Joint Pains and Menopause

JOINT PAINS

Joint pains – the stiffness and swelling around joints is commonly associated with arthritis and osteoporosis, which are both conditions that weaken the bones and degenerate the cartilage between the bones. However, menopausal joint pain affects women between the ages of 45-55 or sometimes longer (perimenopause and menopause years) due to hormonal changes that the body will be experiencing during these years.

A joint is commonly defined as the meeting point of two or more bones where these bones move  or glide over each other to make movement of the body limbs and parts possible. There are three basic types of joints in the body, namely:

Synathrosis (Fiberous) joints: which are immoveable and can be found in the skull or pelvic bone. This type of joint is held together by only a ligament.

Amphiarthrosis (Cartilaginous) joints: such as the joints found in the vertebral column and the symphysis pubis, which allow limited motion.

Diarthrosis (Synovial) joints: far more common and which are freely moveable joints found in the shoulders, elbows, wrists, knees and ankles. Among this third group of moveable joints there are 6 sub sets:

• Hinge – elbow or knee
• Pivot – top of he neck
• Ball & Socket – shoulder/hip
• Saddle – thumb joint
• Condyloid – wrist
• Gliding – top of the hand/wrist

The joints allow different ranges of movements in the different parts of the body. During perimenopause and menopause, this free flow of movement in the joints is hampered by alterations in the bones and cartilages, which is caused by hormonal changes in the body. Some of these changes can cause the cartilage (which is a substance in the joint covering the bone that allows bones to glide over one another) to wear off, and the secretion of the synovial fluid which lubricates the joints can be hindered or reduced. This situation will lead to pain and swelling in the joints and, subsequently, difficulty in movement and pain. The swelling can be directly attributed to the lowering levels of hormones in the body and specifically estrogen. During menopause there could be a period of aching and sore joints, equally affecting muscles and tendons. More than half of post-menopausal women have been found to experience different degrees of joint pains. Other likely causes for sore joints could be stress, lack of exercise, weight and a poor diet, an injury of some kind and wear and tear on the joints and body generally as a result of age or lifestyle.

Early treatment of these symptoms can help to bring about relief and help to stop further development of arthritis. These are some healthy strategies that can help women effectively cope with joint pain during perimenopause as well as menopause. Having adequate rest and eating a balanced diet preferably with natural, fresh fruits and vegetables for adequate vitamin consumption, and dairy products for calcium and protein, together with sufficient levels of omega 3 nutrients. Gentle exercise not overly load bearing is good 2-3 times a week. When looking at balancing the hormones as a method of reducing joint pain or indeed some other menopause symptoms, many women in the UK and across Europe have found alleviation with a device called LadyCare. Now exclusively available in the USA, the device is thought to balance the natural hormones in the body using purely natural and drug free means. Further information can be found on http://www.ladycareusa.com

The comments on this page are for informational purposes only. We do not provide any medical advice. They are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any health problem, or replace professional advice from a qualified medical expert.