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Perimenopause and SEVERE joint pain - any one else??

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Lesley998
Lesley998

Hi

I am 50 and have been in perimenopause for some time. I just wanted to post here to see if anyone else has suffered extreme joint pain as a result of fluctuating estrogen.

Quick history: regular as clockwork from the age of 13 - up to and after the two pregnancies in my thirties.Then aged 47 I started to get very heavy and irregular periods. Then I went for six months with no period at all, then two very scant light periods in quick succession. I have had nothing now for two months but I do feel as if it might happen soon as sore boobs etc.

I have never had a hot flush. I do however have lots of other peri symptoms, including insomnia, heart palpitations and skipped beats, and a strange 'rushing' or whooshing feeling which starts in the abdomen which I think is an 'adrenal' surge. I also have other vague and odd symptoms, dry eyes and inside my nose, and a really vile taste in my mouth sometimes - I mean really vile, like a chemical taste, unrelated to anything I have eaten. I also have odd tingling skin sometimes, which I can only describe as feeling like 'cold' sunburn!

However, about the joint pain. Three months ago I literally woke up one morning with a sore left arm/elbow. Over a few days, the pain then moved into my shoulders, and I got really worried as if was incredibly painful, and showed no signs of going away, it just got worse and worse. It is worse in the morning when I wake up, I am as stiff as a board. It is on my mind 24/7. Doing normal things is almost impossible - I have problems carrying shopping, drying my hair,walking the dog, driving...everything seems to hurt . I have never suffered from arthritic pain, and I went to the doctor thinking I had some awful bone disease, or even polymyalgia. I was told I had nerve pain!! The GP was terrible and made me feel like a hypochondriac and it was all in my mind. I was told I had good range of movement, and no inflammation. But I am in agony, and i am not imagining it.I made the mistake of asking Dr.Google too, which is never a good idea as I scared myself half to death. I never even thought it could be related to hormones or menopause, as the pain was just SO bad and I had never heard of joint pain being a symptom.I mean I have read than meno can be bad for some women, and I expected hot flushes etc, but I didnt realise it meant pain like this.

Anyway - for the last few weeks I have been having worsening pain which has spread from left elbow and both shoulders, into left hip, both elbows and now my knees. All my joints are cracking and popping loudly and even my husband can hear the awful grating in my neck and my knees....I sound like a one man band as I go up and down the stairs!

I went In for my three yearly Cervical smear on Monday, and could hardly get up on the examining couch I was so stiff and sore. Womans health is dealt with by the Nurse Practitioners in our large practice (15 GP's) and when the NP saw my discomfort she asked me what was wrong. It turns out she has a real interest in womens health, and has been involved in HRT trials and research for many years. She informed me that my symptoms all point to fluctuating estrogen, and possible thyroid involvement. She told me a load of stuff about estrogen and cartilage, dry mucosa etc, the details of which I can't remember now but which made so much sense when she explained it - even down to the foul taste and tingling skin I have also experienced on and off for months which are both known side effects of estrogen surge as the ovaries go a bit haywire. Asmall percentage of women are very receptive to estrogen fluctuations which involve cartilage, which mainly manifest as abnormally severe joint pain/menopausal arthritis but it is not an 'obvious' symptom of perimenopause.

I asked why the GP was no help, and she just raised her eyebrows when I told her which male GP it was, and told me to make another appointment as soon as possible with a specific GP (who must be more knowledgeable about womens health.) Going in tomorrow to see her.

I can't do HRT as I have a heart condition, but maybe I can do estrogen cream, or phytoestrogen/soy.) It could last for a long time I guess until I come out the other side !

So i have not yet been diagnosed, but it sounds like it could be caused by estrogen. Sorry this has been so long....but anyone else out there feel the same way I do???

Lesley.

85 likes, 1485 replies

1485 Replies

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  • lol64
    lol64 Lesley998

    Posted

    ah that is lovely to hear some news like that so glad you feel soo good and hope it stays that way for you hugsss x
  • Beccahn66
    Beccahn66 Lesley998

    Posted

    Hi Lesley,

    I have exactly the same symptoms for the past 5 months. I am 49yrs & had a hysterectomy in 2009 & kept my ovaries. I have always been active & loved running , cycling & walking. For months I have felt unwell & my Dr just pours pain killers at me , which don't really work. Pain started in my right inside elbow & now in my toes, anckles, knees & all over. It's takes me all my strength to get out of bed in the morning as I am in so much pain. I have has some hot flushes & sweating at night, but it seems to be ok at the moment. I would be really interested in how you got on with your Dr . Kind regards , Rebecca

    • viv1960
      viv1960 Beccahn66

      Posted

      Hi Becca

      Acupuncture has helped me. I still have pain from time to time, but is is a lot less and more manageable.

