Can Menopause Cause Aches And Pains?
What Causes Aches And Pains In Perimenopause and Menopause?
Aches and pains of various kinds are a common symptom during perimenopause and menopause. For a lot of women regular pain of one sort of another can be a problem. But why does going through the menopause cause you physical pain?
The biggest factor is the drop in oestrogen levels. Oestrogen plays several important roles in your body. One of the many things that oestrogen does is to have an anti-inflammatory effect on your joints.
Testosterone too also has a beneficial effect on your joints and muscles. So when your hormone levels begin to fluctuate during perimenopause and stay low during menopause you may feel the effect in your joints and muscles. This drop in your hormone levels can cause you physical aches and pains.
It’s not just your muscles and joints that can be affected. You may also experience breast pain too. Again these can be caused by the drop in, or fluctuation of, hormones such as oestrogen and testosterone.
There can be other causes for joint and muscle pain at this point in your life though. Simple wear and tear over the years can cause problems with joints as you get older. Being overweight, lacking regular exercise and a poor diet can all contribute to the cause of aches and pains.
Whatever the cause, being in pain is unpleasant to say the least and can spoil your quality of life.
Below are some of the common aches and pains that women experience during perimenopause and menopause. I’ve added a few Tips and Tricks throughout the article that I hope you’ll find helpful.
Breast Pain In Perimenopause And Menopause
Breast pain (mastalgia) is not unusual during perimenopause, in fact it’s quite common. It can happen in one or both breasts. Once your periods stop and you’re in menopause breast pain should decrease significantly and for most women it will stop completely. It has been noted though, that women who take hormone replacement for their menopause may continue to get breast pain.
Breast pain can be either cyclical or non-cyclical. It’s usually cyclical as part of your monthly cycle but when your monthly cycle has become irregular breast pain becomes non-cyclical and can happen at random times. During perimenopause you can experience pain in your breasts even if you don’t then have a period.
The pain can vary in type and intensity. There can be burning, soreness, throbbing or sharp stabbing pains. The duration and type of pain varies from woman to woman and you can have a different type of pain at different times.
When my periods were regular, and I was in the middle of my cycle, I would get tenderness in my breasts particularly on the left side. I also had a few sharper pains too. Now that my periods are irregular I still get breast pain. It tends to be a sharper, stabbing pain though and can be very severe at times. You may experience breast pain in a different way from me or you may not experience it at all.
It’s important to check your breasts and armpits regularly for signs of change. Look out for:
- Lumps
- Discharge form the nipples
- Redness
- Increase in size
- Change in appearance such as puckering of the skin
A lump is not necessarily cancer and more often than not it isn’t. It’s important though to get any lumps or changes you find checked by your doctor as soon as possible. If you find any of the things I have listed above, or anything that is unusual for you and is causing you concern make an appointment with your doctor.
Routine breast screening will be offered to you when you reach 50. The screening will be repeated every 3 years. I would strongly advise you to take up the offer. Breast screening can detect early changes in your breasts that may indicate cancer. While not all changes are cancer the earlier a problem is diagnosed and treated the better. Remember that you will still need to do your own regular breast examinations as problems can arise between screenings.
I had my first breast screening at 49. At the time the NHS were extending the age range for screening from 50-70 to 48-70 (if I remember correctly). This may have been a trial and I am not sure if it’s still on going. However, all women when they reach 50 will be offered breast screening. If you would like to continue screening after you reach 70 you can ask to continue with it.
I have to admit to being nervous about my first appointment. My daughter who was 22 at the time came to the hospital with me. She’s a Care Assistant and has a knack for being calming and supportive. I needn’t have worried though. The hospital staff were friendly and professional and the whole thing only took a few minutes. I’m not one for baring my all in public but I didn’t feel embarrassment. It was a little uncomfortable having my breast flattened down a bit for the screening but it wasn’t painful. My results came through quite quickly and I was relieved to see that they were within normal parameters. The hospital now has something to check against for further screenings which will help with early detection of any changes.
Tips and Tricks
Pain relief
Probably the first thing that comes to mind. Over the counter pain relief is widely available e.g Ibuprofen or paracetamol. Ask your pharmacist for some advice. They are medically trained and discreet when it comes to personal matters. A lot of pharmacies/chemists now have a private consultation ‘booth’ for people who prefer to ask for advice in private.
A supportive bra
A surprising number of us are wearing the wrong size bra. Have a proper bra fitting done. A lot of reputable stores offer a free fitting service and advice on suitable bra styles. Underwired bras may be a contributing factor for breast pain. So if you usually wear an underwired bra it’s worth trying a bra that has supporting wide elastic under the cups instead.
A warm shower
Or warm bath can help the pain. Don’t have the water too hot though, nice and warm will do.
Heat pads
These may also help relieve the discomfort. You need to read the instructions though as some are not suitable to be placed directly on the skin. Remember you need warm not hot, particularly on sensitive areas of skin such as your breasts.
Cut Down
Caffeine and smoking can make the pain worse. Cut down, or if possible, cut them out completely.
Alternative/ natural treatments and remedies
These are widely available. B vitamins, Vitamin E, Omega-3 fatty acids, Evening Primrose Oil and acupuncture are a few examples. These treatments are usually based on traditional use rather than medical trials so you will need to make your own judgement. It’s worth asking friends, family and colleagues if they have found something that works for them.
