Menopause is a time of seemingly constant change for a woman. The body naturally stops producing as much estrogen as it used to, and this change alone can cause a host of health complications.
One of the most common menopause symptoms is increased joint pain. That’s because the female sexual hormone, estrogen, is responsible for limiting inflammation in the joints.
When the body does not produce enough estrogen, inflammation in the joints increases. This is why joint pain is so common among menopausal and perimenopausal women. But there are things that can be done about it.
That’s what today’s article is all about. In it, we will be talking about what causes joint pain, how to offset it, and what you need to know about menopause and joint inflammation.
Why Menopause Causes Joint Pain
Estrogen is a hormone that plays a lot of roles in women’s lives. It affects mood, cognitive performance, menstrual cycles, and joint health. Estrogen helps prevent joint inflammation which causes joint pain.
During menopause, the female body starts to produce less estrogen which can lead to increased joint inflammation and pain.
Menopause can also cause changes in bone density. It can lead to osteoporosis because estrogen also helps fortify calcium in the bones.
Lifestyle changes during menopause can also affect joint health. For instance, some women may feel fatigued and less motivated to work out during menopause. This may contribute to weight gain which puts more pressure on the joints.
Fight Menopausal Joint Pain – Start Your Journey with Menocil Today!Common Symptoms of Menopause-Related Joint Pain
So does menopause cause joint pain? It certainly can. Here are some of the most common symptoms of joint-related issues stemming from menopause:
- Joint Stiffness - Some women may experience stiffness or aching in the joints first thing in the morning.
- Slower Recovery - After working out, you may find that it takes your joints longer to recover if you are perimenopausal or menopausal.
- Bodily Pains - Joint pain can affect nearly the entire body. That’s why symptoms like pain in the lower back, hips, shoulders, wrists, knees, ankles, and fingers are all common during menopause.
Lifestyle Changes to Reduce Joint Pain
Perimenopause joint pain relief may take several forms for women. For example, certain lifestyle changes may help you successfully manage menopause-related joint pain.
- Regular Exercise - Doing low-impact exercises such as yoga, pilates, swimming, and walking can all help keep your joints lubricated and mobile.
- Weight Management - Menopause joint pain relief may also depend on your weight. Losing weight may reduce pressure on your joints and reduce pain.
- Sleep Quality - There have been some studies that seem to reveal that poor sleep quality or too little sleep increases certain inflammatory markers. Therefore improving your sleep quality may help reduce joint inflammation and pain.
Dietary Recommendations for Joint Health
In addition to lifestyle changes, there are also changes you can make to your diet that will help you manage menopausal joint pain. For instance, you can incorporate more anti-inflammatory foods into your meals.
Some examples of effective anti-inflammatory foods include fatty fish, strawberries, blueberries, pomegranate seeds, spinach, kale, nuts, and seeds.
Menopause joint pain natural remedies can also include vitamin and mineral supplementation. Calcium supplements may help increase bone density and vitamin D supplements may help your body absorb more calcium naturally.
Drinking enough water is also important for joint health. That’s because proper hydration is key to synovial fluid production and synovial fluid helps lubricate and cushion the joints.
Natural Supplements for Joint Pain Relief
Supplements for menopause joint pain may also offer some relief. Let’s take a look at some of the most effective ones:
Omega 3 Fatty Acids - Foods that contain omega-3s include fatty fish (tuna, salmon, etc.) and flaxseed oil. Fish oil supplements may therefore be helpful for lubricating joints.*
Turmeric & Curcumin - Curcumin is the active compound in the yellow spice turmeric. Studies have shown that it has both antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.*
Collagen - Collagen is an essential protein for connective tissues. Collagen supplementation may therefore help restore cartilage and reduce joint pain.*
Glucosamine & Chondroitin - These are both substances that are found naturally in human joints. They also support the connective tissues of the joints and therefore, may be essential for pain-free movement.*
Menopause Joint Pain Got You Down? Menocil May Be Your Solution!When to Consider Medical Treatments
How To Treat Menopause Joint Pain
If your joint pain is severe, chronic, or interfering with your quality of life, you may want to seek medical attention. That’s because there could be more serious underlying issues.
Besides, a doctor will be able to tell you what treatments may help reduce your joint pain. For instance, they may recommend hormone replacement therapy to help your body use estrogen to fight joint inflammation.*
Hormone replacement therapy may also be a good option if your other menopause symptoms are interfering with your normal life.*
Alternatives and Complementary Therapies
If you aren’t comfortable with the idea of hormone replacement therapy, there are other options. For instance, acupuncture has been found to be effective in reducing joint pain and increasing muscle strength.*
Massage therapy may also help soothe the joints and the muscles that support them. In addition, meditation may also be able to reduce joint pain by altering the perception of pain signals.*
Daily Habits for Long-Term Joint Health
Lifestyle changes may also help you avoid severe joint pain during menopause. For instance, stretching every evening may help keep you limber and increase the range of motion of your joints. Furthermore, a regular stretching routine may provide moderate relief from joint pain.*
Stress can also affect joint inflammation and cause pain. That’s because elevated stress levels can signal the release of hormones like adrenaline and cortisol which can trigger your immune system’s inflammatory response.*
So keeping your stress levels to a minimum may help you avoid painful bouts of inflammation. Try drinking herbal tea, meditating, yoga, regular exercise, and avoiding anxiety-inducing situations to avoid inflammatory immune responses.
Conclusion
In the end, a balanced approach to joint health is probably best. This can include a healthy diet of anti-inflammatory foods, limiting your stress, getting regular exercise, and taking a high-quality joint health supplement.
You may be asking yourself, ‘does joint pain from menopause go away’ and the short answer is no. You may experience joint pain all throughout menopause and then afterward because the lack of estrogen can leave your bones and joints depleted of key nutrients.*
That’s why speaking with your doctor, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, and exploring high-quality joint supplements are so important to your overall health. If you are dealing with joint pain because of menopause, there is relief - simply be mindful of your health and be willing to make small changes to your life and routine.