      Good luck

      Viv

  • KatN22
    KatN22 Lesley998

    Posted

    Ladies, I just posted a couple of days ago that the pain has gone and I was happy. I was still being investigated by Doctors for all sorts of things. So they did MRI scan last week, and I have a bulge on my spine, lower spine. I have an appointment with a surgeon now, to see what it is. Really scared - but hopefully nothing sinister! The Gynea I went to was the first person - and a man - to listen to me very carefully. he asked me to describe the pain in my back precisely. And he said I should go and have MRI scan of my spine - I thought nothing of it. And now this. So this proves, one more time - you need to keep checking!!!!! NHS did not do MRI, I suppose did not think necessary as they have done various gynea tests. So I wend and paid for it, because I wanted to know. And so good I did!!!! No matter what it is, i will deal with it.

    I hope you all find this useful - i thought I had to share

    • barbara49965
      barbara49965 KatN22

      Posted

      Well done you! please let us know how you get on with this!
    • kim94523
      kim94523 KatN22

      Posted

      I pray for the very BEST result and most benign thing that will bring you immediate relief, Kat!  Sending that out to the universe!!!  Hugsssss! 
    • shaznay96184
      shaznay96184 KatN22

      Posted

      Proof you know your own body. Well done. You know where to go now. I'd have probably done exactly what you've done re: private scan.

      My mum had private health insurance (unusual for an 80yr old with her health history). She 'paid' £25 for a specific blood test - which in effect saved her life!

      Onwards and upwards Kat.:-)

      Sx

  • NattyOne
    NattyOne Lesley998

    Posted

    Hi! I know this is an old thread, but thank you so much for posting. I'm 45 and have been in peri for just over two years. Skipping periods, occasional flooding, flushes, skipping palps., etc. etc. Now missing period for 3 months... Sudden joint cracking, creaking, stiffness too... feeling 65, not 45, some days. But trying to ride this peri business through at the moment. Good that the periods are fewer and my hair is so much better than ever, but rubbish aching and creaking joints. Time will tell i guess. Will definitely see a female GP if i need to, male ones seem clueless... at least on these issues.
    • Sandy07
      Sandy07 NattyOne

      Posted

      Hi Natty One, yes it all sounds very familiar. I am 50 and havnt had a proper period now since last June. I also had flooding and occasional missed periods to start with. I feel about 90 at times with aches and pains and unfortunately my hair is suffering too. You certainly aren't alone with all this. Thanks for sharing. Xxx
    • kim94523
      kim94523 NattyOne

      Posted

      Oh boy can I relate!  You're not alone!!!  Yeah, find a female.  These males -- and some younger females do NOT get it.  Good luck!!!  Kim
  • sheri54049
    sheri54049 Lesley998

    Posted

    I was searching the web for reasons of my stiffness and came across your story...all of your story discribes me...i hope you have found some relief and answers...for now for me on the stiffness, i have found some relief on drinking alot of tea 6-8 cups a day helps me, i used to brew 2 bags then pour over ice and do this many times a day, now i brew 2-3 bags at a time and drink this with no ice 3-4 times a day..it helps with me i do not need any other pain meds when i do this everyday...if i stop drinking tea i go back to feeling like i am 100 instead of 60...now on the other things, im still dealing with them...
    • kathy46259
      kathy46259 sheri54049

      Posted

      What type of tea are you using?  Just plain tea or black tea, green tea.

      There are so many.  I would like to try this.

    • sheri54049
      sheri54049 kathy46259

      Posted

      I have a variety of teas, my kids gave me all kinds and i use everything, i let it steep for about 20 mins (i even squeeze the bags) then drink, i use 3 bags at a time 2-3 times a day, after weeks of this i only have to do this every other day :-) good luck!
    • sheri54049
      sheri54049

      Posted

      I sweeten with stevia if it taste yucky, but i still drink it :-)
  • jani188101
    jani188101 Lesley998

    Posted

    I'm having the same things happening to me but worse. Way worse. I got some relief from ginger and turmeric. Olive leaf extract, condroiton and gloucosime with msm, co enzyme Q10 , lemon water and calcium suppleness with a good gummy vitamin. I also take boron ,brewers yeast, Chia seeds, pomegranate juice, avocados, and coconuts . I make Kale And Spinach Smoothies I Eat walnuts, Pistachios Peanuts And Brazil nuts, I Do Everything I Can To Beat The pain. I just started this new way of eating in january. I'm feeling better little by little. It's either this or 8 to 10 advice a day.
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