Aches after moderate exercise

[Scarecrow2016]

Hello, 1st post on the menopause board. I'm 48 and reckon I'm peri-menopause. Period starting to lengthen and then go back to 28 days etc. Brain fog. Anxiety.

But I'm finding if I do anything like a 5 mile walk my legs hurt and ache as if I've done a serious hilly 15 mile walk. I consider myself relatively fit and cycle to work. But this aching and joint pain at top of legs/inner thigh is a new thing. Has anyone else experienced something similar? Is this what is meant by aches and pains as a symptom? If it is its come as a bit of a surprise as a 5 mile walk is nothing. :(

It's common in peri-menopause. Aches in my hips used to keep me awake after basic exercise. It seems a bit better in menopause though I do get twinges after anything longer than 5 miles. :(

Thanks for the quick response Milliefiori. Do you find exercising more helps or just makes it worse?

Hi OP, I'm exactly the same age and having the same problem (though I haven't had a period for nearly a year)! Previously very active with walking and working out, now having a lot of problems with my lower legs and feet. Had blood tests for inflammation etc and negative for rheumatoid arthritis, so it's beginning to look like a menopause issue (though I am wondering if it is the beginnings of arthritis, which can be down to diminishing oestrogen, which causes all sorts of probs with collagen, ligaments etc). Workout recovery is longer and I'm having to avoid anything high impact at the moment.

What I would suggest is that you get your Vitamin D, ferritin and B12 tested just to rule any deficiencies in/out. Low vitamin D is very common and the guidelines in the UK are way out of date; 50nmol is considered sufficient but really we should all be in the 150-200nmol range. Mine was low (sufficient in the UK but deficient by other countries' standards) so I've been on a regime of vitamin D, magnesium, K2 and boron. It's early days but I think my bones have been lacking the proper nutrients for a long time so I'm hoping to see some improvement! Your ferritin (iron stores) should be at least over 50.
You might find that this is as much responsible for your aches as low oestrogen!

Today's HRT news confirms that I will be avoiding that, if possible, though you'll find many on here who advocate it and have had a lot of success. I thought being fit and active would help me through the menopause so I'm a bit scunnered at the moment!

Thank you EllenRipley. It's all a bit of a surprise really. Not sure I'm ready for this. Hope you come through the other side soon!

Thanks @Scarecrow2016, I'm definitely not ready. My body is carrying me kicking and screaming into my 50s!

Maybe ask for thyroid test too as a friend said it was thigh aching that was a key symptom for her (you can get weak proximal muscles) and thyroids can start to go wrong around menopause time.

Im 51 and well into the menopause, can’t take HRT as I had breast cancer 3 years ago. I get a lot of joint pain and aching in legs/ hands/ feet. The only exercise I can do is walking, Pilates and Yoga. I’m now taking Vitamin D and magnesium, thinking about adding K2, fish oils and glucosamine.

If you are having blood tests done, make sure a full blood count is included. Aches and pain, night sweats and hot flushes and fatigue are normal during the menopause, but can (rarely) indicate other conditions, especially of combined with easier bleeding (gums or bruising) and infections being harder to shake off

Maybe you have set yourself very high targets? For me a 5 mile walk is a moderate - long walk and there is no way I could get anywhere nr 15! There are very few people who can walk 15 miles and not feel it in their legs unless they are regular longish distance walkers.

Thanks all. Walking 5 miles is a normal walking distance for me. That's why I was feeling a bit 'what's going on here' and was wondering whether it was a meno symptom as the ache is a change to the norm. Its definitely a joint pain rather than tired muscle. I've walked about 3 miles today and cycled 5 and I'm ok. It's just sustained walking that brings it on. Thanks again for taking the time to reply. I'll see how it goes and think about approaching GP as I never went for the health check you get around 40 so could ask for that and mention it.

I'm starting to read various bits about the menopause and it's certainly a common symptom.

Have you also considered any type of anti-inflammatory support such as diet or turmeric, for example?

I have been having problems with aching feet on rising in the mornings.It almost feels like the bones have fused together until I walk a dozen or so steps. I had not thought that this could be a menopause symptom, but perhaps so.

I worked out that a continually stiff shoulder was probably not being helped by low oestrogen. As I like the gym and found it frustrating not to be able to really go for burpees and some weights exercises, it was one of a number of several reasons that made me go for HRT recently. I already took magnesium, b12 and vitamin d, plus red clover and lots of linseed and had comparatively mild physical symptoms but felt flat mentally and was becoming apathetic about work, which I can’t afford to let happen.

I’m pretty sure our instructor is on HRT. She is about 56, a grandmother and works full time in a very stressful sector and teaches very vigorous classes most nights on her own way home from work. She also does triathlons. If it’s not HRT I’m prepared to pay for whatever else she’s on ...

Yes i find this too- am 50 and if I walk 3 miles I feel I'm doing well. Ditto feels like the only exercise I can do is walking and pilates. Just been shopping and the combination of walking and carrying stuff has left me aching in most of my joints.

Have not had night sweats or hot flushes so I have put off going to the dr about HRT yet (as I feel they will tell me to go away...) but perhaps i should .
If you find out what the exercise instructor is on Abraid, let me know.

😆 sparkly

Well I went to the doctors the other day about my aching feet and legs - turns out I have flat feet 😳😂 So apparently when I get my special orthotic insoles made, I'll feel much better 😬 Check your pronation, ladies! X

Welcome to the club ladies😀

I’m well past menopause 7 yrs
Aches pains different parts of the body anxiety snappy
early waking, tiredness, burning tongue
Menopause matters is a good forum to browse