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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.

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  • Anna_Fraser
    Anna_Fraser Lesley998

    Posted

    Hi everyone. It’s been so great to find this forum and read all your stories. Although not nice to hear of all the suffering that's going on, its somewhat of a comfort to know that my ailments are not all in my head! I too have been increasingly suffering from a growing list of aches and pains. Had every test, seen many specialists, and 2-3 years on, am not much better off, although have found a few little fixes that are slowly starting to help…..

    I'm 45, and things started happening at around 42-43. It began with pelvic pain, internal exams and MRI's revealed nothing. I then found I couldn't sit or lie on anything other than a very soft surface for long without getting a radiating throb from buttock through to pelvis. Next my foot joints started aching (I was told I had mild Osteoarthritis in big toe joint years before, but it had never bothered me that much. Suddenly the pain seemed to have flared up and spread. Then, I developed a shoulder pain (frozen shoulder?) that I've now had for over a year and is really limiting movement. Next my hips started aching, sometimes walking hurts, and now I can no longer lie on my side. Then, I developed sharp shooting pains in my right temple and behind the eye. I have had this for around 6 months now, it occurs regularly throughout the day. All tests are ok (MRI, bloods, neurology, eyes). And the most recent is what feels like Osteoarthritis in my right hand (finger joints). I also occasionally get random shooting pains in other joints. But wait...there's more :-) To accompany all this, my hair falls out in clumps when I brush it, I have developed what is the most persistent and frustrating chin acne (I have a pretty healthy diet), depression, frustration and short-temperedness have almost become who I am…...I absolutely hate wat is happening to me!!

    I have read quite a lot on this forum about most of my symptoms, but not much about the chin acne or shooting head pain. Does anyone else have this, and if so, have you found anything that is helping?

    What I don't understand, is that otherwise I appear to be really healthy (low cholesterol & blood pressure, heart rate good, am a slim build), and they can't find anything wrong with me, other than a little mild wear and tear in toe joint and one of my hip joints, which they say is at quite a normal level for someone my age. Until 2-3 years ago, I was this very active, super fit (a runner, triathlete), outgoing,  and energetic person who loved to socialise and was always looking for the next adventure. I have now  turned into this depressed, negative, irritable old woman (some days I feel as though I'm 90!) who has no desire to see anyone or go anywhere (outside of when I have to - work and be involved in school things, although I still love to exercise alone). I feel as though I am being an atrocious mother and wife, and I am waiting for my husband to tell me he's had enough of my moods and negativity.

    So what has helped me……I have tried different prescription meds to deal with the pain (as I have not been sleeping with it either), but realised I can't stomach any of it, they all make me feel vile and very ill. Now I am meddling with different supplements, including; Turmeric, Glucosamine and Chondroitin, Calcium Magnesium (at night to help with sleep), and more recently; a teaspoon or citravescent Vitamin C mixed with a tsp of sea salt morning and night…..this combination does actually seem to helping somewhat! Although I’m not sure if it’s one of these things or a combination. Also, I have been taking 5-HTP for a few weeks now, and that too seems to have lifted my depression a little. Also, the one thing I have sworn by my whole life, and will continue to try to do until I am in a wheelchair, is exercise....I'll do anything I'm still physically capable of doing! For me, exercising outdoors in the fresh air is like therapy, and I think that any movement helps keep the joints more supple. Stretching is helping me too. I have unfortunately resigned myself to the fact I may never be able to run again (which in itself really depressed me), but have taken up cycling, swimming, and gentle walking and I love it. I've realised that when I don't exercise for a couple of days, my pains are so much worse and the depression sets in. Eating right is really important too. If I have a day where I eat rubbish, the pains flare up next day. Lastly, am going to see an endocrinologist next week who specialises in hormones and menopause, so If anything helpful comes out of that I will let you know.

