Menopause symptoms can be a pain in the… joints. Joint pain impacts up to 50% of women during menopause. But all we seem to hear about is the hot flashes and sticky bed sheets.
But don’t let menopausal joint pain make you feel unhinged. It’s time to delve into the bones of it all. All by finding out about menopausal arthralgia. And how we can take back control.
There are several common symptoms associated with menopausal arthralgia:
And it is no shock that chronic pain from menopausal arthralgia can cause its own symptoms. Being in constant pain can be extremely distressing and disruptive to daily life. And with it, comes its own set of challenges. From fatigue and poor sleep, to low mood and depression.
It’s no secret that hormones go haywire when menopause strikes. This can have a massive impact on the functions in the body. Responsible for many of the nasty symptoms that can plague us during menopause.
But when it comes to menopausal arthralgia, there’s one hormone to blame. Estrogen.
During menopause, estrogen levels decrease. Estrogen plays a vital role for keeping our joints healthy. So without enough of it, it can cause achy and painful joints.
Estrogen is known for its anti-inflammatory properties. It reduces stiffness in ligaments and tendons. Helping us keep moving and reduce injuries.
Estrogen helps maintain joint lubrication. It does so by stimulating the production of synovial fluid. This cushions and lubricates the joints. Estrogen plays a crucial role in maintaining bone density which in turn, slows down bone loss. It helps prevent osteoporosis and joint discomfort.
But during menopause estrogen levels drop. This leaves us vulnerable to inflammation and sore joints. And leads us to what is known as menopausal arthralgia.
It can be comforting to know there are ways to help manage the pain and discomfort menopause can cause. From the doctor’s office to your own home. There are ways to help you beat the worst of menopausal arthralgia.
As we know, estrogen drops during menopause. And in turn, is the primary cause of achy and painful joints. HRT replaces declining estrogen levels. This can help reduce joint inflammation and reduce joint pain.
But it comes with its own set of risks. Long-term use of HRT has its own side effects. Including increased risk of breast cancer, cardiovascular disease and blood clots. That is why it is so important to discuss your options with a medical professional before trying HRT.
Thankfully, HRT is not the be all and end all. There are things we can try ourselves in our own lifestyles. Changes that can be made to battle back against the bothersome bones.
Foods high in sugar, refined carbohydrates, and unhealthy fats can contribute to inflammation. Which is a huge no-no for joint pain. To reduce it, you can follow an anti-inflammatory diet. Food that can help are fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fat. These can help reduce inflammation and help manage menopausal arthralgia.
You can also include soy-based products in your diet. They contain phytoestrogens. These plant compounds mimic estrogen in the body. This may help balance hormones and reduce aches and pains.
Excess weight can make joint pain worse. In particular, the weight-bearing joints like the knees and hips. So by losing weight, it can help ease stress on the joints and reduce pain. Additionally, weight loss can also improve overall joint function and mobility. Making moving around a whole lot easier.
Stress can influence how the brain processes pain signals. It means we can become more sensitive to pain. So when we reduce stress levels, our perception of pain decreases. In turn, helping us feel less pain than before.
Not only this as chronic stress can lead to elevated levels of cortisol. Cortisol is the primary stress hormone in the body. High cortisol levels can cause increased inflammation. This can make problematic pain in the joints worse.
It can be helpful to incorporate stress-reducing activities into your lifestyle. Activities such as meditation, deep breathing or yoga can help lower cortisol levels. All which help reduce inflammation and help you manage menopausal joint pain.
It probably sounds counterintuitive exercising when your joints are on fire. But exercise has been shown to reduce inflammation in the body. And as we know, inflammation is the enemy of joint pain. So reducing it with exercise can be great pain relief.
In summary, exercise is great for general well-being and keeping us healthy. And the endorphins it gives us can help our mood. Which is super important when you feel down in the dumps with menopausal arthralgia.
It can feel like a colossal challenge to move your body when joint pain strikes. While exercise may be great advice, it doesn’t feel like that when we can barely get out of bed. Sitting hurts and moving hurts. And sure, losing weight is fantastic for taking some of the load off our joints. But it’s significantly harder to do so when you’re in too much pain to move. Menopausal arthralgia can be quite the vicious cycle.
To help you on your journey, CellaMD is here. It’s time to regain control. Pain Relief by CellaMD can help you tackle the worst of menopausal arthralgia.
Inner Harmony by CellaMD can help you restore hormonal balance. Helping you shift those unwanted pounds. Taking weight off the scale… and your joints. Making it easier to put in place lifestyle changes that can provide relief to the aches and pains.
Chronic physical pain from menopausal arthralgia can be chronic emotional pain for us. Preventing us from doing the activities we enjoy and doing the things we love. We can end up as unhappy and miserable as our joints.
But thankfully, there are ways to relieve it. By speaking to a medical professional or making lifestyle changes with CellaMD. You can feel comfortable in your own skin, and bones again.
Take care of yourself today and know you are not alone. There are ways to take a stand against menopausal arthralgia.
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By Dina Anderson
March 8, 2024
