Perimenopause and SEVERE joint pain - any one else??

This forum is very helpful in reading and relating to other women in the same situation. I'm 53 years old and started experiencing hot flashes when I was about 43. I recently have had some major problems with joint pain to the extent of not getting out of bed for about 3 days. I'm sleeping as if I haven't had any sleep. I went to the doctor but unfortunately I can't go on any kind of HRT due to the fact I have a liver condition. He put me on a drug called Gabapentin and after a month my hot flashs have subsided

dramatically. I highly recommend this drug for anyone who is suffering major hot flashes. As far as the pain he also put me on a drug called diclofenac/misoprostol for arthritis and it has helped me tremendously but I recently ran out and the pain is back. So back to the doctor again.

Ladies it's really nice to be able to share such pain and life changing experiences with others that are going through the same thing. It makes you feel like your not alone. I really feel so bad for my husband because he has to go through it as well.

Hi Ladies,

As promised I am posting again after returning to the doctor for my blood test results.

I am pleased to say that he has ruled out any sort of inflamation or arthritic condition and has agreed it is probably my hormone levels. I have now come off the patches and I am on a higher strength tabet (Elleste Duet 1mg). I am only on day 2 but the pains are markedly improved, so we'll see how it goes!

He has asked me to return if the condition continues and he will look into it further for me.

I will keep you all updated as the course continues - lets hope this is the answer!

Thanks to you all for your advice and support with this problem and good luck to you all with this painful problem!

Kind regards,

Melanie x

Hi all, well not added much lately as was waiting for CT scan results, seems this link wasnt my problems in the end. Looks like I have Sarcoidosis, and awaiting a lung biopsy. Hope you all get some final results.

Hi Linda, thanks for keeping us updated. Sorry to hear your news, but glad that you have a diagnosis for your pain and discomfort, and can now move on to hopefully being able to manage your condition properly.

All the best. x

Wow Linda, sorry to hear your news but as Lesley says at least you know now, and there is treatment available. All the very best in the future!

I can report that I had no hot flush yesterday or in the night: and today, no pain in my hands or feet, amazing! Can it be coincidence??

Hi - I'm 50, and have recently completed a course of chemo for breast cancer.

A few weeks after completing the treatment (during which my periods stopped) my hands started to hurt. Now my arms and knees do too, and sometimes my ankles.

I immediately thought I had arthritis, but blood tests were negative.

I mentioned the pain to my oncologist and he immediately said 'oh that's because your ovaries have packed in' (he has a way with words!) He said it was 'just menopause', and has ordered more tests to see if in fact I HAVE gone through an 'instant' menopause, as sometimes the ovaries can recover from chemo.

The way he said it was like it was obvious, and that it was common knowledge that menopause causes joint pain - but it was a complete surprise to me.

Pegglass, thanks you for commenting.

I have been speaking to another much younger lady on a forum who was put on estrogen supressant drugs when she developed breast cancer. She soon found that the joint/tendon pain she developed was unbearable, and was told it was directly a result of having no estrogen. I don't think people understand the extent of the pain it can cause. I think it is quite scary - and a disgrace really - that there are women out there who are suffering this joint pain because of estrogen changes in menopause or, like you, have had ovarian changes for whatever reason. GP's are so clueless about the whole thing and rarely make the connection. Instead of having our minds put at rest by our GP's, we trawl the internet looking for help.

It may be common knowledge to a lot of specialists...but the ordinary GP does not seem to have a clue.

I wish you the very best in your recovery.

Hello All! I too, was glad to find this board. I'm in the USA, 51 years old. Have experience joint pain (neck, hands, wrists, elbows, shoulder, feet) for some years, but recently in last year has gone off the charts in time w/ period starting to wane. I had always thought my joint pain was a result of years of athletics, i.e. osteo-arthritis. But that never really made sense, because what's different for me, that I haven't read from anyone yet, in the last 10 yrs or so... I would get migraine headaches in line with estrogen drops (the normal drops in the female cycle) and the prescursor was always joint pain (mostly neck, shoulders, but also in hands/wrists). I was able to chart these 2X/mo estrogen drops and knew a migraine would come on in some months. The remedy that worked for me was to stay on glucosomine/MSM or Chondritin (either one)... migraines would only come on say 10% of the time! Anyway, that worked for yrs, but as said, joint pain now has gotten really bad. My neck froze up so badly, finally went to a Rheumatologist. He prescribed Meloxicam NSAID, which took a lot of the pain away. He didn't really listen when I told him I thought the trigger for me is estrogen dropping. Instead, he told me my trigger is probably exposure to a virus or bacteria that lies latent in my body, so put me on antibiotic (Doxicyline). NOW, having ready your posts, I am convinced it IS ESTROGEN! I went off all my supplements while taking the Meloxicam (as it doesn't seem to do anything for me now after 3 weeks), but will resume gluc/MSM, vit D, fish oil, etc,... the former seemed to 'take the edge off' inflammation and dim the joint pain. Anyway, do NOT expect antibiotic will do a thing. Don't know if I want to take HRT, if it's inevitable that one will have to 'face the pain' sooner or later. KEEP POSTING LADIES, I AM FOLLOWING YOUR STORIES! Cheers from the U.S.A.

