Perimenopause and return of SPD/PG

[Shirtyllama]

Has anyone had return of SPD-like joint pain in perimenopause? I had horrendous SPD pain in both pregnancies which didn't get better with physio/osteo but disappeared on delivery. the odd twinge over last decade but nothing much. youngest DC is now 10 and I'm 47 and definitely entering peri waters.

In last year I have been getting back pain and joint pain (eg fingers, wrists, knees but sometimes symphysis pubis) that comes and goes, particularly around ovulation. Periods pretty regular still, just heavy and awful. When pain it goes away I feel fine, so I don't think it's osteoarthritis, I think it's from hormones coming and going but I don't know how and o can't find any useful resources to read and reassure me or give me advice.

I feel like it's related to the SPD/PGP I had way back when, I get the same sort of fluey hit-by-a-bus feeling along with the joint pain. I am a bit dubious about HRT because of family breast cancer history. GP and gynae (for fibroids) not interested, never met a HCP who knew or was interested in SPD beyond "it's not serious and it will go away" :(

Anyone else had similar and any tips/advice/can convince me that it will pass?

I've had bloods done and vit d, iron fine, checked for rheumatoid things too.

Could it be a more general hypermobility type pain? Any history of that / being "double jointed"?

I'm having a flare up of PGP for no obvious reason, I wonder if it could be peri menopause? The Pelvic Partnership is a charity that has a list of physios/osteopaths who are particularly experienced in dealing with PGP, might be worth taking a look at that and seeing if you can get treatment that works?

Yes, I've been having this on/off this year. Same age as you, had awful, crippling SPD with my youngest ten years ago but it disappeared completely after the birth. The memories came flooding back as soon as I felt it again this year. I started HRT 6 weeks ago and haven't felt anything since. I can only think it's peri related and the hormones which increase during pregnancy and spark SPD flare ups are going haywire now. If you can't try HRT I'd look at other ways to try to regulate

Oops pressed post too soon! ...regulate hormones. Look at your diet, take supplements (Menopace was helping some symptoms for me before HRT) and physio of course if flare ups start to become regular. Ideally though you want to be dealing with root of the prob and that's the bloomin hormones. Good luck.

I've never had children or heard of SPD but I'm definitely in peri and developed pelvic floor dysfunction as part of this and it pulls my SI joint and other things out of line... from googling, it all sounds quite similar. I'd really recommend seeing a pelvic floor physiotherapist if you can. I have to see one privately but she's got a very good understanding of how women's bodies change in different life stages.

@tatyr

Could it be a more general hypermobility type pain? Any history of that / being "double jointed"?

I have 'Hypermobility without flexibility' so you don't always have to be bendy.

Hello, not SPD but have noticed feet and knees are painful at times.

I’m also 47. Starting HRT in a couple of weeks thank goodness!

Thank you for all the responses, I feel strangely comforted and less alone! Saw osteopath last year who did help when I had a sciatic pain flareup so I will go back to him. He did say I was hypermobile, although I definitely don't think of myself as very flexible.

I'll try some supplements - and diet is pretty good but maybe there's something setting it off. Will also think a bit more about trying HRT...I feel uncomfortable increasing possible family breast cancer risk but I also feel that this pain is really affecting my quality of life at the moment.

I remember wondering if SPD would come back in some form or other. Can't wait for menopause to be over and done with, I've heard from several older friends and family members that things are good on the other side of it.

@Shirtyllama

Has anyone had return of SPD-like joint pain in perimenopause? I had horrendous SPD pain in both pregnancies which didn't get better with physio/osteo but disappeared on delivery. the odd twinge over last decade but nothing much. youngest DC is now 10 and I'm 47 and definitely entering peri waters.

In last year I have been getting back pain and joint pain (eg fingers, wrists, knees but sometimes symphysis pubis) that comes and goes, particularly around ovulation. Periods pretty regular still, just heavy and awful. When pain it goes away I feel fine, so I don't think it's osteoarthritis, I think it's from hormones coming and going but I don't know how and o can't find any useful resources to read and reassure me or give me advice.

I feel like it's related to the SPD/PGP I had way back when, I get the same sort of fluey hit-by-a-bus feeling along with the joint pain. I am a bit dubious about HRT because of family breast cancer history. GP and gynae (for fibroids) not interested, never met a HCP who knew or was interested in SPD beyond "it's not serious and it will go away" :(

Anyone else had similar and any tips/advice/can convince me that it will pass?

Hoping this will still bump from last year. I’m on HRT, but this is exactly me OP post @Shirtyllama originally in pregnancy, with terrible pain and pressure, but I gave birth before any physio was sorted and yes, it went away after that.

Anyone know if it’s worth going to GP about this pain returning now? Or is it better to try physio? I too had the flu feeling (exactly how I described it) during ovulation, plus joint pains, but has all greatly improved with a year on HRT, except this pain which has suddenly recurred (last three months) and the pressure there makes me feel like I have a baby waiting to pop out. I feel like I need to crouch down on the floor to relive it, if that makes sense. Ibuprofen lessens it slightly but not enough. Of course, my brain is overthinking it’s something else to worry about as it’s cyclical pain.

Hi all. I know this is an old thread, but was wondering if any of you found relief from the SPD type pain?

I had it terribly throughout my pregnancies, and am peri-menopausal now. I often get SI join pain and clicking, but my SP joint is sore for the first time in a very long time today. I am wondering if it’s a peri menopause thing?

Hello, just saw this! I started hrt in ?2022 and the pain went away, still on it and still fine, so much so that I had completely forgotten about posting this! I've also finally lost some weight in the last couple of years and feel that probably helps. And do occasional pilates and stretching (and should do more often). I've had a hysterectomy so on oestrogen only hrt now which I think decreases the already small breast cancer risk🤞

I would say think about trying hrt especially if you already do yoga/pilates, are reasonably healthy weight, eat fairly healthy and don't drink much (all of those things were suggested by doctors /nurses/physios as 'try this first '). I don't know if the hrt sorted it for me, but it seems likely.

Also the hysterectomy helped me feel a lot better in my body, had various uterus issues which I think meant back and pelvis were irritated by large uterus/fibroids/adenomyosis. But I was already on hrt, which had stopped the SPD pains within a month or so - I just continued to have some occasional back and sciatica pain until hysterectomy.

I hope you can get some relief! Will be interested to know if hrt helps