Burning sensation in palms during pregnancy

Pregnancy: Carpal Tunnel Syndrome | Kaiser Permanente

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Overview

Tingling, numbness, and pain in the hands are common during pregnancy, especially in the last trimester. These problems are usually caused by carpal tunnel syndrome, and they usually go away after pregnancy.

Carpal tunnel syndrome is a specific group of symptoms that can include tingling, numbness, weakness, or pain in the fingers, thumb, hand, and occasionally in the arm. These symptoms occur when there is pressure on the median nerve within the wrist.

The carpal tunnel is a small space or "tunnel" in the wrist formed by the wrist bones (carpal bones) and a ligament (transverse carpal ligament). The median nerve and several tendons pass through the carpal tunnel from the forearm to the hand. The median nerve controls some movements of the thumb, and this nerve supplies feeling to most of the thumb and to the index finger, middle finger, and part of the ring finger.

Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs when a combination of health conditions and activities puts pressure on the median nerve as it passes through the carpal tunnel in your wrist. Anything that decreases the amount of space in the carpal tunnel, increases the amount of tissue in the tunnel, or increases the sensitivity of the median nerve can lead to carpal tunnel syndrome.

The swelling that is common in pregnancy can crowd structures in the tunnel and lead to carpal tunnel syndrome, especially when combined with forceful or repetitive hand and finger movement or the use of vibrating equipment.

If your symptoms are not severe, expect your health professional to recommend nonsurgical treatment to see whether symptoms improve. Nonsurgical treatment includes:

Changing or avoiding activities that may be causing symptoms, and taking frequent breaks from repetitive tasks.
Wearing a wrist splint to keep your wrist straight, usually just at night. See an illustration of a wrist splint.
Doing exercises to stretch and strengthen the muscles in the hand and arm.
Learning ways to protect your joints as you go through your daily activities.

Unless carpal tunnel symptoms become intolerable, a pregnant woman should delay surgery until after childbirth. After delivery, symptoms often disappear without treatment when pregnancy-related fluid buildup is relieved.

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Carpal tunnel pregnancy: What to do about numb hands pregnancy

Carpal tunnel during pregnancy is marked by numb hands, tingling in the fingers, and pain in the wrists, hands, and arms. The condition is common among pregnant women because of the swelling that happens when you're expecting. The good news? You can usually find relief by making minor lifestyle changes, such as taking breaks from working on your computer, or any other activity that requires repetitive hand movements.

What is carpal tunnel?

Carpal tunnel syndrome is one of the most common causes of numbness, tingling, pain or a dull ache in the fingers, hands, wrists, and arms. It happens when the median nerve – a major nerve in the hand that travels through the wrist and arm – is squeezed or compressed.

And pregnant women, especially those who make repetitive hand movements, such as flexing and extending the wrists, while doing things like working on a computer, are more prone to carpal tunnel because of the swelling that occurs in the hands and wrists.

The excess fluid that collects in the tissues of the hands and wrists can compress the median nerve, causing numb hands during pregnancy. Carpal tunnel pregnancy can come and go, but symptoms are often worse at night because many people sleep with their wrists bent.

Carpal tunnel syndrome in pregnancy can start any time, but it's more likely to begin or worsen during the second or third trimester – when swelling can develop. Carpal tunnel syndrome usually affects both hands. Some women may suspect they have carpal tunnel, but actually have de Quervain's tendinosis, or swelling of the thumb tendons. This condition is treated similarly to carpal tunnel, but you will need to talk with your doctor about your options.

What causes carpal tunnel during pregnancy?

During pregnancy, women are more prone to swelling because of the increase in blood volume to support the baby. Swelling increases the pressure in the blood vessels and tissues throughout the body, including those in the hands, wrists, and arms. This results in crowding of the nerves and ligaments, like the carpal tunnel.

Because the median nerve provides feeling in the thumb, index, middle, and ring fingers, you may have numb hands with carpal tunnel. If you do work that involves repetitive hand movement, like typing on a computer, try to take rest breaks and stretch your hands, wrists and arms throughout the day.

How can I relieve numb hands during pregnancy, and any other symptoms I may experience?

