Muscle & Joint Pain

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Muscle & Joint Pain In Menopause

During menopause, a drop in estrogen can affect your joints and the tissues that hold your skeleton together, causing what’s known as menopausal arthralgia. In fact, research finds that more than half of people going through menopause report some kind of joint pain. [1] Joint discomfort in menopause can manifest in various ways. You might experience it as a persistent dull ache, a sudden sharp twinge, or even a shooting pain. Stiffness in the joints is another common symptom. Although the joints are often the primary source of discomfort, the sensation of pain can also appear to come from the surrounding tendons, muscles, or bones, adding to the complexity of symptoms experienced during this transitional phase.

Why Does Muscle & Joint Pain Happen in Menopause?

Since estrogen usually helps fight inflammation, its decrease can lead to more inflammation, making you feel pain and stiffness that can negatively impact your daily life and overall happiness. Plus, menopause can also lead to weight gain and less physical activity, which adds increased stress to your joints and muscles, making the pain worse.

Estrogen also plays a role in keeping your cartilage and joint tissues healthy. Your joints are a complicated tapestry of bone, cartilage, muscle, ligaments, and a soft tissue called synovium. Across these tissues are a web of estrogen receptors, making them highly sensitive to the hormone’s presence. Studies show that estrogen can help your body maintain cartilage and other joint tissues. [2] When estrogen levels drop and these tissues get damaged, your joints might rub together more, causing even more pain.

It’s also worth mentioning that conditions like degenerative arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are common reasons for joint pain in women who are in perimenopause or have reached menopause.

What Can You Do About Muscle & Joint Pain in Menopause?

Managing joint and muscle pain during menopause involves a holistic approach that can help alleviate discomfort and improve quality of life. Here are several strategies:

Stay Active & Strength Training: Regular exercise strengthens muscles, improves flexibility, and can reduce joint pain. Activities like walking, swimming, or yoga are gentle on the joints while providing significant benefits. Strength training can help improve strength and increase lean muscle mass. Some examples of strength training exercises that can be done during menopause include:

• Weight-bearing exercises, such as Pilates, which focuses on core strength, or weightlifting
• Using resistance bands or weight machines at the gym
• Using your own body weight, such as standing or lifting your own body weight

Healthy Diet: A diet rich in anti-inflammatory foods such as fruits, vegetables, fish, nuts, and seeds can help reduce inflammation in the body. Avoiding processed foods, sugars, and excessive caffeine and alcohol can also contribute to better joint health.

Maintain a Healthy Weight: Extra weight puts additional pressure on joints, exacerbating pain. Achieving and maintaining a healthy weight through diet and exercise can relieve this stress and improve symptoms.

Stay Hydrated: Adequate hydration is essential for keeping tissues lubricated and reducing friction in joints.

Heat and Cold Therapy: Applying heat can relax muscles and increase blood flow, while cold therapy can reduce inflammation and numb pain. Alternating between the two can offer relief.

Pain Relief Medication: Over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen or acetaminophen can be used for temporary relief of joint and muscle pain. Always consult with a healthcare provider before starting any new medication.

Supplements: Certain supplements, such as omega-3 fatty acids, glucosamine, chondroitin, and vitamin D, might help improve joint health. However, it’s important to discuss these with a healthcare provider to ensure they’re appropriate for your situation.

Physical Therapy: A physical therapist can develop a personalized exercise program to strengthen the muscles around the joints, increase flexibility, and reduce pain.

Alternative Therapies: Acupuncture and massage therapy have been found to help some people manage pain and improve mobility.

Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): For some women, HRT can help alleviate menopause-related symptoms, including joint and muscle pain, by stabilizing hormone levels. Discuss the risks and benefits with your healthcare provider.

By combining these strategies, you can effectively manage joint and muscle pain associated with menopause, leading to a more active and comfortable lifestyle. Always consult with a healthcare professional to tailor a treatment plan to your specific needs.

References:

1. Magliano M. Menopausal arthralgia: Fact or fiction. Maturitas. 2010 Sep;67(1):29-33. doi: 10.1016/j.maturitas.2010.04.009. PMID: 20537472.
2. Sniekers, Y.H., Weinans, H., van Osch, G.J. et al. Oestrogen is important for maintenance of cartilage and subchondral bone in a murine model of knee osteoarthritis. Arthritis Res Ther 12, R182 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1186/ar3148

The information in this article is designed for educational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for informed medical advice or care. This information should not be used to diagnose or treat any health problems or illnesses without consulting a doctor. Consult with a health care practitioner before relying on any information in this article or on this website.