Joint Pain In Perimenopause And Menopause
Joint pain, or menopausal arthritis as it’s sometimes called, can cause aches, stiffness and sometimes swelling around the joint. The pain or discomfort is usually worse in the morning but can improve as the day goes on. However, persistent joint pain can cause flexibility and mobility problems making everyday life more difficult.
The pain is more likely to be in the joints that generally get a higher daily impact such as your hips and knees. Having said this though you can also get pain in your hands and fingers too. I suppose that’s not surprising when you think how hard your hand and finger joints work each day.
It’s worth bearing in mind that the joint pain could be due to normal wear and tear over the years and might not necessarily be due to the menopause.
Muscle Pain In Perimenopause And Menopause
Muscle pain can vary. You might get soreness, twinges, spasms or aching muscles.This can
happen without warning and for no reason that you can pinpoint. If you’ve been gardening and you ache you’ve got a logical reason for it. If you can’t think of anything that you’ve done that could have brought it on it can be puzzling as well as painful.
During perimenopause and menopause muscle pain can happen even without any extra physical activity. It can be caused by the drop or fluctuation in your hormone levels but there are other things that can cause muscle aches and pains. Emotional stress, anxiety and weight gain can also cause pain in your muscles. Dehydration can cause muscle pain and cramping too.
Aching, restless legs and leg cramps during perimenopause and menopause are common and more often than not happen at night. Muscle cramps can be extremely painful (to say the least!) and even when they have passed you can end up feeling that your legs are bruised, as if you’ve been kicked. Aching or restless legs can keep you awake and mess with your sleep pattern leaving you feeling tired and tetchy in the morning.
Apart from the disruption to your hormone levels, leg muscle pains and problems can be caused by a lack of magnesium in your diet. You can get a natural supply of magnesium from eating foods such as nuts, seeds e.g sunflower or sesame seeds, avocados, green leafy veg, whole grain foods and wholemeal bread and lentils. Failing that you can take a magnesium supplement in a tonic, tablet or powder form. The magnesium powder is mixed in water or fruit juice to make a drink. Don’t exceed the recommended dose though or you could end up with stomach pains and diarrhoea.
Tips and Tricks
Pain relief
Pain relief in the form of over the counter painkillers can help. These can be bought in tablet form or as creams or gels that are applied to the painful area. Ask your pharmacist for some advice and a product recommendation.
See further ideas about how to ease the pain here.
Regular exercise
This will help to keep you more supple and mobile. Be careful not to overdo it. Keep it gentle but frequent. If you suffer with joint pain then keep the exercise low impact as high impact exercise won’t do painful hips and knees any favours.
Swimming and yoga are good exercises for women who suffer with joint pain. They have a low impact on the joints but help to strengthen joints and muscles. Regular exercise will also help you to maintain a healthy weight which, in turn, will prevent any extra stress on your muscles and joints.
If joint pain is an issue for you then take a look at my article ‘Does The Menopause Cause Osteoporosis?’ for more information and further Tips and Tricks.
Keep hydrated
Keep hydrated as dehydration can also cause joint pain as uric acid can build up causing inflammation of the joint. Proper hydration is important for your overall health and is also beneficial for your muscles too. Dehydration can lead to muscle cramps which can be extremely painful, so keep your hydration level up.
Try using heat pads
Try using heat pads, or ice pads if you prefer, on the problem area (follow instructions for use). Warmth is really good for relieving aching muscles and cool can help to relieve swollen joints. You will need to experiment a little to see which works best for you. You can also ask your doctor or pharmacist for some advice.
Alternative therapies
Alternative therapies such as yoga, chiropractic and acupuncture therapies may be helpful for joint or muscle pain. Speak to a reputable practitioner for advice or ask someone you trust to recommend one.
Dietary supplements, essential oils, oil preparations and massage
These can all help to relieve joint and muscle pain. Glucosamine helps to keep the cartilage in your joints healthy and may have an anti-inflammatory effect too. Omega-3 fatty acids are also beneficial for your joints. You can include them in your diet by eating oily fish, walnuts, eggs and soya for example, or you can take them in the form of a supplement.
Green tea and ginger
Both believed to have anti-inflammatory properties and are a traditional remedy that has been used for centuries.Ginger can be used in your cooking but can also be used for making a soothing ginger tea which is a warming drink in the colder months.
If you suffer with aching, restless or cramping legs at night make sure you get enough magnesium in your diet (see ‘Muscle Pain In Perimenopause and Menopause’ above) or take a magnesium supplement. Remember not to over do it though or you could end up with diarrhoea.
Massage
A great way to relieve aches and pains, particularly muscle aches. If you don’t want to pay out for a professional massage, or your partner is not much of a masseur, you can massage essential oils into your own aching joints and muscles and still feel the benefit. There are a lot of different essential oils and oil blends that can help to relieve painful, swollen joints and aching muscles.
For example lavender, eucalyptus,chamomile and ginger essential oils can help to relieve joint and muscle pain. You can also buy creams that contain the relevant oil, or oils, to rub into the painful areas if you would prefer not to use an oil. Whatever you choose, make sure you read the label and follow any health and safety guidelines.