In addition to numbness, tingling, and pain, other carpal tunnel pregnancy symptoms are feeling a burning sensation in the wrists and hands and weakened grip strength or loss of finger dexterity. When this happens, you might find it difficult to do push and pull movements, open jars, or pick up small objects with your fingers.

To relieve discomfort, try to identify what activities tend to cause or aggravate carpal tunnel syndrome for you, and limit those activities during pregnancy as much as you can, especially activities where your wrist is in the same position for a long time. Doing yoga can improve hand strength and may relieve your symptoms.

You can also adjust your workstation:

Change the height of your desk chair so your wrists don't bend downward as you type on your computer.
Use an ergonomic keyboard or mouse.
Take short breaks to move your arms and stretch your hands.
Use a keyboard pad with wrist support.

If symptoms bother you at night:

Avoid sleeping on your hands and try to keep your wrists straight.
If you wake up with pain, try gently shaking your hands until the pain or numbness goes away.

If you don’t notice any changes to your condition with these adjustments, see your doctor. They may suggest you wear a wrist splint with a metal bar to keep your wrist from moving in different directions. However, it allows you to move your fingers so you can carry on with everyday tasks. A wrist splint may also help with relieving any swelling in the hands and wrists, allowing the median nerve to relax and heal.

For immediate pain relief, ask your doctor about using over-the-counter topical or anti-inflammatory pain medications that are safe for pregnancy (don’t take any medications without consulting your doctor first). Just remember that these medications don’t actually resolve the issue; they just help you feel better temporarily.

In some cases, your healthcare provider may recommend occupational therapy, where you work with a physical therapist to do hand stretches, wrist-strengthening exercises, massage techniques. and nerve gliding. And in rare cases, your doctor may suggestion steroid injections if your condition is severe.

Carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms usually resolve on their own after pregnancy, when the swelling subsides. However, symptoms may linger for some women, especially those who are breastfeeding. The median nerve may also be exacerbated from carrying, feeding, and changing the baby.

If symptoms persist after your baby is born, or if your symptoms are severe (meaning you have constant numbness, muscle weakness, or loss of sensation), be sure to mention it to your healthcare provider at one of your postpartum visits so you can get a referral to a specialist.

Carpal tunnel during pregnancy: Can I prevent it?

There’s not much you can do to prevent carpal tunnel pregnancy because of the natural increase in blood volume and fluid retention. However, you can help reduce the stress on hands and wrists by taking frequent rest breaks throughout the day from repetitive movement and alternate hands if you’re able to.

As mentioned earlier, if you work at a desk all day, you can adjust the height of your chair so your wrists don’t bend, try using an ergonomic keyboard or mouse, and you can experiment with placing keyboard pad with wrist support at your workstation for extra support.

Get moving throughout the day to increase blood flow and relieve tense areas of the hand and wrist. Try doing wrist stretches, such as a wrist extension and wrist flexion. The wrist extension stretch, for instance, involves straightening your arm and bending your wrist back with the opposite hand as if you’re telling someone to “stop.”

Because other health conditions, such as hypothyroidism, diabetes, and rheumatoid arthritis, can cause inflammation in the body, they may contribute to carpal tunnel syndrome so talk to your doctor about the appropriate treatment for you.

Will having carpal tunnel during pregnancy affect my pregnancy or baby?

Carpal tunnel during pregnancy won’t actually affect your pregnancy or baby, but it will affect your hand and arm mobility and your ability to carry out everyday tasks.

That said, severe or sudden swelling during pregnancy is a sign of preeclampsia. Preeclampsia is high blood pressure that develops during pregnancy and is marked by high protein in the urine. If left untreated, preeclampsia can cause serious complications, including intrauterine growth restriction, low amniotic fluid, placental abruption, and premature birth.

So, if you notice severe or sudden swelling in the face, feet, ankles, and hands, call your doctor right away to get a proper diagnosis. In addition to severe or sudden swelling, other preeclampsia symptoms are severe headaches, vision changes, upper abdominal pain, nausea or vomiting, and shortness of breath.

