What Causes “Menopain?”

Admin By Dina Anderson

Date icon July 24, 2024

A woman with shoulder-length brown hair and glasses smiles directly at the viewer, wearing a white, patterned sleeveless top against a light gray background.

If you’re in your 40s/50s but your body feels 80, it’s time to learn about menopain.

It’s easy to blame aches and pains on getting older. But did you know that creaky and stiff joints during peri and menopause are extremely common?

It’s time to find out the real reason your hips, knees, and wrists are playing up. Learn what you can do to relieve pain and feel your actual age again.

What is “Menopain?”

Menopain refers to the aches and pains women experience during peri and menopause. In fact, menopain is more common than you may have realized impacting up to 50% of women. This physical phenomenon has been well-documented in medicine since the 1920s. Here it was first known as “arthritis of menopause.” Today we know it better as menopausal arthralgia.

Symptoms of Menopausal Arthralgia:

Joint and muscle aches/pains

Joint stiffness

Joint swelling

Reduction in stamina

Pins and needles

Reduction in muscle strength

What Causes “Menopain?”

The sex hormone estrogen plays a vital role in the health of our bodies- not just our reproductive system. As we age, estrogen levels decrease. This decrease becomes more noticeable as women enter the transition phase, perimenopause. And becomes even more significant at menopause and beyond.

Low levels of estrogen are responsible for many perimenopause symptoms women experience. These include hot flashes, mood changes, and vaginal dryness. Not only that but low estrogen is the main reason why so many women experience menopain.

Loss of Synovial Fluid

Synovial fluid is a lubricant that protects and cushions your joints. But without enough estrogen, synovial fluid dries up. Now the joints are highly vulnerable. They may become stiffer, lose mobility, and the risk for ‘wear and tear’ increases.

Cartilage Degradation

Cartilage is vital for acting as a protective shield surrounding the joints. We need it for our joints to stay strong, smooth, and healthy. However, when estrogen is low, cartilage breaks down. This can cause the bones to rub and grind against each other. In turn, impairing joint function and mobility.

Inflammation

Low levels of estrogen cause synovial fluid loss and cartilage degradation. This leaves us susceptible to inflammation. Estrogen in itself has anti-inflammatory properties. So without enough of it, inflammation can spread like wildfire. It triggers more pain around the joints and surrounding areas.

Weight Gain

It’s estimated that by the time menopause happens, women will have gained a whopping 10kg. This is because estrogen loss makes your metabolism slow down. This means your body burns fewer calories. It’s why so many women notice more fat around their middle and easier weight gain. Despite not changing their diet or exercise routine whatsoever.

This miserable reality is also a cause of menopain. The extra pounds put more pressure on our joints and can put them under more stress and strain. Leaving us at higher risk of wear and tear, injury, and pain.

What Can Help Menopain?

Inner Harmony by CellaMD

Bad bacteria in the gut is inevitable as we age due to lifestyle, diet, and antibiotics. It’s pretty much unavoidable. And this build-up of nasty bacteria eats away at estrogen. The last thing we need during the transition phase and menopause. It only enhances the joint pain and other uncomfortable hormonal symptoms we experience.

Inner Harmony is a daily probiotic that helps restore healthy bacteria to your gut. In turn, balancing estrogen in a natural, safe way. It also includes valuable phytoestrogens. These plant-estrogens mimic estrogen in the human body. Boosting estrogen levels and providing us with relief from nasty hormonal symptoms.

It can help relieve you of the discomfort of joint aches and pain. Alongside, helping with weight loss that can take that extra pressure off your joints. With less joint pain, exercise is easier and can help further with weight loss and mood.

Other Treatments That Can Help Menopain:

Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)

HRT can help replace lost estrogen levels that cause symptoms such as menopain in women.

Pain Medication

Certain medications can help with pain such as NSAIDs that are anti-inflammatories.

Anti-inflammatory Diet

Avoiding sugary, highly processed foods can help reduce inflammation. Instead eating a healthy, nutritious diet can decrease inflammation.

Exercise

Strength training and low-impact exercise can help. It improves bone density and increases muscle mass. This can help with joint pain, and metabolism and reduce the risk of disease and injury. It also releases endorphins which is a bonus to help with mood.

Finally

Menopain can feel like the weight of the world is on your shoulders (literally.) It’s time to drop off the extra weight pulling you down.

Consider taking a daily probiotic like Inner Harmony. This can help improve gut health to restore hormonal balance, naturally and safely. It can help provide pain relief and aid weight loss. All of which can help you and your joints feel better.

There are other treatments that can help menopain. These include medical interventions such as HRT and NSAIDs. Also, lifestyle factors can help such as an anti-inflammatory diet and exercise.

It is estimated that 50% of women experience menopain. But just because it is a common symptom of perimenopause, doesn’t mean you have to put up with it.