10. Muscle and Joint Pain: More Than Just Body Aches
Muscle and joint pain is another symptom that could indicate postpartum thyroiditis. This isn’t the typical soreness from carrying your baby or the general discomfort that can come with recovery from childbirth. It’s a persistent ache in your muscles and joints that doesn’t seem to improve with rest or over-the-counter pain relief.
Once again, the root of this symptom lies in the impact of thyroid hormones on our body’s functions. These hormones play a role in maintaining muscle health, and a deficiency can lead to muscle weakness, stiffness, and pain. Similarly, they also influence bone health, and their deficiency can cause joint pain.
Dealing with persistent muscle and joint pain can be challenging, particularly when combined with the demands of caring for a newborn. It can interfere with your daily activities and make it difficult to carry or care for your baby. (10)