When will carpal tunnel during pregnancy go away?

Carpal tunnel syndrome usually resolves after giving birth as the excess fluid and blood leaves your body, but if you’re still experiencing symptoms, check in with your doctor.

For those who still have severe swelling, it could be a sign of preeclampsia, which can also develop after giving birth.

Note that carpal tunnel syndrome does cause nerve damage, so don’t ignore the problem and make sure to seek medical help to prevent further issues.

When should I call my doctor about carpal tunnel during pregnancy?

If you experience carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms, you should contact your doctor as soon as possible to get a proper diagnosis. Explain your symptoms to your doctor and keep a record of when they started and how often they occur.

You'll likely be referred to an orthopedist to have an ultrasound, X-ray, or MRI scan to get a better picture of what’s happening in your hands and wrists. Electrophysiological tests also help doctors determine how well your median nerve is working and whether it’s experiencing too much pressure. And if you are diagnosed with carpal tunnel, your doctor can recommend the best treatment for you.

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Why does the skin itch during pregnancy?

Skin itching during pregnancy is not a very common phenomenon. Most often, the skin begins to itch unbearably (as after mosquito bites) in the evening, closer to night, which can provoke insomnia and generally worsen a woman’s mood. Usually itching does not harm the baby and goes away after childbirth. However, it is still worth consulting with a gynecologist and dermatologist.

What does it come from? nine0005

The cause of itching during pregnancy in most cases is a violation of the liver: the production and outflow of bile, a general increase in the level of bilirubin in the blood. This is due to a hormonal failure in the body of the future mother - a violation of the synthesis of estrogens, as well as due to fetal pressure on the bile ducts. The fatty acids produced in large quantities enter the woman's skin with the bloodstream and irritate the nerve endings, causing excruciating itching. Similar phenomena associated with stagnation of bile in the body can make themselves felt in the third trimester of pregnancy. Sometimes itching is accompanied by such dangerous diseases as diabetes mellitus. nine0003

Who is predisposed?

Itching during pregnancy is usually observed in women with chronic diseases of the biliary tract and with high levels of cholesterol in the blood. Such future mothers need to regularly (at least once a month) do a biochemical blood test to exclude toxic effects on liver cells.

How to fight?

A pregnant woman should tell her gynecologist about the discomfort associated with skin itching. In some cases, itching can be a sign of the development of such a dangerous disease as hepatitis. The doctor will conduct appropriate examinations. If, according to an objective examination, itching does not pose any danger, it is often possible to get rid of discomfort simply by following a diet aimed at lowering cholesterol levels, limiting the intake of fatty, spicy and salty foods that prevent the liver from coping with the function of bile secretion, as well as drinking plenty of water - it is necessary to eliminate dry skin. If the diet does not help, the doctor may prescribe choleretic drugs suitable for pregnant women. nine0003

It is important to find the cause of the bothersome itching, eliminating a whole group of skin diseases that can occur during pregnancy.

Itching in the abdomen and chest

This itch is worth mentioning separately. As a rule, the skin on the abdomen or chest itches in the second and third trimesters due to its stretching, because it is these parts of the body that increase in volume during pregnancy. In this case, it is very important not to scratch the skin - this will lead to the appearance of stretch marks, which, unlike itching, will not go away after childbirth. Regularly use moisturizing creams, special products for stretch marks, do a light massage of the chest and abdomen with circular movements of your fingers and do not take hot showers. nine0003

You can get answers to any questions about pregnancy and childbirth from leading EMC experts in the classes of the School of Moms.

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Itchy skin during pregnancy: causes and remedies

Itching of the skin during pregnancy can be psychogenic. In this case, itching is a consequence of stress, an early symptom of multiple sclerosis. nine0003

In the early stages, itching occurs due to loss of skin elasticity caused by hormonal changes and excessive dryness of the skin. In the second and third trimester, the reasons may be the rapid weight gain of the expectant mother, the developing stretching of the skin of the abdomen as it increases.

Some expectant mothers experience intimate itching. It is provoked by genital infections, urological and proctological diseases.

