Stiff, sore feet - menopause or something else?

[TheWhompingWilly]

Well into the menopause - I'm 51, have hot flushes, no period for 18 months, etc. I get very stiff feet and ankles first thing in the morning and when I've been sitting a while. Once I've been walking for a while, they ease up and I can walk normally without pain but, initially, I'm hobbling around like an old lady. Some mornings I can hardly get down the stairs. Menopause related or something else?

[Fazackerley]

@TheWhompingWilly

my foot pain disappeared after a month on hrt

I'd had it for years

I've been running and everything with no pain!! Sadly I've just tweaked a tendon on the top of my foot probably due to overuse, but all the heel and ankle pain has disappeared. I know it isn't the placebo effect as I wasn't expecting it to make any difference at all ( i got hrt for hot flushes).

[mlricha]

In plantar fasciitis the pain is more in the heels. True, it does lessen with walking...or, to clarify, is worse when you first get up in the morning, or after sitting for awhile and the getting up to walk. Then , lessens once you’ve been up walking a bit.
This pain in the ball of the foot and arches, beginning about the time of menopause, does not seem to me to Be plantar fasciitis, but rather associated with menopause and the decreasing estrogen, increased weight in some cases can also increase this pain.

[Sooverthis]

I've suffered with sore ankles and feet and the morning hobbling since my menopause entered full swing it's definitely not plantar fasciitis I've had that on and off for years it's totally different. I don't find carbs and sugar make much difference maybe ill try cutting out just one but no sugar means no alcohol

[Esspee]

Good luck with your doctor. If you have no idea about their personal views on HRT it is worthwhile reading the NICE guidelines which have recently been updated. Unfortunately there are some GPs who are prejudiced. If you can refer to NHS best practise guidelines you are more likely to get what you ask for. Make sure any HRT prescribed is transdermal (gel, patches or implants), do not take pills which are much higher in dose, most of which ends up in your liver.
You didn't specify that it is the top of your foot that is painful so I take back what I said about plantar fasciitis. Hope it is something reversible. Good luck!

[TheWhompingWilly]

Some interesting thoughts. I really don't think it's plantar fasciitis as everything I've Googled says that is heel pain. Mine is ankle/top of foot - my heels are fine. However, appointment made to see GP on Monday to check for arthritis. If it is menopause related, I shall ask about HRT.

[Esspee]

To get back to the OP's original question the symptoms point to plantar fasciitis. I suggest you see your doctor who can take it from there.

[Borogoves]

I don't want to derail the thread Polly but can't let inaccuracies stand. Google vitamin D deficiency symptoms and you will see bone pain listed. Bones absolutely do contain nerves! Bone pain can be excruciating and as anyone who has suffered from, or has seen anyone suffering from, bone cancer can tell you it is is horribly painful.

[PollyPerky]

Bones have no nerves. You cannot feel anything wrong with your bones unless you break it and then it's the surrounding tissues that are hurting.

This info from says that lack of vit D can cause 'general aches and pains' but that doesn't mean bone pain.

patient.info/health/vitamin-d-deficiency-including-osteomalacia-and-rickets-leaflet

The pain is likely to be coming from the tendons, cartilage and surrounding tissues.

Most pain around the joints in middle age is osteoarthritis. I have a painful wrist at times which is down to wear and tear and it's arthritic.

Yes, anyone short of Vit D should take supplements because it helps protect against infection and builds up the immune system, as well as enabling calcium to be absorbed.

[Borogoves]

Vitamin D deficiency causes both joint and bone pain.

[PollyPerky]

Aches and pains during peri and post menopause are usually to do with loss of oestrogen. Collagen declines without oestrogen and collagen forms the connective tissue between muscles and joints. As far as I know, there is no connection between aching joints and Vit D. Bones need Vit D for strength but lack of Vit D doesn't cause bone pain. In fact one of the most dangerous things about osteoporosis is it has no symptoms- it doesn't cause bone pain unless a bone breaks.

Fish oils- cod liver oil for example- are good for joint mobility . If you have joint pain and stiffness it's worth seeing your GP to ask if it's arthritis which can be just a normal part of ageing but exercise is important to stop it stiffening up further.

[Carolyn1964]

Sorry my phone didn't show the message had been posted for some reason!!! Thanks for your reply

[Carolyn1964]

How long did it take to see an improvement? I've ordered a liquid vitamin D so fingers X!!!

