ask: Pain in back of legs & knees after sex
I have severe pain running down the backs of both legs (from my sitting bones down hamstrings) & knees after having sex. When I sit, it's dull & not as bad, but when I'm up it is awful! It starts within minutes of finishing sex and lasts at least half a day. Have never had this problem before. I am pregnant if that makes any difference, but haven't had this issue with past pregnancies. It's taking the fun out of having sex with my husband. Is there anything I can do to avoid or at least ease the pain?
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Leg pain can be from many causes:
- "Muscle fatigue or strain from overuse, too much exercise, or holding a muscle in the same position for a long time"
- "Sciatic nerve pain (radiating pain down the leg)"
- and many others...
However, since you are pregnant, and have had pregnancies (plural) before, you probably know that not every pregnancy is the same. For one thing, you are older this time! (sorry!) :-)
To avoid or ease the pain:
"If you have leg pain from cramps or overuse, take these steps first:
* Rest as much as possible.
* Elevate your leg.
* Apply ice for up to 15 minutes. Do this 4 times per day, more often for the first few days.
* Gently stretch and massage cramping muscles.
* Take over-the-counter pain medications" (with the OK from your doctor during pregnancy)
You may also try a heating pad (again, with the OK from your doctor), a pre-natal massage, or yoga. It's difficult to suggest much more, as I am not sure what your current physical activity level is, and how far along you are in your pregnancy.
Try a few stretching exercises, and I would recommend some different sexual positions that don't include causing leg pain. There are all different types of aches and pains during pregnancy, as tendons and ligaments are changing, and you may need to relax more during sex, or find a more comfortable position that does not put so much strain on your hamstrings.
(source: MedlinePlus)
July 12, 2009 - 8:29pmThis Comment
Thank you so much for taking some time to help me out:) Some of those things I have tried. I haven't iced or tried any meds. My OB wondered if I was low on elecrolites so I've been drinking gatorade more consistently. It doesn't seem to make a difference although it's funny to have an "after sex gatorade" with my husband. We haven't been using any strenuous or extreme positions & none of them cause any discomfort.
July 13, 2009 - 10:27amI am 28 and am 6 1/2 months pregnant. I also am an aerobic instructor so I've been consistent with staying active & stretching; although I don't have the stamina I had before (obviously) and I don't push myself quite as hard. Nor do I stretch myself to the limits since everything IS more loose due to pregnancy.
If nothing else I can at least consider myself lucky that this is the only strange side effect I've had with being pregnant. Thanks again for helping & hopefully if anyone else is having the same issues they'll be able to read this & use some of your suggestions:)
i have the same problem, and I am 24 weeks pregnant.
August 6, 2009 - 7:57amHowever i have noticed, my legs (back of the knees) are hurting after sex only when my husband ejaculates. TImes when he doesn't I am fine! Are you experiencing anything the same?
Have you noticed any other differences in the times when your legs hurt after sex? Ejaculation would not cause knee pain, but is intercourse lasting longer (therefore, more leg strain in one position) when he ejaculates versus when you have sex without ejaculation? I'm wondering if your are trying to hold yourself in a very exact position that is causing some tension in your leg that you may not realize during the "heat of the moment"?
August 6, 2009 - 1:55pmno. ejaculation hasn't had an effect one way or the other with the pain. i have however noticed that i seem almost swollen to the sides & behind my vaginal opening. it's not tender like inflamation type swelling & it doesn't effect anything else like my clitorises. it is constant though (never goes away). it's almost like my insides have all shifted down & are pushing out. it makes sense that sex would effect it because it's right where the action happens & would be aggrivated. it does swell a bit more after sex. i didn't notice it at first because i assumed it was pressure in my bowels since i was having constipation issues. i decided i was wrong once the constipation got better & the swelling was still there.
August 12, 2009 - 11:48amI have the same thing. I'm 30 week pregnant with my 4th and it happened with the 3rd one some and this time is much worse. We only have sex at night because if it is day time I'm hurting for hours after and have to sit to releave the pain. I don't think it is a position issue or keeping your legs in a certain way during sex. I think that it has to do with having an orgasm. There is more blood going in your vagina and is putting pressure on the veins there and in your legs. I guess it's the price to pay. I don't think that I will prevent myself from having an orgasm for that. I notice also that I have the same pain when I'm not pregnant and my periods are heavy.
August 20, 2009 - 7:31pmHave the same problem - but we figured out that if we use a condom then there is no problem. So it is somehow related to his ejaculation. Any clues to what it may be? 31 weeks pregnant, had it since about the 8th week. Didn't have it on the first pregnancy. Weird!
August 27, 2009 - 8:38pmHello, is there anyone to help me?
Last year (Oct 2008) I had pain in my back and feeling of fatigue in both joints. I went to a top neuro surgen. I had xrays of my back and both joints but the xrays were clean. The surgen prescribed me some multi vitamin tablets (food suppliment). As I am a journalist and have to stay on desk for longer hours in the same position while working on computer, the surgen was of the view that the pain was caused by over exertion.
He also sent me for physiotheraphy.
But, I was not satisfied.
So, I went to an Orthopadiac Surgeon and he examined my xrays and blood tests and suggested the same remedy (multi vitamins and some excercises). The conclusions of both the doctors were the same but it too the pain more than 3 months to go away.
The pain went away for almost ten months but is back again!!
The pain is not severe but it causes me trouble in free movement. I feel my legs tired and the palms of my legs being pinched by a slight cold wave. I feel my feet muscles not very relaxed, stiff, and hence feel inconvince in my knees also.
Can setting in the same position cause this problem?
And, yes, I do alot of sex and masterbate almost daily while setting in the same position and trying to prolong the moments.
Also, the recent pain has come after I started travelling too often with train for longer distances. besides, I have started learning german langauge and sit in a class from morning till noon on a chair to which I am not used.
Physically, I am a well-built man (31) and muscular and I cant believe that my muscles could be that weak to cause me pain. Because, I love cooking and take good care of my food. I dont smoke and drink only red wine and that too once or twice a month.
And, yes, I had started excercise last year after the pain went away. I used to run for 10 to 15 km and felt perfect. I even did some hiking after the first pain and felt perfectly fit.I felt as this pain will never return. but, it is here. Not as severe as last year, but can become. The pain is sort of muscle stiffness but I also feel it sometimes in my hips. In both palms of my feet I feel a sort of numbness, the same symptoms as that of last years, pain.
Yours,
August 28, 2009 - 2:13pmLOST
I love that there are others out there with this as well. Although Im am sorry that this is happening to all of us. I have all the same symptoms as you all have above and i'm on my 7th pregnancy, each time it does get a lttle worse and my pain can last all day. I have found that if i use a hot cloth as an heating pad right after helps with the pain, and the swelling too. I just would like to find a cure for it or help better the symptoms. let me know if you find anything...
September 20, 2009 - 9:09pmI am so happy to find some people with the same problem. I am 28 years old, and 25 weeks into my third pregnancy. I have experienced pain after sex in the backs of my hamstrings, originating from my buttocks for all three pregnancies. Sometimes the pain is so severe I feel nauseous, almost as bad as labour contractions but in my legs.
October 23, 2009 - 4:18amAs someone else commented, the only way I can relieve the pain is to lay down fully but with two boys under 5 to run after, the chances of that are slim and I end up battling through the pain for a few hours or more. The last time I had the pain so bad that I also had cramping in my uterus, like braxton hicks I guess and that had me a bit worried.
Has anyone else found any more information on these symptoms or any remedies for the dreaded pain? Abstaining from sex may be on the cards otherwise and that will be disappointing for both of us, especially with 15 weeks to go!