It’s easy to blame joint pain on a sign of the times. But that’s not the full story.
Joint pain is extremely common during menopause. So let’s find out why. Understand why menopause causes joint pain. All so you can take steps forward with pain-free joints again.
During menopause, estrogen levels decline. And this can impact the entire way our body functions, including our joints. So, why is estrogen so important?
Estrogen plays an important role in keeping the body in tip-top condition. So it’s no surprise that estrogen decline can have a detrimental impact on the way it functions. Especially when it comes to the health of our joints.
It’s estimated that around 50% of women experience joint pain during menopause. Believed to be primarily caused by the decrease in estrogen levels. This condition is what we know as menopausal arthralgia.
Always speak to your doctor if you are suffering from chronic joint pain. It is best to rule out any other health concerns. For example, arthritis has shared symptoms with menopausal arthralgia.
But remember, joint pain during menopause is extremely common. While it’s nothing serious, it can seriously impact daily life.
Menopausal arthralgia can have a huge impact on your quality of life. This can have a ripple effect on your mental health. Especially when you can no longer keep up with family, friends, and your lifestyle. This can lead to further symptoms such as depression, fatigue, and low energy.
HRT works by supplementing the body with hormones that the body doesn’t produce enough of. It can increase estrogen levels. Helping to reduce the worst of menopausal symptoms, including joint pain.
HRT may not be for everyone. As a medical treatment, it comes with its own set of health risks. It’s important to weigh up the pros and cons with a medical professional as to whether or not HRT is right for you.
Thankfully, medical treatment isn’t the only way. There are natural ways to combat menopausal arthralgia and joint pain. These small changes you can make to your lifestyle can have big results in reducing joint pain.
Eating the right foods can help reduce inflammation and ease joint pain. It’s important to avoid foods high in sugar, refined carbohydrates, and unhealthy fats. These can cause further inflammation in the body and worsen joint pain. To ease painful joints, eat a varied and rich diet in the following:
If it wasn’t bad enough, menopause can cause weight gain. It is one of the most common symptoms of menopause. On average, a woman gains 10kg by the time she enters menopause due to the hormonal changes. While there is no doubt it’s unfair, we can take back control.
These extra pounds of fat can cause havoc. Not just for our self-esteem, but also for our joints. The excess weight can cause further stress and strain on our joints. Losing weight can help reduce joint pain by taking the extra load off.
While it’s never easy to lose weight, it’s particularly challenging during menopause. Due to the loss of muscle mass, we no longer need as many calories as we once did. It’s important to make smart and healthy food choices. It can help create a calorie deficit to shed unwanted pounds aggravating joint pain.
If you’re looking for help on your weight loss journey, look no further than Inner Harmony. It helps to shift unwanted pounds and uncomfortable bloating from menopause. Plus, it can help with the dreaded hot flashes and fatigue too.
Our modern lifestyles can be very stressful. With families to feed, bills to pay, and errands to run… oh, and now add menopause for the icing on top of the cake.
Stress can cause high levels of cortisol. This stress hormone does us no good. It can cause both inflammation and pain sensitivity, none of which help our joint pain. To reduce stress in our lives, it’s important to take time out. Here are some examples of ways to reduce stress:
There’s no need to sprint to the finish line. It’s not about running a marathon when you are suffering from menopausal joint pain. But it is about making small, positive changes.
Exercise can reduce chronic inflammation in the body. Improve bone density, aid weight loss, and help ease joint pain. But we are talking about low-impact exercises. Gentle ways to get your body moving again and improve your pain levels. Not hiking Mount Everest.
Low-impact exercises to ease joint pain include:
Menopausal arthralgia and joint pain can be extremely disruptive. Taking a toll on both physical and mental health. The chronic pain it causes can drastically impact the quality of life. So it’s important to take action.
Remember, it’s always important to rule out other health conditions. You can talk to your doctor about medical treatment such as HRT. And implement lifestyle changes such as minimizing stress and moving more. All with the help of Inner Harmony.
These simple changes can help you get back on your feet. With less pain to hold you back, and more freedom to be you again. Don’t let joint pain keep you from living a life you love.
Sources:
Arthralgia of menopause – A retrospective review – Janice Blumer, 2023 (sagepub.com)
19-BMS-TfC-Menopause-Nutrition-and-Weight-Gain-JUNE2023-A.pdf (thebms.org.uk)
https://health.clevelandclinic.org/stress-and-weight-gain
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6947726/
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By Dina Anderson
April 5, 2024
