Joint pain

[DJattheendoftheworld]

I'm wondering if this is a normal part of ageing?

For the last few months I have had joint pain, it's worst in my hands and feet, but my knees and back also hurt. It's very bad first thing in the morning but after a couple of hours it starts to ease up.

Was told I was probably in perimenopause a few years back, could it be because of that? I'm late 30s, not overweight and was pretty active before this started.

I do recognise it as a perimenopausal issue, but get checked out by a dr to make sure there's nothing else going on eg low vit d.

If all other possibilities are ruled out, it can be hard to get adequate treatment for peri on the nhs. There have been some new nice guidelines and the Menopause Network on face book (and website) are brilliant for advice. Oestrogen / hrt can really help with joint pain (there's many different options and it's much safer, in fact protective, than most think it is)

(Just my own personal experience:) I was having that exact issue in the summer, especially the aching feet first thing, but I'm hypothyroid so on thyroxine. I've been struggling to get the right thyroxine level for some time since periods returned post pregnancy and that's when joint pain also started. (not enough thyroxine; it definitely affected periods badly) I was having hot flushes and mood swings and brain fog. Also lots of tingling burning hands and feet.

I started trying to manage the hormones (though getting thyroxine right was the main thing that's helped them.) I do seed cycling, b vits (b6 is most helpful)

BUT what's been most helpful personally has been taking some extra calcium, magnesium and zinc at night. (I always take some vit d in the morning.) I've been doing that for 2 months and noticed a huge improvement in joint pain and also sleep. (It's not even the full amount as tablets are split). But I'm breastfeeding so that could be a factor; it's what prompted me to try it as I had very tender nipples and cal+mag can really help.

See the Gp first though.

Thank you so much for your reply @DinoGloria. I had tests for thyroid a few years back and it was normal - so symptoms were put down to menopause (not joint pain that time). I will try some supplements. Hopefully normality will return and I'll be able to get GP appointment sometime next year.

Thyroids can change though especially around menopause.

Those symptoms aren't typically thyroid related though so I imagine it's a good idea to get checked with the Gp.

I don't know if my symptoms were specifically linked to a combo of thyroid and post partum/ peri. Certainly calcium and magnesium really helped. But for others (and you) the answer might very different.

It wouldn't hurt to try 2-3 months of supplements but I'd definitely see a Gp first.