    I hope my ‘story’ (sorry, it ended up being a rather long one!) is helpful to some of you, as many of yours have been for me. I think it may just be on-going trial and error for all of us until, we are through this nasty phase of our lives, but I hope you all do get through it, and can soon start to enjoy life more again!

    • Zigangie
      Zigangie Anna_Fraser

      Posted

      You are doing really well particularly to carry on with your exercising. I haven't done much for years. I was lucky not many aches and pains until last few years and I can sympathise with the feet and shoulders. I had an op on my right big toe because I broke it when I was 26 and apart from a few months of recovery afterwards it hasn't bothered me much. Lately I really know about it and the bottoms of my feet are painful. Horrible shoulder since September.

      I've been using 5htp for a few weeks hoping it would help with sleep but so far no change.

      You could add in some good quality b12 if you haven't done so already. Get methycobalmin and 1000mg lozenges if you can as this type doesn't need to be converted by the body.

    • Guest
      Guest Anna_Fraser

      Posted

      Have you had thyroid levels checked?

      Just curious. Or natural or bioidentical hormone replacement?

    • Anna_Fraser
      Anna_Fraser Guest

      Posted

      Thyroid...yes, and all ok. Re bioidentical HRT, this is something I was planning to discuss with the endochrinologist next week. Thanks for the suggestion.
    • charlene41707
      charlene41707 Anna_Fraser

      Posted

      Hello everyone...

      Anna, yours and all the stories here has helpd me tremendously. I don't have time right now to relay everything but i just want to say that I have been experiencing pretty much all the symptoms here except hot flashes for around 6 years now. I'm 45.

      I've been to doctors. Had many mri' s sbd other test with no diagnosis.

      List of symptoms:

      Shocks in head

      spontaneous aches that come and go

      pain in joints...come and go...big toe aches on and off...not for long though

      Constant Pain in arms...left but in both now..sometimes worse than other times

      Pain in shoulder..not always...flare ups

      Chin and other acne...hard ones under skin...never had acne issue before

      Night sweat...eased now

      Foggy brain for about 2 years...mostly gone now

      Muscles tired

      Hips aches...mostly left side

      Burning sensation in hip, buttocks and sometimes leg...comes and goes

      Dreadful and spontaneous bloating especially during ovulation and around my period

      Body shocks...anywhere...comes and goed...has woken me up a few times in the night.

      I had the crawling sensation but only briefly

      Oh and Every last one of my joints creak... knees always creaked but so do the other joints now as of little more than a year ago...it's completely maddening...I live in Canada so the cold weather doesn't help

      Sometimes my left beast gets achy especially if I'm stressed or around ovulation..And at times there is a bit of a clear discharge if i squeeze the nipple. ..I've had 3 mammograms and ultrasounds. ..the results were normal

      I used to be really active ...gym, walk, jog.. jogged all last summer but by the end of the summer...I had to stop: my butt muscles would tighten and I would end up hobbled. Sometimes my muscles in my buttock feel like they are brittle...

      I eat well..healthy all my life..never overweight...all symptoms started after the birth of my son ...at age 38...my only child..2 miscarriage in the following 2 years..

      I'm so tired of going to doctors (specialists) and getting 'no' answer that I've pretty much given up..I'm just trying to cope...truthfully some days I feel great but the lousy days are frustrating. ..I really wish the pain in my arms would go away.

      Good luck ladies

    • lisa33471
      lisa33471 Anna_Fraser

      Posted

      Hi Anna how did u get on with endo?

      I'm so frustrated. I just don't know what's going on with my body 🙀 In a nutshell for the last cpl of years (nearly 46) feel like had reflux on/off. Anxiety and now not sure whether going through peri menopause or having trouble with thyroid???

      Just a quick list to the point as possibly can:

      Aches/pains in legs and knees. Sometimes arms

      Indigestion - reflux

      Chest pain - feels sore like the feeling u get after had a bad cough

      Feel like breathing restricted at times

      Tired

      Throat feels sore and dry

      Still period pain after periods

      Irregular

      Seem to be really sore and water infection like symptoms around period

      There's probably more but those the main symptoms. Not sure.... Reflux, Meno or thyroid?

