Aches and pains

[AlertCat]

I started HRT recently and have seen improvements in temperature control (especially at night), libido, memory/word loss and some other things. But I have also realised (yes, I’m not very in tune with my body) that I am sore and achy every morning, including the soles of my feet when I first get up; and every evening after I sit down. Less so during the day, but it does happen especially if I lie down, for example in a yoga class.

I move regularly, do hard aerobic exercise, walk a lot and do yoga, and I’m pretty strong and flexible compared to others of my age and weight (I’m 47 and quite heavy, probably 80-85kg). So is it normal to get so stiff and achy? I’m ok once I get moving but it’s painful to start!!

My question is will this improve with the HRT or is it an age thing rather than menopause? I think it’s more soft tissue pain than joint, and I don’t get swollen joints or anything.

Following as I ache everywhere!

IME HRT hasn't hugely helped me with aches and pains. I've been on it for a few years (I'm 49). I'm also now on the highest dose! I have read a lot of feedback on here saying how aches and pains have disappeared overnight, lucky them! But I do think if you've only started HRT recently, you need to give it longer to assess. (I also take mag glycinate, and omega 3).

It sounds like you do plenty of exercise though which is good.

I feel like my aching is just how I am, I'm starting to try and accept it. I walk a lot and do pilates. I'm not really sure what else I can do.

How tall are you? Is your weight showing as belly fat? Have you looked at your BMI for your height etc?
Is your weight putting a strain on your joints? And obviously your feet.

A good quality omega 3 helped me with this

Glucosamine Chondroitin MSM help my joints so much. I got the one with rose hip and tumeric in it.

Im overweight and 56 and no pain now … touch wood!

During peri menopause I had terrible joint aches couldn't even pick the kettle up. Menopace calcium helped me. I have been menopausal now for 5 years and the joint aches have stopped, sleeping however........😫

I'm so similar to this - except 10 years older. I'm strong and fit for my age, a bit too heavy, do regular competitive sport and gentle yoga for recovery.
I assumed my aches and pains ( legs mainly, and shoulders-- and the feet!!! just like yours- feel like they have no cushioning and i'm hobbling along on bones) were menopause related and asked for HRT. I was surprised when GP said no! because I was already 4 years post-menopause, with no other troublesome symptoms, so she thought it unlikely to be menopause related.
GP was correct. Tests/xrays/ scans etc show a lot of calcifying tendons and some arthritis.

I use Tumeric and black pepper capsules , these have stopped aches that I had in hips

What do you do about calcifying tendons?

I’m the same but older. I think a gait analysis and orthotics can help. Get very supportive shoes/trainers for every thing you do. But also weight loss so less pressure on feet.

I was surprised when GP said no! because I was already 4 years post-menopause, with no other troublesome symptoms, so she thought it unlikely to be menopause related.

Many of the symptoms that occur post menopause are related to loss of estrogen. Bone loss, pelvic organ prolapse, bladder issues etc.

Arthritis is also linked to loss of estrogen because all the cartilage and supporting tissues around joints (tendons, ligaments etc) are kept healthy by estrogen.

Treatment for menopause joint pain
People can try to reduce menopause joint pain in the following ways.
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) involves taking medications containing female hormones to replace the ones the body stops making during menopause. This can help alleviate various menopausal symptoms, by:
Reducing inflammation: Estrogen has anti-inflammatory effects. By supplementing the body’s estrogen levels, HRT can help reduce the inflammation contributing to joint pain.
Improving joint health: Some studies suggest that estrogen may help maintain the health of the joint lining, potentially reducing pain and discomfort.
Bone density support: HRT can also help prevent osteoporosis, which weakens bones and can contribute to joint pain.

A lot of back pain is similar because the cushioning between the vertebra deteriorates and the bones aren't supported so well.

There's a lot of misunderstanding amongst GPs about menopause and especially the long term impact on the skeleton (and the soft tissues supporting it.)

Thanks for the tips on supplements. I do take one but maybe need to look at glucosamine or something.

Weight and height, yes I am overweight and it’s gone on my belly over the last 3 years or so. I eat similarly and move as much as I always have, so again I think this is a meno thing. I’m trying to avoid hating on my body or dieting as I used to have bulimic tendencies and can struggle with moderating, and dieting makes that worse. I also try to eat well, although I’m chief cook and bottle washer and I have to cater for three people with quite different tastes and preferences in meals, so I’m not eating my best diet, I don’t have time to prepare that as well as meals everyone else will eat. So it is what it is. I appreciate that being heavy isn’t the best for joints but I do what I can to limit weight.

I didn’t think it was joints but some replies have made me wonder. It’s my hips and low back quite often, but I get no issues in my exercise classes or if I go for a walk or a run- it’s afterwards that I struggle.

Calcific tendinitis - I've been having physio for that, and for the arthritis. You can't 'cure' either of them but the advice is to keep moving and keep the surrounding areas as strong as possible to support the 'problem' area.

No problems with my bones or my muscles. I'm still competitive in my sport at 58. Simply tendons- and only at the site where the tendon joins the bone. Arthritis diagnosis pre-dates menopause. Not a single night sweat, nor a hot flush, not a mood swing... I came off the mini pill to find that menopause had happened without me knowing.
I don't want to take HRT purely for calcific tendinitis.

I replied mainly to say your GP was wrong to dismiss these kind of symptoms as not possible when a woman was 4 years post meno. It was more of a general comment for anyone else reading.

The bones comment was about osteoporosis risk. no one knows if they have osteoporosis or declining bone density without a DEXA scan.

Again, lack of symptoms isn't a guide to bone density. Two of my friends, sadly, have osteoporosis (early- in their 50s) and neither had any meno symptoms.

Yes I know my GP's advice to me does not apply to everyone but she was advising just me and had my full medical history- which obviously I didn't post here. I've had Dexa scans for the past 5 years as part of free health checks provided by my employer. My GP WAS correct in her diagnosis of me. I posted mainly to suggest to OP and others that it does sometimes happen that symptoms are not down to menopause.