Joint pain during menopause: Age or estrogen deficiency?

Hands, knees, back, hip – everything hurts. The joint pain in the menopause can be so severe that it limits mobility and affects daily life. The pain is particularly intense, especially in the morning after getting up.

Joint pain in menopause: Causes

As early as the age of 35, muscle mass decreases and the wear and tear of the joint cartilage occurs. So one might think that muscle and joint pain is an age-related phenomenon , but in fact the cause lies more in the hormonal changes that affect women during menopause – because here the estrogen level decreases. And estrogen is crucial for the joints. Even sporty women struggle with joint pain during menopause.

What estrogen does to the joints

The female sex hormone estrogen promotes fluid supply to the joint membranes and connective tissue around the joints. In addition, it supports circulation. If this decreases, it causes the joints to lose mobility and become stiffer.

Some immune cells need estrogen to function properly. If they don't get it, the body becomes more susceptible to inflammation, which also affects cartilage and joints.

Estrogen also has a pain-relieving effect: The lower the level drops, the more women feel pain.

Estrogen deficiency as a cause of joint pain

A drop in estrogen levels causes similar symptoms to gout, osteoarthritis or rheumatism. A look at the woman's medical history is therefore important. If there were never any joint problems before and the pain only started with menopause, estrogen deficiency is likely to be the cause of joint pain during menopause. Nevertheless, other causes should be ruled out by a doctor ruled out.

How estrogen affects muscles and bones

Not only on the joints, but also on the muscles estrogen has an influence. As their levels decrease, they lose elasticity, become fewer and weaker. Estrogen deficiency additionally promotes bone loss, which is why osteoporosis is also one of the 34 symptoms of menopause counts.

When do joint pains occur during menopause?

Most commonly, women experience joint pain during perimenopause (in the years before and after the last menstrual period) and postmenopause (beginning twelve months after the last period). However, the complaints can occur in any of the four phases of menopause occur. How long joint and muscle pain lasts varies from person to person. They may disappear or improve when menopause is over. However, a permanently low estrogen level can ensure that the symptoms persist.

What helps with joint complaints during menopause?

First, it needs to be clarified whether it is really estrogen deficiency or perhaps osteoarthritis, gout, or rheumatism causing the complaints. Depending on the cause, the type of treatment selected by the doctor also varies. Measures can range from medication to physiotherapy to dietary changes and acupuncture reichen.

Hormone replacement therapy for joint pain

Hormone therapy, or HRT, is one of the most common treatments for menopausal symptoms, although the benefits and risks must be weighed, as long-term use can lead to side effects (such as thrombosis and an increased risk of breast cancer ) can occur.

In HRT, the hormone deficiency is compensated with medications that have estrogen- and progesterone-like effects and are available in various forms such as tablets, gels, or sprays. Hormone therapy is used not only for joint pain but for a variety of menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes, sleep disorders, or depressive moods.

Naturally treat joint pain during menopause

Depending on the severity of the symptoms and before considering HRT, those affected can do various things themselves. For example:

• Movement: Sufficient exercise is the best way to counteract joint and muscle complaints. It promotes the exchange of joint fluid and ensures that cartilage, connective tissue, and bones are supplied with important nutrients. Joint-friendly sports such as pilates , gymnastics, water aerobics, Nordic walking, and cycling , but several times a week. Physiotherapy can also be helpful.
• Nutrition: Being overweight leads to increased stress on the joints, which is why a healthy weight and a healthy diet are particularly important in this case. A plant-based diet is recommended. Vegetables , legumes, nuts, and whole grains. Possibly also help anti-inflammatory foods such as turmeric, berries, green vegetables, and ginger.
• Acupuncture: Many sufferers find treatment with fine acupuncture needles helpful against joint pain during menopause.
• Herbal remedies (phytotherapy): The medicinal plants devil's claw, arnica, nettle, frankincense , curcumin, willow bark, and comfrey are also said to have a soothing effect on joint and muscle pain.
• Heat: Some women find relief by applying heat carefully to the affected areas using hot water bottles or cherry pit pillows.
• Massages: A massage aims to increase blood circulation in the affected area and relieve tension. Specific techniques can also promote lymph circulation to reduce inflammation.

It should be noted that the effectiveness of these treatment methods is not proven for all cases. However, it is often worth a try.