The causes of skin itching also include dermatoses of pregnant women (atopic dermatitis, cholestasis of pregnancy). They are provoked by hereditary predisposition, decreased immunity, physiological changes (stretching of the skin with damage to the connective tissue).

Atopic dermatitis is the most common cause of itching during pregnancy. A specific condition is caused by hormonal immune restructuring of the whole organism. In 80% of cases, the disease manifests itself exclusively during pregnancy, and all signs disappear after childbirth without specific treatment. nine0003

Atopic dermatitis is more common in nulliparous women in the early stages and in the second trimester. Itching is caused by papular and exametic rashes localized on the face, neck, limbs, elbows, palms.

Atopic dermatitis is the most benign form of dermatosis of pregnancy and usually does not adversely affect the fetus. However, children born to mothers who suffered from this disease at the stage of gestation are also prone to allergic skin diseases. nine0003

Itching of the skin, as a symptom of cholestasis, is provoked by intrahepatic stagnation of bile as a reaction to increased estrogen production. The disease occurs at the end of the second - beginning of the third trimester, closer to the date of birth. A pregnant woman experiences severe itching in the abdomen, back, palms, legs.

Cholestasis is dangerous for the health of the mother and unborn child in severe cases of the disease. There is a risk of fetal hypoxia, delayed development and even premature birth. nine0003

Symptoms

The main sign of pathological changes is the appearance of irritating-itchy sensations in different parts of the body. Locally, a woman may also feel a tingling and burning sensation.

Other symptoms include:

blistering or eruption of blistering character;
peeling, irritation and redness of the skin;
formation of scaly spots;
sores and sores caused by scratching; nine0057
deterioration in general condition caused by sleep disorders and emotional depression.

In most cases, itching of the skin during pregnancy does not pose a real danger to the intrauterine development of the fetus, but significantly worsens the quality of life of the expectant mother, acts depressingly on the state of her nervous system and general well-being.

Diagnostics

In order to successfully deal with itching, it is necessary to establish the cause that causes it. The choice of diagnostic methods is determined based on the degree of intensity and localization of itching, the presence of concomitant symptoms and chronic diseases, the duration of pregnancy, and the individual characteristics of the health of the expectant mother. nine0003

Treatment is prescribed only after the exact cause of the itching is established.

At the initial examination, the doctor listens to the patient's complaints, examines the condition of the skin, paying attention to the appearance of rashes or spots. This allows you to draw a preliminary conclusion and determine what laboratory tests and instrumental studies will be needed.

The main diagnostic measures for itchy skin in pregnant women include: nine0003

general urine and blood tests;
biochemical blood test;
studies of hormone levels - if endocrine pathologies are suspected;
analysis of vaginal smear for microflora;
skin scraping examination;
allergy testing;
Ultrasound of the digestive tract, liver and kidneys;
histological examination;
analysis of feces for the detection of helminth eggs. nine0057

The choice of research methods is determined individually. In some cases, a pregnant woman is shown a consultation with an endocrinologist, urologist, gastroenterologist, venereologist.

Identification of atopic dermatitis is usually not difficult. In addition to the general examination, such types of diagnostics as dermatoscopy and examination under the Voodoo lamp are carried out.

If itching in a pregnant woman is allergic in nature, a mandatory diagnostic measure is the determination of the allergen (pathogen). nine0003

Treatment of itching

Although itching during pregnancy is not dangerous in many cases, it should not be tolerated either. You need to tell the gynecologist about unpleasant sensations, who will determine the diagnostic methods and, if necessary, give a referral to other specialists. Treatment of itching during pregnancy is carried out by the attending gynecologist together with a dermatologist.

You can not self-medicate and use medicines without the approval of a doctor. Many of them have contraindications and can cause severe side effects. A pregnant woman should remember the prohibition of scratching itchy places. This leads to a violation of the integrity of the skin, the appearance of wounds and abrasions, which will become sites of infection. nine0003

The treatment regimen depends on the disease that causes itching. When choosing drug therapy, the risks of negative effects on the fetus are taken into account. This is especially true in the case of the appointment of antibiotics, hormonal and antifungal drugs. Self-medication is unacceptable!