      Any advice or suggestions?

    • Anna_Fraser
      Anna_Fraser lisa33471

      Posted

      Sorry to read you too are feeling so rubbish! Its incredibly frustrating when you feel as though your body is breaking down on you, yet no one in the medical profession can give you a clear diagnosis!

      That's what its been like for me past 2 years, but after seeing the endo last week, I am now even more convinced that most of my ailments are menopausal.  I can now put a tick in the box for almost every known symptom of menopause, and in the last few weeks, the hot flushes, and continuously feeling the heat has started too, its afwul! I now haven't had a period for about 5 months, so perhaps they won't return. I guess I am a little young for this (will be 46 this year), but my mother's stopped early 40's.

      Prior to seeing the Endo, I saw one of the cities top orthopedic surgeons, and after looking at my MRI's and xray's of the joints with pain, he said that the wear and tear I have there, is no more than what the average person of my age on the street would have, and that my severe aches, are likely to be more than osteo-arthritus. He also said that hormones can play a HUGE part, and surprisingly, he strongly recommended I go to the Endo (you would think he would be recomommending surgery or some other invasive treatment).

      The Endo was helpful, and menopause is her specialty. She thinks its highlly likely that I am going through it, and there is a very good chance that HRT will give me relief. However, she insisted I first do my own thorough reserach, to ensure I am totally comfortable with doing this. There's a ton of info (and controversial stuff) out there about it, but she said its so important, to stick with only the reputable medical web sites that give you science, facts. She also told me that Bio idential HRT uses the same hormones but is not properly tested or proven, and therefore not as safe.

      So, I will do some more research but will likely give it a go. Here is some of the info my Endo has suggested I read, and that may be of interest;

      http://www.menopause.org.au/for-women/information-sheets

      http://www.reproductivefacts.org/Topic_Index_Menopause/

      http://www.uptodate.com/contents/menopause-beyond-the-basics

      http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/menopause/basics/definition/con-20019726

      I have some of your symptoms but not all. The most important thing, is to first get properly tested for everything, rule out known medical conditions - that is what I did. Now that they really haven't found much, I am as a last resource, exploring the menopause/HRT path. The indigestion and chest pain/breathing is something I would get checked out, and may not have anything to do with hormones. 

      Hope some of this info helps and you get some relief soon :-)

    • Anna_Fraser
      Anna_Fraser charlene41707

      Posted

      Hi there, you describe almost word for workd how I have been feeling!

      I'm also 45, anf for me it started 2-3 years ago. I too, am getting sooo..  tired fo seeing doctors, and leaving there feeling almost embarrassed, as though they are thinking, 'here she comes again, that poor hypochnodriate'!

      Its driving me nuts too. And really, none of the natural remedies have helped that much (calcium-magnesium etc), although I'm sure that if I didn't keep exercising, I would be feeling a whole lot worse. Still, I just wish I could get out there and run again without my butt burning afterwards (I think its the tendon or ligament), and my left hip aching!

      I haven't had a period for 5 months now, perhaps it won't return. But just in the last month, the hot flushes (or heat waves) have started, and I am continuously feeling so hot and sweaty (although it is summer where I am, the temps aren't that high, and no one else is feeling it like I do). 

      Saw an Endocrinologist last week who has suggested I try HRT.Based on all my symptoms, she thinks there is a really good chance it will give me "a great deal of relief". I am working my way through some research, but at this stage am pretty sure I will give it a go. Perhaps you should speak to someone about this too?

      And we are considering moving back to Canada in May (going from summer to summer...that will be great for the heat waves!), but right now I just don't know how I can physically and mentally cope with that the way I am feeling. Perhaps the HRT will have kicked in by then!

      Good luck to you too....

