Whether joint pain from menopause will go away depends on whether the joint pain is purely due to hormonal changes seen in menopause or due to other associated factors:
- Joint pain and inflammation are often indications of osteoarthritis (OA), which is the degeneration of the protective tissue that sits between bones. Because OA is more common among women who have gone through menopause, it is plausible that hormonal changes are a factor in the development of symptoms of arthritis such as joint pain.
- In addition to hormones, factors such as excess weight, a sedentary lifestyle, dehydration, poor diet, smoking, and stress can all cause joint pain or make it worse.
Joint pain due to menopause-related OA may not go away. However, joint pain due to other factors may go away with appropriate lifestyle changes.
What causes joint pain during menopause?
While studies have shown that there is a connection between menopause and joint pain, the causation between the two has not yet been determined.
Luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone, which are produced by the pituitary gland, are responsible for regulating your menstrual cycle. These hormones work by stimulating the ovaries to increase their production of estrogen and progesterone, which have a role in the way a person perceives pain or happiness.
Because of the fluctuation in hormone levels that occur during perimenopause and menopause, pain such as joint pain may be experienced.
How to ease joint pain from menopause
Joint pain during perimenopause and menopause is a common symptom experienced by many women. Although there is no guarantee as to whether it will go away, there are a few lifestyle changes that can help provide relief.
- Exercise regularly: Working out is one of the best ways to build joint strength and maintain flexibility. Maintaining a healthy weight can help reduce the amount of strain placed on your joints, and being active is one way to achieve this goal. Low-impact exercises such as swimming, tai chi, and yoga are ideal choices. Benefits of exercise include increased energy, improved mood, better sleep, and protection against heart disease.
- Drink water: Dehydration can worsen joint pain. Try to consume around 1.5 to 2 L of plain, unflavored water a day. If you wake up and find that your joints are stiff or creaky in the morning, it could be a sign that you were significantly dehydrated during the night, in which case you should make sure to drink a glass of water about an hour before going to bed. This is especially crucial if you experience night sweats because night sweats will cause you to become even more dehydrated.
- Get quality sleep: When you are sleep-deprived, pain can often seem worse than it really is. Therefore, getting enough sleep each night is essential to alleviating joint pain related to menopause.
- Minimize stress: When you are stressed, you may experience worsening of your joint pain and stiffness. Cognitive behavioral therapy may help you in changing the way you think about joint pain and breaking free of the cycle of pain, low mood, and anxiety that you may be experiencing as a result of menopause.
- Pain medication: Ibuprofen can help ease mild aches and pains, whereas chondroitin sulfate supplements may help lubricate the joints and alleviate joint pain.
SLIDESHOW
Pain Management: Surprising Causes of Pain See SlideshowMedically Reviewed on 10/11/2022
References
Image Source: iStock Image
"Joint Pain and Muscles." The Menopause Charity. <https://www.themenopausecharity.org/2021/10/21/joint-pain-and-muscles/>.
Magliano, M. "Menopausal arthralgia: Fact or fiction." Maturitas. 2010 Sep;67(1):29-33. doi: 10.1016/j.maturitas.2010.04.009. PMID: 20537472. <https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20537472/>.
"Joint Pain and Muscles." The Menopause Charity. <https://www.themenopausecharity.org/2021/10/21/joint-pain-and-muscles/>.
Magliano, M. "Menopausal arthralgia: Fact or fiction." Maturitas. 2010 Sep;67(1):29-33. doi: 10.1016/j.maturitas.2010.04.009. PMID: 20537472. <https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20537472/>.
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