In the treatment of itching during pregnancy, the following types of drugs can be prescribed:

antihistamines - to eliminate itching caused by dermatitis, urticaria; nine0057
glucocorticoids - used to treat dermatitis;
emollients - have a moisturizing and regenerating effect in case of excessive dryness and dehydration of the skin;
adsorbents and hepatoprotectors - to normalize the liver;
choleretic preparations - for the correction of the state of the digestive tract;
sedatives - to normalize the state of the nervous system, if a pregnant woman has signs of increased anxiety and sleep disturbances. nine0057

With moderate itching, a pregnant woman is shown taking baths with a decoction of a string or oatmeal. An oatmeal bath is effective for itching caused by stretch marks, eczema, or psoriasis. To prepare it, crushed oatmeal is mixed with baking soda and a little milk is added, the mixture is poured into a warm bath.

Lotions on herbal decoctions can be applied to itchy areas of the skin. Chamomile, succession or St. John's wort is poured with boiling water and insisted. After a few hours, the decoction for lotions is ready for use. nine0003

To eliminate itching of the genital organs, medicinal suppositories with local action are prescribed. Of great benefit are sitz baths of decoctions of sage or chamomile.

Itching in the abdomen, caused by skin tension, can cause stretch marks. To prevent aesthetic imperfections, it is necessary to moisturize the skin with special means.

To reduce itching, a pregnant woman should only wear clothes made from natural fabrics, preferably cotton. Natural fabrics allow the skin to breathe freely. It is useful for future mothers to take a cool shower without the use of soaps or bathing gels. The skin needs to be effectively protected from external aggressive factors: sun, frost and wind. nine0003

When itching of the skin appears, it is better to refuse the use of perfumes, take the choice of cosmetics very responsibly.

Prophylaxis

Itching during pregnancy can be prevented if you follow the doctor's recommendations and preventive measures. Tips for expectant mothers:

carefully observe body hygiene, take regular showers or baths without the use of fragrances;
refuse underwear and clothes made of synthetic fabrics; nine0057
after taking a shower or bath, moisturize the skin of the body with special products, with a neutral pH level, creams, lotions, emulsions are suitable for this;
use phosphate-free laundry detergents;
wear loose clothing that does not restrict movement;
avoid stuffy rooms or open places under the scorching summer sun;
exclude intense physical activity that provokes increased sweating; nine0057
provide the expectant mother with a plentiful drinking regimen that prevents dehydration of the body;
avoid stressful situations, get positive impressions.

Proper nutrition plays an important role in the prevention of itching of the skin. This is especially important if itching is provoked by various foods. The woman is recommended a hypoallergenic diet, with the exception of fast food, smoked, salty and pickled foods, as well as foods with preservatives, emulsifiers and artificial flavors. The diet of the future mother should be rich in vitamins, minerals, fatty acids, antioxidants. To do this, the menu includes sour-milk products, meat and fish of low-fat varieties, vegetable dishes, fruits. nine0003

Itching during pregnancy when following medical recommendations has a favorable prognosis and is not an obstacle to natural childbirth.

If a woman had signs of atopic dermatitis during her first pregnancy, the likelihood of a recurrence of the disease during subsequent pregnancies is high. At the stage of planning a child, it is necessary to visit a dermatologist.

Itching

A series of products "Emolium" effectively eliminates the symptoms of skin diseases, including itching, peeling, irritability. They are prescribed to moisturize the skin, eliminate dryness and tightness in atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, eczema, and allergies. Means of the Emolium series are used in the complex treatment of these and other diseases that provoke itching. nine0003

The main advantages of the series:

have a mild anti-inflammatory effect;
ensure the normal functioning of the skin;
restore skin structure;
retain moisture in cells and intercellular space;
restore the water-lipid layer;
relieve irritation and itching.

The delicate and delicate consistency of the products makes it easy to apply and distribute them over the entire surface of the affected areas. nine0003

With severe itching of pregnant women, a triactive series is recommended, taking care of atopic and damaged skin. Triactive cream enriched with rapeseed oil and sodium hyaluronate has anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and antipruritic effects.