Joint Pain In Menopause

Pain and discomfort in the joints can be a side-effect of menopause. Many women tend to experience aches and pains as they get older and menopause can heighten symptoms; in addition to pain, you may also suffer with swelling and stiffness. Many women find that their pain is most severe first thing in the morning and at night.

In most cases, the joints that bear the most force, the hips and knees, are worst affected; sometimes this is referred to as menopausal arthritis.

Why are my joints aching?

You may get aching and painful joints during menopause as a result of declining levels of oestrogen in the body; it's not fully understood how, but oestrogen is influential in maintaining healthy joints and muscles and preventing inflammation. As oestrogen levels fall, the risk of painful and swollen joints increases.

Remedies for aching joints

Exercise is beneficial for keeping your joints supple and healthy, but it's important to choose the right kinds of exercise and to avoid overdoing it; it's best to avoid activities, which place great strain on certain joints, such as jogging on roads, and try non weight-bearing exercises, such as swimming, and those that are designed to strengthen the muscles and increases flexibility and suppleness, such as yoga. Diet is also really important and essential oils (found in oily fish, avocadoes, nuts and olive oil) and calcium are particularly beneficial for your joints and bones. Some people also find that therapies, such as massage, can help to ease joint pain.

Common treatments for aching joints include medications, such as anti-inflammatory drugs and painkillers. Your GP may also wish to carry out some further tests to see if there are other potential underlying causes. Hormone replacement therapy may be an option in cases linked to menopause.

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