Both wrists in agony every month

[Ignoranceisbliss44]

I will be seeing the GP about this, but just wanted to see if anyone had anything similar as it seems to be hormone related.

I'm 46. Still having regular periods up to now, but there has been a definite shift in my cycle recently. They have also become heavy and painful.

PMS is horrendous. I get ridiculously tearful up to a week before and also at random times during the month.

While I'm on my period I feel weak and exhausted, awful headaches and my anxiety goes through the roof (panic attacks).

The worst issue though is my wrists at this time of the month. The pain gets unbearable. Just constant with no reprieve.

I'm unsure about HRT as I suffer from hormone related migraines (the aura type that affect my vision and can get really scary).

So, my questions are:

1. Does anyone suffer with painful wrists that are related to perimenopause? If so, have you found anything that helps ease the pain?
2. Has anyone tried HRT who suffers from hormone related migraines?

1. I do! Last month my right wrist got red and swollen out of the blue, needed a doctor and strong medication to be able to function. I'm 43 y/o. Today I have strong wrist pain (waiting for my period).
2. I suffer from migraines with aura, tried HRT and they became so bad I had to quit the treatment (3 aura attacks per day for a week)

Not wrists but I get a really painful shoulder that keeps me awake at night. Reluctant to go on HRT as my migraines have finally lessened and I don't want anything to bring them back!

I used to get this in my knees and also I would ache all over. It was peri menopause and its much better since being on HRT patches.

Weirdly, I am 47, on my period at the moment and my left wrist is painful - I had assumed it was device related as I am on the laptop all day for work but I would have thought it would be more my right wrist. I am also very anxious today, I mentioned it to DH, that for some reason opening my emails today gave me a feeling of doom.

Sorry OP I can't help as the wrist thing is only just starting for me but you have made me think it might be hormonal, so thank you.

I'm older and menopausal, my wrists, particularly my right (non dominant) one is painful the day I'm due to change my hrt patch, the hrt definitely has helped with pain issues. I suffered migraine every month since 14 but very few since starting hrt

They say that carpal tunnel syndrome can start at around the menopause. I'm guessing it's that.

Migraine of any type does not prevent you from taking HRT. It's an old and common misconception. There are lots of different formats HRT can take.

thebms.org.uk/publications/tools-for-clinicians/migraine-and-hrt/

www.womens-health-concern.org/help-and-advice/factsheets/migraine-and-hrt/

migrainetrust.org/live-with-migraine/self-management/migraine-and-hormones/

cks.nice.org.uk/topics/migraine/management/adults/#preventive-drugs-for-pure-menstrual-menstrually-related-migraine

Have a good read, go prepared to the GP with some ideas of what treatments you'd like to discuss.

Not sure it's just a misconception, my neurologist blamed the treatment 100%. I think it depends on the person. It didn't work for me (got hives as well besides migraines) so the doctor told me to stop the treatment immediately. Maybe I have some sort of allergy to the components but since I quit the treatment I haven't had another aura again.

The best way to know is to try, I guess. Maybe you will react in a different way.

People react differently to all types of meds though, including migraineurs.

The point is that HRT CAN be prescribed to people with all types of migraine. As indeed you were. How anyone responds to that treatment will vary, including those of us with migraine.

I currently have the Mirena coil to see if my migraine are hormone related (I'm 42), but it's made zero difference to my migraine attacks. I'm not surprised as there's never been a hormonal link for me. When I'm looking for HRT, the coil might not cut it but there are plenty of options these days to add to it.