Terrible joint pain but can’t take hrt 😩

[Hotmess1]

Hi, I wondered if anybody had any suggestions/advice for how to help my joint pain. I’m 46 and perimenopausal albeit haven’t been to the Drs about this, I just have a ton of symptoms, the worst of which is joint pain.
every morning when I wake up now I’m so stiff and sore in my joints, particularly my hips and wrists. I used to do yoga and have always been fairly flexible and am now unable to even do basic yoga poses like downward dog because I can’t put any weight on my wrists.
Im under gynae department at the moment due to an ovarian cyst and the specialist has said I can’t have hrt as it will cause the cyst to grow, so I wondered if anybody had any recommendations for supplements or products that have really helped their joint pain? I just started a good quality collagen powder yesterday but know the jury is out on how effective collagen is anyway!! Any suggestions would be gratefully received!

Might be worth a trip to the GP over the joint pain. I had very similar issues with joint pain in my late 40s which I was sure was down to the menopause and started HRT hoping it would help. It didn’t and actually turned out to be an autoimmune disease, so always worth getting it checked.

I agree. I wouldn’t just assume it’s menopause. Get it checked.

I’m sorry to tell you but the only thing that’s helped my knee pain is consistent strength training. I’ve tried every supplement under the sun. Only this worked. Not a quick fix obviously but it worked for me.

Good luck op. It sounds like you’re really going through the mill.

I get terrible pains in my hip (am 54) but it's made a huge difference taking a high strength Vitamin D supplement daily. I'm still having periods so don't think it's menopause related but my Mum has got bad hips and I'm blaming her.

But do see your GP, it's never safe to assume that something is a result of perimenopause.

Im under gynae department at the moment due to an ovarian cyst and the specialist has said I can’t have hrt as it will cause the cyst to grow,

@Hotmess1 I'd ask for a 2nd opinion.

What are they doing about the cyst?

I had a ovarian cyst. My consultant never suggested stopping HRT although the cyst was scanned for 2 years and it eventually disappeared.

I'd be asking what kind of cyst is it, what the plan is-' watch and wait' or removal?

Cysts are very common in women and many disappear by themselves.
Many women have cysts and never even know unless they have a scan for other reasons or if the cyst is large and pressing on other organs.

BUT you should also ask your GP for a blood test to check for inflammation as arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis can also cause joint pain.

First find out from your specialist exactly what it is in HRT that will cause your cyst to grow. (Is it the actual Hormone itself , what hormone is it etc.) as there’s no point in taking advice from other people unless you are certain of what you are not allowed to take

High strength vitamin D and Gabapentin is recommended by the British menopause association for joint pain. I would agree with pps though and ask for a full work up from GP first to make sure nothing else is going on.

I started joint pain mid 40’s and mine turned out to be 2 autoimmune diseases for which I’m now on medication for and feel a lot better

Also as others have said a good vitamin D supplement was recommended by my rheumatologist too

Thank you so much everyone for the replies - I guess I just put it down to yet ANOTHER peri meno symptom but you’re right, I should get checked out to make sure that’s what it is firstly so I’ll try to get on with the Drs this week.

I have severe endometriosis and the cyst is approx 6cm now and in the ovary which is fused to my bowel by endometriosis so they are reluctant to operate due to the risk of nicking my bowel during surgery. I’m being scanned yearly to check on the cyst but it’s not causing me any issues in itself. The specialist just said I couldn’t have hrt but that the mirena coil would be an option (but I’ve heard not great things about that!!)

I’ll see what the dr suggests and have just ordered high strength vitamin d and will have another read through everyone’s suggestions. Thanks so much all!

After your update it is the endo that is the problem not the cyst.
I'd ask your gynae why you can't use HRT as progesterone would possibly offset the estrogen? (And HRT is both hormones.)

At least ask for a detailed explanation.
The Mirena coil on its own won't help peri symptoms.

If it is down to peri/meno you might look at a lowish dose of creatine (not just for muscle building, helps regulate hormones too). Or if down to inflammation of some kind try Rosehip supplements.

The gynae definitely said that hrt would make the cyst grow! To be honest I had to wait 9 months for my MRI results so I can only imagine how long I’d have to wait to speak to him again! I think I will pursue via my private healthcare from work. Thank you for your input, I’ll ask them that question

Thank you, I’ll look at Rosehip!

Are you on a statin

I had awful joint pain which I put down to my IBD but it was actually a slight vitamin D deficiency. When the doctor told me I thought it was unlikely but taking a regular vitamin d supplement sorted it out in about 3 weeks. I now take it daily and I’ve had no further problems.

No I’m not