Hello Ladies again from sunny Australia, I'm happy to say that I've been taking the Vit D supplements as well as Krill Oil capsules and Vit B religiously for the last month, there's a definite reduction in my joint pain. So I'm going to believe that it IS associated with declining estrogen levels. I only had 7 periods last year and only 1 this year so far. So the perimenopause is happening. I haven't been reliant on pain killers for a few weeks now. I also get migraines just before I get a period. All in all, I'm coping better than ever, I've also improved my diet with less sugar intake and lots of vegetables and salmon, I've also cut down on red meat. It's great to be off the pain and painkiller merry go round at last. Best wished to you all

Leesa

Hello Ladies again from sunny Australia, I'm happy to say that I've been taking the Vit D supplements as well as Krill Oil capsules and Vit B religiously for the last month, there's a definite reduction in my joint pain. So I'm going to believe that it IS associated with declining estrogen levels. I only had 7 periods last year and only 1 this year so far. So the perimenopause is happening. I haven't been reliant on pain killers for a few weeks now. I also get migraines just before I get a period. All in all, I'm coping better than ever, I've also improved my diet with less sugar intake and lots of vegetables and salmon, I've also cut down on red meat. It's great to be off the pain and painkiller merry go round at last. Best wished to you all

Leesa

Hello everyone

Have never been on a forum before so here goes! Very interested in all your experiences with joint pain. At 48 I was diagnosed with RA. The following year my periods stopped completely; no flooding or flushes and as I've never been particularly heavy, I didn't worry and aimed to have a 'natural' menopause experience haha! Still attributed pain to RA and took methotrexate for 2 years. It was only the onset of mild depression that encouraged me to investigate the whole menopause thing as the doctor wanted to prescribe Amatriptilyn.

On further investigation it appeared I had very low levels of inflammation (probably due to fluctuating oestrogen levels) and stopped the methotrexate. I found a fab female GP who had just been on a menopause conference and I'm currently on HRT (everol sequi) and have been for about 10months.

Depression is much improved and although joints still uncomfortable, the pain is more manageable. I'm 52 now and still looking into dietary and more natural remedies. Reading your posts have helped; I really thought I was going mad and blamed moods and pain on other things i.e. kids going off to uni.

I'll keep reading and best wishes to all.

Debbie

Hi Debbie

Thanks for your interesting post! So glad you are feeling better on HRT.

Hormonal 'arthritis' and tendonitis does not raise inflammatory markers - you would think GP's would realise when they do blood tests and NO inflammation is found, along with no redness or heat or swelling, that this is not normal' arthritis. Especially in a woman of a certain age! Perhaps the word is getting out that menopause and low estrogen can cause such terrible joint and tendon pain.

I am only discovering that menopause can cause a range of horrible symptoms including anxiety and depression - it is all to do again with hormones and brain chemicals (way over my head!)

I have found that following a low carb diet helps to reduce my pain - not cutting out a complete food group, mainly cutting out sugar and bread and potatoes, rice etc. I still eat oats, nuts and veg.

Thanks for joining 'our club' lol, and all the best

Lesley

Hi Debbie, yes it really helps to know others are out there with the same questions and problems.

My joints are feeling much improved since I increased my excercise. I have always been very fit but this year the terrible weather and family circs has curtailed my cycling and walking considerably. Excercise in, releases endorphins, the feel good guys, so if you can, get out there and have some excercise and fun. Definitely Vit D is an improvement, less carbs as Lesley suggests and weight loss I think have helped. Just my shoulder hurting now and that may be because I have lifted my granddaughter too much. Hot flushes hardly around at the moment but that may be this terrible cold weather I shall never moan about being too hot again!!

Katie

Hi Debbie, yes it really helps to know others are out there with the same questions and problems.

My joints are feeling much improved since I increased my excercise. I have always been very fit but this year the terrible weather and family circs has curtailed my cycling and walking considerably. Excercise in, releases endorphins, the feel good guys, so if you can, get out there and have some excercise and fun. Definitely Vit D is an improvement, less carbs as Lesley suggests and weight loss I think have helped. Just my shoulder hurting now and that may be because I have lifted my granddaughter too much. Hot flushes hardly around at the moment but that may be this terrible cold weather I shall never moan about being too hot again!!

Katie

Hi All,

Is there anything available that deals with the hot flushes? mine are coming fast and strong, it's a weird feeling, comes on in an instant only lasts about 20 seconds but the sweat drips off my head and it's very uncomfortable.

Thanks

Leesa