Does Menopause Cause Joint Pain?
We all know menopause is the time in a woman's life when her period stops. It usually occurs naturally, most often after age 45. The average age of menopause onset in the United States is 51. Menopause happens when a woman's ovaries stop producing the hormones estrogen and progesterone. A woman has reached menopause when she has not had a period for one year. Changes and symptoms can start several years earlier. They include:
- A change in periods - shorter or longer, lighter or heavier, with more or less time in between
- Hot flashes and/or night sweats
- Trouble sleeping
- Vaginal dryness
- Mood swings
- Trouble focusing
- Less hair on head, more on face
- Osteoarthritis and joint pain
Does Menopause Cause Joint Pain?
A common symptom often associated with hormonal change is pain. Menopause may cause joint pain that can affect the knees, shoulders, neck, elbows, and hands. Older joint injuries may begin to ache more. As time goes by, you may start to notice that you feel more aches and pains than you used to. This is because estrogen plays a role in the body's inflammatory response. As the hormone levels decline, inflammation may increase, causing discomfort and menopause-related joint aches.
Don’t wait to seek help for pain. Much menopause-related discomfort can be eased with at-home remedies, medical care, or lifestyle changes. The type of discomfort you have may determine what type of doctor you see.
What Can You Do About Menopause Joint Pain?
If you are going through menopause and experiencing joint pain, there are a number of ways to ease your discomfort and make managing your symptoms a little easier.
- Get Regular Exercise. It may seem counter-intuitive, but regular exercise is essential to living a life with less joint pain. Countless studies have shown that exercise is good for your mind and your heart, but we now know that it’s also beneficial for bone strength. Choosing consistent, low-impact exercises such as swimming, biking, hiking, and yoga, can help keep your joints from becoming sore and stiff.
- Maintain a Healthy Diet. In addition to getting regular exercise, eating a healthy, balanced diet will provide your body with the nutrients it needs to endure the unwelcome side effects of menopause, including joint pain. For example, adding lean proteins to your diet can help to promote and maintain muscle mass, which is vital for bone support.
- Drink Plenty of Water. Drink water throughout the day to keep tissues hydrated with fluids. In menopause, a woman's body loses water (or doesn’t retain it as well), so it’s important to replace the lost moisture as much as possible. The fluid around joints needs water to function properly. And that means water. Not sports drinks, sodas, or coffee – water.
- Reduce Stress. Yes, this is easier said than done, but when it comes to joint pain, stress is especially problematic. Stress raises cortisol levels, and cortisol can cause additional inflammation in joints. Do what you can to keep stress in check.
- Quit Smoking. If you smoke, now is the time to quit. Smoking can increase your risk of cardiovascular issues, diabetes, cancer, and even arthritis. Smoking can slow the ability of your bones to heal properly, meaning joint pain and stiffness may be more common in menopausal women who smoke.
- Take a Daily Joint Supplement. There are a number of supplements that can be helpful for supporting everyday joint comfort and your joint health, such as vitamins, minerals, and herbal remedies. Glucosamine is a good supplement to begin taking at the start of menopause, because it has been studied for its role in supporting cartilage and joint structure. It can help sustain and retain your cartilage and the fluid surrounding joints.
How Flexcin Supports Everyday Joint Comfort
An all-natural joint supplement like Flexcin may help support joint mobility, a healthy inflammatory response, cartilage and joint structure, everyday flexibility, and the lubricating fluids in the joints. If joint aches are part of your experience of menopause, Flexcin may help you feel more comfortable day to day.
With ingredients like cetyl myristoleate (CM8) and more familiar joint-support ingredients like glucosamine sulfate potassium, MSM, bromelain, collagen type II, and vitamin C, Flexcin is a daily supplement that supports mobility, a healthy inflammatory response, and cartilage and joint structure. It also contains a blend of enzymes that helps the body absorb the nutrients. Flexcin also makes Motion Lotion. This is a topical joint care lotion that absorbs quickly into the skin over the joint and supports everyday joint comfort.
At Flexcin we have been making all-natural joint care supplements since the year 2000, and have helped thousands of people take a more active role in their joint health. We provide US-made supplements with ingredients chosen to support a healthy inflammatory response and to support cartilage and joint structure. And, we offer it at a no-risk 90-day trial. If you try Flexcin and are unsatisfied with the results after taking it for three months, simply return the empty bottles for a full refund less shipping and handling.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Individual results vary. Consult your healthcare provider before beginning any new supplement.