Perimenopause and SEVERE joint pain - any one else??

Hi lisa33471, unfortunately your not too young to be peri, I began getting all the symptoms of the menopause when I was 46. It started with bad pains in my right knee which then went to my hip. After a few months the pain went to lots of joints. After ruling things out with blood test Dr told me due to my hormone level being low, my periods being so irrational and the joint pain are due to the menopause. That was three years ago, and

although not every day is terrible, I've not had a pain free day, just some days are better than others. I'm hoping that this pain will pass when I get

through the otherside. I shouldn't grumble really, my friend who is only 39

is already peri 😟

Hi Lisa,

I can definitely tell you from the 2 years of reading hundreds and hundreds of stories from women on dozens of websites and blogs that you are not too young for Perimenopause. It can start as early as c10 years before Menopause begins. The average age is 51. But that's an average. I had severe pain in my knees and in my back, although that didn't last as long as my knee pain. I still have some discomfit and stiffness, but nothing like 2 years ago. I'm 54 now. For me personally, I think my lower back pain and knee pain had something to do with the condition of my adrenal glands. I was under a lot of stress. If the pain is along the right hand side only of your right leg, I'm not sure. If it was toward the back side, I would think sciatica. Does the pain go away once you get up and walk around? If so, could it be a pulled muscle once you move around and it loosens up? I know that during this time of hormonal changes, muscle, ligaments and tendons can tighten in some women with these hormonal fluctuations. What kind of doctors have you been to? Do you do any yoga or stretching exercises?

Hi dawn. That's what I thought. My friend is only 43 but has already been through he menopause! She was in her 30's. I just feel unwell most days like there's always something wrong with me what do u do to ease the pain?

Hi marli, it's weird. Sometimes I go to bed and then almost just after lying down the pain comes on. It's like an aching pain. I have had it in both legs but mainly right. I too have been under a lot of stress the last few months, daughter going away to uni, partner moving in 🙈 18 year old son plus work and money worries I've had respiratory tests, endoscopy and all seems fine apart from mild gastritis. I know this sounds strange but had ear pain, toothache, neck and shoulder ache too. Although initially treated for infection, my dentist told me she thinks I'm suffering with TMJ (also brought on by stress) I did read that although this relates to the jaw etc. It can affect to the extent of muscle pain. I can just b sitting down and then out the blue notice that I'm tense. I really don't know as I do feel it's probably hormone related. U r absolutely right, exercise is the key which I don't do. I stress too much to take time out what did u do for your pain. Thankyou for replying

Sorry marli forgot to say, I don't have it during the day much. Seems more when I'm resting the knee pain is the worse. Had full blood count done and all was clear

Hi Lisa,

When you say resting, it's worse, are you in bed, on the couch, on the floor, in a chair? I ask because, if it's only the bed, if your mattress in good shape. If it's any of those places, have you been to a chiropractor to rule out any structural issues? Did this pain coincide with any other symptoms that could be related to peri? When I had my back pain, which came months before my knee pain, I would wake up in the morning with it, and it was pretty painful. After a while of walking around it would lessen. But I did a lot of research and since I was under a lot of stress, I read about how the adrenal glands when compromised can cause knee and back pain. Many women don't realize that the health of the adrenals is really important during this phase of our lives. They are important little glands. When you talk about east pain and tooth pain, I do think of TMJ but also allergies that can flare up at this time. Neck and shoulder pain can also appear during this time, as long as you rule out a structural issue through a chiropractor. Because of stress you may hold your tension there. I believe the body talks to us when it's out of balance. Carrying the weight of the world can show you on our shoulders. If you feel overburdened, you could feel like your back could break from ask the weight. Symbolically speaking. But that doesn't rule out getting good hormonal tests and adrenal tests done to measure your cortisol levels throughout the day. Blood tests are just not good enough to measure these accurately. I did a lot of things to get better than where I started from 2 years ago. Some detoxification, adrenal supplements, vitamins, probiotics, Progesterone cream, aqua therapy, epson salt baths, very, very clean diet, more water, Magnesium oil and tablets, meditation, chiropractic, prayer and yoga. This is long, but hopefully full of some info you can use. 😃

Hi again,

Forgot to ask, is your pain in the knees muscle, ligament, tendon or joint? Mine was not joint.

Hi lisa, I feel the same, generally unwell most days. I find that I'm better physically when I'm working and not contanstly focusing on my pain and tiredness. I seem worse in the evenings when I've sat down, when I get up I can hardly walk and have to hobble around like an old woman. A week ago I started taking Menopace and have surprisingly had a good couple of days. Also, about a month ago I started wearing a magnetic bracelet after reading about the benefits for joint pain. When I'm having a really bad day I tend to just use over the counter pain relief which can sometimes take the edge off a little. I just keep telling myself a day will come when this comes to an end....but 3 years on , I'm getting very impatient!😂😂

Hi Marli - Great advise, thank you!

Thanks Barbara. I hope it helps anyone who reads it, even if just a little. I noticed that it has typos in it, so I hope that someone has a decoder ring. Lol. It's tough typing on the smartphone keyboard. I'll have to proofread all my responses in the future!

