Joint Pain. Already on HRT

[CuriousRunner]

My previously killer menopausal symptoms are under control with HRT. So maybe this one is a red herring?

I have hip pain. Just the right side. (Shoulder too when side sleeping. But that’s eclipsed by the hip)

It doesn’t hurt when I move. I run, lift weights etc. All fine, I’m pain free. It hurts when I DONT move. Driving, sitting on the sofa etc. In bed is a nightmare. (Lol. Maybe it would be if I slept better generally 🤣) Sleeping on either side is really painful. One side and I sleep ON the painful side. Other side and the hip is stretched so also painful. I try to sleep on my back. I don’t like the “pillow between knees” sleeping. And I’d rather do something to pinpoint the problem to get rid of it. (Maybe naive)

Ive had physio which helps a little and for a short time. And there’s no underlying problem (strength imbalance or similar).

Could this be peri related? If so, does anyone have any clever ideas? It’s really quite painful!

I have recently started to get hip pain. I’ve just started hrt in the hope it helps. I’ve started using a cream called flexiseq which is helping. Are you still doing the physio exercises? I’d still do them every day. You could also try ibuprofen gel.

How's your mattress?
If you consider a topper I can recommend the Panda bamboo memory foam one.

Also is there any chance you've developed osteoporosis? Hips can be really painful with osteo.

I hope it’s not the case but osteo arthritis is a possibility. A physio should be able to tell if that’s likely. I had a hip replacement at 41 so unconnected to menopause…. Am peri some 13 years on….

I was on a calcium supplement and the pain vanished when I stopped it. I hurt when I eat too much sugar (inflammatory response) or dont mov enough.

I would have thought calcium would help joint. Do you think that was the reason it stopped?

Thanks folks!

I had a DEXA bone scan a couple if years ago and my score was good. I would hope that osteo isn’t in play 🤞

i take a regular Vit D supplement. I’ll look up that flexisq cream. Thanks. I’ve got volterol too. The mattress is good and relatively new. It’s like sleeping exacerbates what’s already an issue though 🤷‍♀️

Might you need to increase the level of gel you are on? Eg if 2 pumps, move to 3 or 4 (under doctor advice of course)

I've been on HRT for a couple of years (am 50 and still have erratic periods) and it doesn't help me with joint pain, but the one thing that's made a huge difference is working from a standing desk. Like you, I workout a lot (walking, weights, cardio) but sitting at a desk for 4 X long days WFH was causing so much pain in my hips, quads and glutes. I bought an inexpensive standing desk and the difference is remarkable - very little joint pain, much more mobile, and the sciatica symptoms have almost disappeared. Am delighted!

I had a DEXA bone scan a couple if years ago and my score was good. I hope that osteo isn’t in play.

@CuriousRunner Osteoarthritis and Osteoporosis are different things.

There is no pain with osteoporosis unless there are vertebral fractures.

What you've described is probably osteoarthritis, most people just say 'arthritis'.

A DEXA scan doesn't diagnose osteoarthritis. It diagnoses bone density.
Sometimes there can be a slight difference between each hip with the density and this can show wear and tear (osteoarthritis) but it needs a good specialist to spot that.

Osteoarthritis is wear and tear on the ball and socket joint of the hip. This causes pain. The treatment can be physio to strengthen the muscles around the joint but in time the only cure is a hip replacement.

If you do a lot of sport it's quite possible you have arthritis, because of the wear and tear. Diagnosis is by an X ray. And the pain does tend to be worse at night. Or with sitting and being immobile.

See your GP for an X ray? Or you can refer yourself for private physio and an X ray.

@JinglingSpringbellsI didn’t know that. And that’s scary!! I’ll check with private sports physio to start with 😱

Do!

Hip replacements in the 50s are very common for athletes (sorry!)

Bless you for calling me an athlete 🤣🤣🤣 It only you could see the reality.🤣

I've got exactly the same problem, so thanks for all the advice on here.

Agree osteoarthritis is a likely reason. I have osteoarthritis in my knees (thanks, hockey) and no amount of HRT will alleviate the pain from that. The planned knee replacements should, hopefully.

Try an anti inflammatory diet for a few weeks and reintroduce foods gradually. You might find the things that create joint pain.

I can’t take HRT so did this. Found out that wheat and sugar trigger painful joints. Dairy and nightshade veg to a lesser extent.

When I cut these out my pain drops to nonexistent.

I upped my water intake too.

I take glucosamine which seems to help with my arthritis

Hi. Sounds like trochanteric bursitis?

I’m no athlete! Do quite a lot of cycling (slowly) and skiing, but I think the main reason I had an early hip replacement was because it runs in the family. A male relation who coaches high level sport had both done in his 30s. In better news I’ve never regretted it - no pain at all now.

I was about to say the same. I have the exact same in my right hip, my GP diagnosed bursitis. I’m trying collagen and turmeric supplements, also trying to lose weight. It’s improving but still niggling.

It could also be a type of inflammatory arthritis eg rheumatoid arthritis. I have ankolysing spondylitis which causes similar hip pain sometimes. Pain while resting is typical of inflammatory arthritis.

Maybe I should be pleased that this is the ONE thing going on with my body that DOESNT seem to be menopause related 🤣 Althoigh I’m tempted to mix the vag oestrogen cream with the volterol to give that a go 🤣

Rats though. There doesn’t seem like there will be a quick fix.

@CuriousRunner Get an X ray and diagnosis.

Although the anti inflammatory diet is good for immune-based inflammation (and general health) RA, etc, it won't help osteoarthritis, because that's caused by bone rubbing on bone where the protective tissues have worn away.

It's usually a case of managing the pain, exercise to build up the muscles and then surgery if it becomes terrible.

I have slight hip pain on one side which flares up now and then (eg after gardening/digging) and my DEXA scan did show slight loss of bone on that side (wear and tear.)

The research on supplements is mixed- nothing definite that they help.

I wondered if my pain was caused by the bone building itself up because if a supplement I perhaps didn’t need after all.

In hoping for a dexa scan at some point but my gp is very stingy when it comes to tests.

Have you had an x-ray? I think that's worth doing, even if just to rule things out.