    • lisa33471
      lisa33471 Anna_Fraser

      Posted

      Thanks Anna. I've heard others having relief from hrt but because my mom died at only the age of 49 I can't take it. I agree that I need to get other symptoms checked out. If I have reflux then I want to know to what extent? I don't want to be taking PPIs unnecessary altho don't want to take them at all because of side effects from long term use. I'll see what the doc says tomorrow and just see where I go from here. Glad ur tests were ok and hope u too find some relief smile
    • lisa33471
      lisa33471 Anna_Fraser

      Posted

      Thanks Anna. I've heard others having relief from hrt but because my mom died at only the age of 49 Of breast cancer so I can't take it. I agree that I need to get other symptoms checked out. If I have reflux then I want to know to what extent? I don't want to be taking PPIs unnecessary altho don't want to take them at all because of side effects from long term use. I'll see what the doc says tomorrow and just see where I go from here. Glad ur tests were ok and hope u too find some relief smile
    • lisa33471
      lisa33471 Anna_Fraser

      Posted

      Thanks Anna. I've heard others having relief from hrt but because my mom died at only the age of 49 Of breast cancer so I can't take it. I agree that I need to get other symptoms checked out. If I have reflux then I want to know to what extent? I don't want to be taking PPIs unnecessary altho don't want to take them at all because of side effects from long term use. I'll see what the doc says tomorrow and just see where I go from here. Glad ur tests were ok and hope u too find some relief smile
  • Anna_Fraser
    Anna_Fraser Lesley998

    Posted

    Oh and I meant to add... about a year ago my periods stopped completely for 8 months, Gyno told me that based on blood tests and size of shrunken ovaries, they won't return. But I was not so lucky...they did, every 2 weeks (or even less than that), and very heavy. And then they just stopped again. It's now been 5 months with nothing. 
    • kimberlee60881
      kimberlee60881 Anna_Fraser

      Posted

      Anna, we sound quite similar.  I am also very active and find it helpful.  I have run several ultras so I am pretty in tune with how my legs normally feel versus when they are sore and tired from training.  Suddenly my legs started being achey, right down to the bone.  My running became more of a shuffle with my legs feeling heavy, achey  and tired.  I also noticed that I seemed to be in a brain fog when I needed to focus at work.  I had blood work done and they found I was vitamin D deficient.  I have been taking a vitamin D supplement for a couple weeks now and am hopeful that it will start helping.  I am interested in the salt/vitamin c combo.  I already take 1000mg of vitamin c morning and night so I guess adding salt wouldn't be that hard.  I do not hydratevery well so I guess I would have to work at that a bit better if I am taking in more sodium.  I agree it is comforting to know that we aren't the only ones struggling through menopause.
    • Zigangie
      Zigangie kimberlee60881

      Posted

      Hi ladies if you are thinking of adding salt to your vit c regimen. Try making sole. You use himalayen sea salt (it's pink). Just put a cupful in a screw top jar add a cupful of water then always make sure that there is salt at the bottom. So that you know there is as much salt dissolved in the water as there can be. Then every day (they say it's best first thing before you eat or drink anything else ) take one teaspoon of the liquid and add to a glass of water.
    • lisa33471
      lisa33471 Zigangie

      Posted

      I was just wandering whether anyone has developed a use reflux through the menopause? I've been suffering with it in and off the last two years. I just think it's coincidental what with random aches and pains, headaches and anxiety! Sometimes I feel as though I can't breathe and it really scares me to the point I think I may have a heart attack sad I keep going to the doctors I'm sure they think I'm a hypochondriac 🙄
    • Zigangie
      Zigangie lisa33471

      Posted

      Hi Lisa,

      I found concentrating on my breathing, making sure it was deep and regular helped a bit with that feeling like you can't breathe properly. I think it's too do with the anxiety and I found if I was panicking about it, it made me feel worse and then I would get heart palpitations at the same time almost as if being anxious about it made the anxiety worse.

      And don't worry I'm sure my doctor must have thought I was a hypochondriac, my husband and daughter told me I was on numerous occasions.

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