Menopain and Perimenopause. What’s Happening To Your Body?

Admin By Dina Anderson

Date icon July 24, 2024

A woman with short dark hair, wearing a gray sports bra, stands with her arms crossed against a teal brick wall.

For some of us, it can be a challenge to think of what joint doesn’t hurt- especially during perimenopause. From problematic hips and knees to elbows and wrists. Perimenopause can make us feel 80 in a 40-year-old body.

Whether you’re struggling to open that jar or bend down to pick things off the ground. Let’s face it, menopain can be a right pain.

It’s time to find out why joint pain happens during perimenopause. Discover what you can do to say goodbye to your old lady mobility and hello to the agile, able you.

What is Perimenopause?

“Peri” means “around” in Greek. So in simple terms, perimenopause means around menopause. It is sometimes referred to as the transition phase. It is the stage prior to menopause. For some women, this can last just a few months, and for others, a whole ten years.

The average timespan for perimenopause is approximately 4 years. The average age it occurs is around 40-44 years old but can occur much earlier or later too.

It’s usually marked by the irregularity of periods. Alongside many of the classic menopausal symptoms we hear about. This is due to the hormone fluctuations the body begins to go through. And one of these common symptoms during perimenopause is menopain.

What is Menopain?

Aches and pains during peri and menopause are extremely common. Believe it or not, it’s estimated to impact up to 50% of women- that’s a whopping 1 in 2 of us. But we mostly hear about hot flashes, mood swings, and disrupted sleep.

Back in the 1920s, menopausal was diagnosed as “arthritis of menopause.” Today its clinical name is menopausal arthralgia. Arthralgia means pain the in joint. It can mimic other chronic pain conditions such as arthritis, osteoporosis, and fibromyalgia.

The 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?

During perimenopause, the sex hormone estrogen fluctuates wildly. These chaotic changes can cause a wide spectrum of symptoms. From hot flashes and night sweats, to the dreaded menopain.

That’s because estrogen doesn’t just play a significant role in reproductive health. It’s also vital for many functions in the human body. Including the health of our bones and joints.

Loss of Synovial Fluid

Low estrogen means a loss of synovial fluid. Synovial fluid is what lubricates and cushions the joints. So without enough of it, the joints become stiff, lose mobility, and are prone to injury.

Cartilage Degradation

When estrogen is low, cartilage can begin to break down. Cartilage is what acts as a protective shield around our joints. Keeping them strong, smooth, and healthy. When cartilage breaks down, our bones can rub and grind against each other. This can cause pain, dysfunction, and loss of mobility.

Inflammation

Now we know low levels of estrogen cause loss of synovial fluid and cartilage. This means the joints are not protected and we are prone to inflammation. Estrogen is also anti-inflammatory. Low levels of estrogen means we have less to protect us from inflammation. This allows it to spread throughout the body and joints which can cause widespread pain.

Weight Gain

Weight gain is another extremely common experience during both peri and menopause. Again this impacts up to 50% of women. With most women having gained around 10kg by menopause.

The main culprit? Estrogen loss. As estrogen decreases, the metabolism slows down meaning we burn fewer calories. That’s why so many of us see an increase in fat around our waist, hips, and belly. And feel like we gain weight much more easily.

The problem is this extra weight puts more pressure on the joints. It can trigger more pain, wear and tear, and risk of injury.

What Helps Menopain?

Inner Harmony by CellaMD

When you’re suffering from menopain, it’s important to consider your gut health. Bad bacteria in our guts can feast away on estrogen. This can make perimenopausal symptoms much more severe than they have to be. This includes worsening those horrible aches and pains.

Inner Harmony can help you heal your gut with healthy bacteria and restore hormonal balance. All naturally and safely. This can help reduce estrogen-related joint pain and other perimenopausal symptoms.

It also includes powerful phytoestrogens. Phytoestrogens are plant-estrogens that mimic estrogen in the human body. This too can help relieve symptoms caused by estrogen loss. Inner Harmony also helps to shift the stubborn pounds gained during perimenopause. This can help take the burden off your joints and make it easier to move around and exercise.

Other Ways To Reduce Menopain:

Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)

HRT replaces lost levels of estrogen in the body which in turn, can help reduce symptoms such as menopain.

Pain Medication

Pain medication can provide temporary relief from the discomfort menopain. From OTC painkillers to anti-inflammatory NSAIDs.

Diet

Sugary, highly processed foods and alcohol can trigger inflammation in the body. This can make menopain worse. It’s important to focus on eating an anti-inflammatory diet. This includes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins.

Exercise

Exercise is great for increasing bone density and muscle mass. This is important for keeping the bones healthy and strong. It also helps maintain a healthy body weight and boosts endorphins for a happier, stable mood.

Finally

It’s no fun experiencing aches and pains and feeling like your body is older than your years. Menopain can disrupt the quality of life and impact mental health. While it may be a very common symptom during perimenopause, it doesn’t mean you have to suffer.

There are ways to reduce menopain including medical treatments and lifestyle factors. From HRT to NSAIDs, to diet and exercise.

Taking a daily probiotic like Inner Harmony can help. Boosting gut health and restoring estrogen levels- safely and naturally. It also helps with weight loss. This can take extra pressure off the joints and relieve the discomfort of nasty menopain.

When it comes to joint pain during peri and menopause, it’s important to know you are not alone. Remember perimenopause is temporary and here are steps you can take for pain relief.