Undoubtedly, chronic pain, primarily joint pains and muscle aches, are the most common complaints accompanying ageing. Often affecting the daily life routine, people aged 40 to 60 years are the most burdened with joint pain. It has been observed that after 45years of age, women are more likely to suffer from musculoskeletal pain. Coincidently, during this period, women also experience many changes in their bodies due to menopause.

Menopause and the menopausal transition period

Menopause is a twelve-month period wherein a woman does not have menstruation and will thereafter not be able to conceive. Generally, women may have their menopause anywhere between the age of 45 to 55years of age, with 51years being the average age. This period is accompanied by a number of symptoms that begin during the perimenopausal period. Hormonal change seems to be a major cause of the symptoms experienced by women during this period.

Perimenopausal Period

The perimenopausal period is the period of time before menopause in which women may gradually experience hormonal changes that lead to menopause. Perimenopause usually begins when a woman is around 40 to 45 years of age. It is common for women to have irregular periods (skip a period and have very light or heavy flow) during this time. Some women may also experience a sudden burst of symptoms during perimenopause.

Postmenopausal Period

The months and years following menopause are called the postmenopausal period.

Cause of menopause?

As women age, there is a reduction in the number of functioning ovarian follicles. This results in a decline in oestrogen levels, which disrupts a normal menstrual cycle. This is followed by an irregular menstrual cycle. Ultimately, the ovary stops releasing eggs and there is a permanent cessation of the menstrual cycle.

In some women, premature or early menopause may occur because of chemotherapy and radiation for cancers of the breast or ovary. Removal of the uterus and the ovaries or irreversible damage to the pelvic area caused by an injury may also result in premature menopause.

Menopause Symptoms:

It is unsurprising that some of the symptoms of menopause go hand in hand with ageing.

• Headaches

• Joint Aches

• Hot flushes/flashes

• Urine and Vaginal infections

• Breast tenderness

• Changes in the proportion of muscle and fat in the body

• Pelvic cramps

• Urinary incontinence

• Mood swings

• Increased heart rate

• Disturbed sleep patterns

Other menopause symptoms may also include low mood, anxiety, decreased libido, poor immune system, sore knees, osteoporosis, and tiredness.

Does Menopause Cause Joint Pain?

Researchers continue to study the changes brought about by menopause in women. Even though weakening joints and bone pain are common with ageing, the relationship between hormonal changes and arthralgia (joint aches) cannot be missed. There's more to the role of oestrogen in the female body than maintaining reproductive and sexual health. The hormone oestrogen plays an important role in maintaining healthy joints. It helps in the process of bone remodelling. It is observed that; almost every other woman complains of joint pain during the time of menopause. The declining oestrogen levels affect the neck, shoulders, elbows, and knee joints.

Oestrogen helps maintain the health of cartilage tissue which is an integral part of the connective tissue of the joint unit. The joints in the body comprise oestrogen receptors. Oestrogen acts via its receptors present in the cartilage, ligaments, synovial tissue, and bone. It is proven to reduce inflammation, keep the joints lubricated and decrease the severity and progression of arthritis. Reduced levels of oestrogen during menopause result in increased inflammation in the knee joints. Other joints in the body, such as the small joints in the fingers, toes, hands and feet, are also affected by inflammation. If you notice you have pain in your small joints, find our 10-minute gout treatment here. 

The hormone oestrogen also plays a role in the remodelling of bone. Bone remodelling involves the process of bone formation (osteoblastic activity) and bone resorption (osteoclastic activity). Reduction in oestrogen levels leads to an increase in osteoclastic activity. This results in increased bone loss caused by an imbalance in bone remodelling.

Women undergoing menopause often complain of increased pain in previously injured areas of the body. The reduced levels of oestrogen results in increased inflammatory activity in the body, leading to increased pain in the injured and damaged areas of the body.

Mood changes, stress, excessive weight gain, dehydration caused by excessive sweating, reduced mobility, and hyperalgesia or increased sensitivity to the feeling of pain are some of the other predisposing causes of joint pain in women during the period of menopause.

What does Joint Pain feel like during Menopause?

Many women experience a feeling of general stiffness and achiness of the joints and muscles during menopause. Stiff and tight hips and knee joints cause discomfort for many women. Some women report a sore and burning sensation of inflamed joints. Tenderness of the joints is often a result of fluctuating hormone levels during menopause.

As mentioned before, old injuries and damaged and affected areas of the body tend to feel tender and painful during menopause.

Complications of Menopausal Joint Pain

Even though joint aches don't lead to serious complications and can be cured if treated quickly, one must be careful to watch out for the following symptoms:

• Red or swollen joints

• Severe pain in the joint region

• Frequent stiffness of the joints, especially in the mornings

• An injury that may have caused a fracture of the bone

• Fever, swollen glands accompanied by bone or joint pain

• Excessive drowsiness, confusion, and affected speech are some other symptoms of menopause that require the immediate attention of a doctor.

   

Management and treatment

It is imperative that pain related to joint health is treated at the earliest. Most cases can be managed with lifestyle modifications, exercise, supplements, analgesics, and anti-inflammatory medications. Alternative warm and cold compresses have been observed to relieve joint pain considerably.

Lifestyle Modifications

A healthy lifestyle which includes a healthy diet with adequate sleep goes a long way in keeping the body healthy and sound.

Diet changes

Poor diet and obesity are known to aggravate the symptoms of menopause among many women. Reducing carbohydrates in the diet and avoiding inflammation-causing food items like sugar, junk food, caffeine-rich drinks, and carbonated drinks will help reduce menopausal joint and muscle pain.

In addition to this, one must add anti-inflammatory foods to their diet. These include food rich in omega-3 and antioxidants. E.g. chia seeds, almonds, tuna, sardines, turmeric.

Exercise

In order to relieve weight-bearing joints, it is best recommended to shed excess weight with regular exercise, yoga, pilates, and diet modifications. Women experiencing joint pain are advised to practice weight-bearing exercises. They are known to strengthen muscles, improve bone density, and relieve joint pain in menopausal women.

Supplements

There are a number of supplements that have been proven to be beneficial to women suffering from joint aches. They include- Calcium, omega-3, magnesium supplements, soy isoflavones, and vitamin D.

Medications

Doctors may also prescribe certain analgesics or anti-inflammatory drugs that help ease joint pain.

Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is another treatment option that may be recommended for some cases of joint pain. Although your primary care physician may avoid HRT for women with a family history of breast cancer, it has been observed to increase cancer risk in some women.

Takeaway

Researchers continue to study the numerous effects of menopause on the human body. Even though menopause may not be the only reason for joint pain, it can increase the severity of existing joint inflammation. It also plays a role in the progression of autoimmune disorders like rheumatoid arthritis or degenerative diseases like osteoarthritis. It is, therefore, advised that one should not ignore but consult your doctor even for the general joint pains that menopausal women experience.

To learn more about menopause, read through our information page here.