are designed for pregnant women, have proven themselves well. They help to evenly distribute the load on the legs of women.

Varicose veins

Even if a woman has never suffered from this disease, there is a risk that pregnancy will worsen the condition of the vessels.

Since mother and baby have a common circulatory system, varicose veins can provoke oxygen starvation in the fetus. The fact is that it is with the mother’s blood that the child receives all the necessary substances to maintain his life.

It is not difficult to recognize varicose veins on your own. The most obvious signs that can be seen with the naked eye are pronounced vascular networks. It is worth making an appointment with a doctor if you have symptoms such as:

• Aching pain in the legs, especially after exercise;

• Fatigue and heaviness in the legs at the end of the day;

• tingling, itching and burning;

• Numbness of limbs or cramps.

The treatment of the disease is carried out by a phlebologist (vascular surgeon).

Is it possible to do foot massage during pregnancy?

If the attending specialist does not see any contraindications for massage, then the procedure will only benefit. Foot massage during pregnancy will help not only alleviate the condition of the legs, but also improve the mood of the expectant mother. Massage has a positive effect on the emotional state of the mother, and therefore on the unborn child.

How to get rid of foot pain

Often, with pain in the legs, a woman can help herself. These recommendations will help get rid of leg pain or at least reduce it:

• During pregnancy, aching and tired feet come to the rescue in the evening foot baths. Water should be at room temperature. It is also useful to rinse the feet with cold water;

• It is advisable to sleep on the left side – on the right is the inferior vena cava, which carries the bulk of the blood, so it is better to remove the load from it;

• A contrast shower helps to get rid of pain in the legs – this procedure will also strengthen the walls of blood vessels;

To avoid unpleasant pain in the legs, it is also important to follow preventive measures:

• Drink enough water. Edema appears when the body is dehydrated, and not vice versa;

• Movement. To improve blood flow, it is useful to move and do light exercise. Walking is the best activity for pregnant women. When driving, it is important to take regular breaks to stretch your legs;

• Leg lift. If you have to sit for a long time, it is advisable to raise your legs more often. To do this, you can put a stand or a small bench near you;

• Balanced diet. This applies mainly to the consumption of salt, since it is it that retains water in the body. In general, the diet should be varied, with sufficient protein;

• Weight control. Almost all women gain weight during pregnancy. It is only important to ensure that the “increase” fits into the norm, since excess weight provokes swelling;

• Avoiding heavy workloads. Long stay on your feet, lifting weights and any physical labor – all this negatively affects the health of blood vessels during pregnancy. You should also pay attention to the position of the body. For example, a pose in which the legs are crossed harms the vessels;

• Correct posture. With proper posture, the load on the legs is distributed evenly. It is important to ensure that the lower back does not bend too much or the body does not lean back too much;

• Comfortable shoes and clothes. Clothing or shoes that are tight on the body can block blood flow. Therefore, it is not recommended to wear socks with tight elastic bands that leave marks on the body, and shoes that are too narrow and short;

• Be careful with sunburn. If there is a tendency to varicose veins, you should not stay under the sun for a long time – ultraviolet rays weaken blood vessels.

If you follow these simple recommendations, you can minimize the pain in the legs during pregnancy. If you suspect flat feet, you can always contact our orthopedic center. A specialist doctor will diagnose and, in case of illness, prescribe an effective treatment regimen.

Author: Serdyuchenko Sergey Nikolaevich
Doctor orthopedist-traumatologist of the highest category

Varicose veins during pregnancy – what to do and how to treat varicose veins in the legs

Varicose veins are persistent and irreversible enlargement resulting from pathological changes in the walls and valves of blood vessels. The superficial veins in the legs most often expand, since they have increased pressure when standing and walking. Varicose veins during pregnancy is one of the diseases that can appear or progress during the period of gestation. Because of this, women get sick 4 times more often than men.

Causes

The following reasons contribute to the occurrence of varicose veins during pregnancy:

• Violation of the outflow of blood from the veins of the lower extremities. This is because the growing uterus presses on the inferior vena cava – a large abdominal vein that collects blood from the lower half of the trunk and lower extremities.
• During pregnancy, the blood is more viscous, flows more slowly, this also contributes to venous congestion.
• An increase in body weight during gestation increases the load on the legs.

The development of varicose veins is promoted by wearing high-heeled shoes, prolonged work in a standing position, lifting weights, and overweight.

Symptoms

The first symptom is a visible increase in the vessels of the lower extremities. The veins are blue or purple, tortuous, protrude above the surface of the skin, may be serpentine or knobby (nodular) in shape. At the initial stage of the disease, a woman is only concerned about a cosmetic defect.

Other complaints follow. Edema appears, increasing in the evening and decreasing or completely disappearing after rest and a night’s sleep. At night, convulsions may disturb. When walking, rapid fatigue is observed, there may be a feeling of fullness and pain.

Varicose veins of the lower extremities are observed in 50% of pregnant women, but not all of them suffer from true varicose veins, when irreversible changes appear in the venous wall. For most, the disease is functional in nature, that is, it is temporary, and after childbirth, when the factors that prevent normal venous outflow are eliminated, the tubes return to normal. This usually happens within a year.

Regression does not occur if the predisposition is independent of pregnancy. In this case, close relatives usually have varicose veins, or the woman herself had some symptoms even before conception.

Diagnostics

As you know, the “gold standard” for diagnosing pathology is ultrasound duplex scanning (USDS) of the veins of the lower extremities. This is a safe procedure for the expectant mother. Experienced obstetricians and gynecologists strongly recommend that pregnant women visit a phlebologist in the early stages of pregnancy, which contributes to the early prevention of complications of varicose veins in the postpartum period.

Stockings against varicose veins during pregnancy

During pregnancy, it is recommended to wear special compression (anti-varicose) tights and stockings. They need to be put on in a prone position, slightly lifting the leg up. There are 4 compression classes (pressure levels):

1. 18-21 mmHg
2. 23-32 mmHg
3. 33-48 mmHg
4. over 49 mmHg

During pregnancy, it is recommended to use compression class 1-2. The third class of compression hosiery is used for the late stage of leg varicose veins, the fourth class – only for severe congenital anomalies of the venous system.

Tights should be specially designed for expectant mothers so that they do not put pressure on the growing belly, but support it.

How much to wear?

After 20 weeks, you need to wear a bandage. It supports the uterus and reduces pressure on the large vessels of the abdominal cavity, thereby improving the outflow of blood from the lower half of the body.

Compression underwear and a bandage should be bought in pharmacies, it is important to choose the right size for them.

Exercise

It is recommended to attend gymnastics for pregnant women or do exercises at home. Particularly good prevention of varicose veins are classes in the pool. Sports strengthen the walls of blood vessels and improve blood flow. In addition, gymnastics is the prevention of overweight.

A contrast shower on the calf muscles is useful.

If you think you have a predisposition to varicose veins, you should avoid saunas and thermal treatments.

As often as possible, try to give your legs an elevated position. Don’t sit cross-legged for long periods of time.

Wear comfortable shoes with small heels.

You can use creams for pregnant women “to relieve fatigue from the legs”, such creams usually contain plant substances that, with regular use, strengthen the walls of superficial veins.

Treatment

Treatment of true varicose veins is surgical. During pregnancy, surgical treatment is carried out only for emergency indications, in view of the development of complications (thrombophlebitis).

A modern method of treatment is sclerotherapy, when a chemical substance is injected into the lumen of the vein, which leads to sclerosis and closure of its lumen.