Hi marli, it's been whilst in lying in bed. Had mattress for about 6-7 years, memory foam one. But.. I have had pains during the day on occasion and my knees I must admit I do generally feel unfit. I should take time to do some exercise. Life is so busy at the moment 🙀 But I can't remember when I felt good! Even a week after my period feel like I've got period pains 😳 I do stress a lot but still think a lot of this could b hormonal. I do admire you, everything uve done to help yourself. I think about taking supplements but not sure which ones. I've been switching from taking vit D, Eve primrose as suffer breast pain. Vit B12, and osteocare. Then I stop becos in not sure what's helping or not all I know is for the last 3 years I've felt an emotional, changed person consumed with ailments 🙀

Hi dawn yes I've heard that menopace are meant to be good like u say I just feel rubbish all the time. I have something wrong and go doctors,get it sorted then soon as that's done I get something else 😳 In the last 3 years I've suffered with aches and pains, headaches, feeling tired, sick and acid reflux. I do think I'm to blame a little. I don't really exercise much. I'm always on the go so u don't feel like jumping around in a fitness class, altho I am looking into yoga or Aqua classes. Do u mind me asking how old u are? I smiled when u said how old you felt as I'm like that at times. Get out the chair like a 90 year old lol. The magnetic bracelet sounds good. Do u take anything else to help and has your doctor said u are possibly perimenopausal 🤔 All my doctors won't even consider it as they think I'm too young 🙄 My friend is 3 yrs younger than me and went through it in her 30's!

Hi Lisa and everyone else

I stumbled across this thread tonight. I've been going out of my mind with worry... I have tingling and cramp in my leg for the last few evenings. I also get a bit of tingling in my arms and hands... Weird! I've spent the last few days googling sciatica but don't feel it's that. My muscles in my upper back near the shoulders have been in spasm too. My anxiety is through the roof and I'm driving my husband crazy with my constant worry. 

Im 47 and had a Mirena coil fitted a few months ago. Could this all be down to Menopause? I can't find any other explanation. 

Take care ❤️

Hi Lisa, I'm 49 and my Dr has told me I'm peri as I go moths in between periods, this time I've gone 8 months. I'm really hoping I get through the 12 month timescale. I've also fad blood test that came back with a very low hormone level which also indicates meno. I sometimes take over the counter pain relief which does sometimes help when I'm at my wits end with the pain. My Dr has asked how I feel about HRT but I reall want to get through this without that. I'm the same as you, I'm also too tired to be going to the gym or excercise classes and have also looked at doing some yoga or Pilates.......but that's as far as I've got 😀

I know it's not nice but least ur tests have shown it. I had bloods for hormones and came back as normal. My periods have always been a bit irregular but no real change there. I'm sitting here with like period pains, cramps which is weird only 11 days after my period. Frustrating 😔 I then get anxious which just tops the lot off! 🙀 My friend has hrt and swears it's the best thing she ever did. I couldn't take it as mom died of breast cancer when I was only 21. I suffer with breathing at times too. Don't know if u do then when u worry u get anxious which makes it worse! Vicious circle 🙄

Hi Mandy. I totally understand where u r coming from. I have had leg and knee pain on and off last few days altho it's a bit better at the moment. I'm not saying this is the case with u, but myself altho I think a lot of things are hormone/Peri related, I suffer with anxiety and it can bring all sorts of things on. I used to get the tingling all over when I was worrying, vicious circle as u worry about health which makes anxiety worse. The main key here is to really try and relax and distract your mind from worrying about symptoms. I would then go doctor and see if they can do blood tests and check hormone levels. I've been that bad at times I've nearly gone to see somebody to try and deal with my anxieties. I have good days and bad but with a mixture of hormones, anxiety and health issues can be a drain. Try and look after yourself. Eat a healthy diet, lots of water, possibly supplements to help. Menopace is good and see doctor to put your mind at rest. Good luck and take care 😃

Hi Lisa, it is a vicious circle, your right. Anxiety is a terrible thing as it can have such an impact on your body, physically and mentally. When I'm feeling low I try to do something to keep busy ( aches and pains permitting !😀 )

i think it depends on when you have a blood test taken, as to results. If you have it done again it could well come back with low hormone level, it can change depending on where your cycle is when blood is taken. It may be an idea to ask your Dr to repeat them and see if results are different. Are you having lots of peri symptoms ? I have all the classic ones, so even if the results came back as normal I would have known I was heading for the meno. It's not good tho, one minute I'm in a really good mood, the next I'm like a woman possessed !! 😡

To be honest dawn I'm not sure what all the Peru symptoms are? All u know is that I've suffered with breathing, throat feels restricted, dry mouth. Aches and pains, headache, feel bit light headed at times. My periods are regular, well at least one every month or two max. Maybe I'm just at the beginning 🤔 But this is bad enough! I can understand your concerns about hrt but if I could I think I would take them. It's not nice feeling rubbish every day. I'd do anything to just feel normal at times 😔