[Borogoves]

It took about three months before I started to feel better Carolyn. My GP told me I would need take the supplement indefinitely. Now I'm feeling better I sometimes forget to take it for a while. I remember when the aches and pains come back again, start taking it and within a week or so I feel back to normal.

[PollyPerky]

This is the key part Carolyn

What are the risks of HRT for women with migraine?

There is no research based evidence to suggest that women who have migraine and are using HRT have an increased risk of having a stroke (ischemic CVA).

Most doctors recommend that you start HRT around the time of the menopause and take it only for a few years. It can have the benefit of reducing the risk of osteoporosis and bone fractures.

[Carolyn1964]

Many thanks borogrove. I've just ordered a liquid one so finger X. How long did it take before u noticed an improvement?

[PollyPerky]

Carolyn you might need to re-think the no HRT because of migraines.
Migraine is not a contraindication for HRT. has your GP told you this? If so, here is some info from the Migraine Trust where it clearly states that women with migraine can use HRT.

www.migrainetrust.org/about-migraine/trigger-factors/menopause-and-midlife/

[Borogoves]

Carolyn, I also had the pins and needles in my hands, difficulty going up the stairs as well as the pain in my feet. All went after taking vitamin D supplement. I was very deficient. It might be worth trying that.

[Carolyn1964]

Have been peri menopausal for a year and feel like I'm losing my mind!! My legs ankles and hands tingle and also have pins & needles. Wake up with leg pain and stiff ankles and feet take a while to work. The stairs are the worse as literally have to lift my legs as so sore. I have recently been diagnosed with vitamin b12 deficiency and had all 6 injections but no improvement in the legs at all. Also on 125mg thyroxine Dr keeps saying its the menopause but offers no advice!! Can't take HRT as have migrane with aura Any suggestions?

[Esspee]

Mild plantar fasciitis can go away. Whether vit D has anything to do with it is not a recognised link as far as I know. Age, sports injury wear and tear and being overweight are. I have been suffering extreme pain for 9 months now and the exercises do help. If I get out of bed without stretching it is excruciating (feels like the flesh around my heel is ripping away). If I do some stretching I limp for about ten mins before I can walk normally.
As this post is on the subject of HRT can I say I couldn't live without it. I have a tiny pellet of oestrogen inserted under my skin twice a year then for the other 363 days I forget about it. Am on it for life.

[Borogoves]

I used to have this. Was diagnosed with vitamin D deficiency and after a few months of taking a supplement it stopped.

[Esspee]

Definitely plantar fasciitis so get a referral to your local podiatry clinic. They will give you exercises which help in most cases. Classic signs are that the pain is worst first thing in the day then wears off. If you get a chance to put your feet up during the day on getting up it is painful again. Try wearing shoes with a springy base (trainers, fit flops and the like). Orthopaedic gel insoles help and walking barefoot makes it worse. I have never heard of a link with menopause, most probably it is just age related.

[Cherylene]

It sounds like what I have all over.

I take hrt, Vit D, magnesium and fish oils. The vitamin D made a big difference to my neck.

Keep moving, do plenty of yoga, stretching, pilates. If I am too tired and sit in one position too long on the sofa and hurt, I go to bed instead where I can lie in a better position.

I think it is the effect of reducing oestrogen levels on the ligaments around the joints. They lose their elasticity.

[3catsandcounting]

lijkk - fair enough, but my stiff, sore ankles started with my other peri symptoms, and vanished with HRT.
Your post is neither helpful, nor sympathetic (particularly to a 15 year-old in pain!)

[lljkk]

initially, I'm hobbling around like an old lady. Some mornings I can hardly get down the stairs

I knew someone who used to do that. They had a weird hobbling side to side walk for first 20 minutes or so, almost every morning. It was very funny to watch.

He was my boyfriend's 15yo little brother.
But sure, go for it. Blame every undesired physical symptom on (peri)menopause. Why wouldn't you?

[junebirthdaygirl]

Menopause here too. My ankles were sore in the morning. Saw this on utube.Use your rolling pin to lessen tightness in your calves. So sit on floor and move your calf up and down on the rolling pin. You will be amazed how tight they are. Check it out on utube for correct procedure. You will look daft but it helps. I also the one on the step. Much better. And no flat shoes, ever even round the house