Tegretol (carbamazepine) increases vitamin D metabolism, and very low 
vitamin D levels are associated with severe musculoskeletal pain in 
healthy young adults. Mom can have her 24(OH)D3 level 
(25-hydroxy-vitamin D3) level checked and supplement accordingly. If 
it's profoundly low, her physicians will probably give her 50,000 units 
a day or several times a week for a few months.

Autoimmune disorders often flare or even appear several months after 
giving birth. Weight loss can help by decreasing inflammation throughout 
the body, and breastfeeding can help promote weight loss. She can't 
bottle feed while resting in bed, so bottle feeding will likely be much 
more difficult for this mom.

Massage therapy can help reduce inflammation as well. A recent study 
showed that therapeutic massage upregulates genes that reduce 
inflammation, so the effect lasts long after the massage. I don't know 
where mom lives, but in the US some insurance carriers cover licensed 
massage therapists for certain conditions.

Personally, I had an inflammatory arthritis flare about 7-8 months after 
having each of my children. It lasted several months and then resolved 
without weaning.

Catherine Watson Genna BS, IBCLC  NYC  cwgenna.com

On 8/2/2013 10:58 AM, Sarah McCann wrote:
> Hi all,I have permission to post.  A mum has just phoned me asking if breastfeeding is causing her joint pain.  Some days she can barely walk.  The pain came on when baby was about 10 weeks. Baby is now 17 weeks.  She had a stroke 8 years ago and is left with some right side weakness.  She also has epilepsy and is on 'Tegretol'.  She is already lying down or lying back to breastfeed.  She would wean the baby if she thought it would help her symptoms.
>  From what I have just read up the high prolactin levels may be causing the pain.  So my questions are'Would weaning resolve her pain?''Is there anything compatible with breastfeeding she could do to reduce the pain?'This poor mummy has had such a hard time.
> Thanks in advance,Sarah McCann.LLL LeaderIBCLC in PP 		 	   		
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