Joint pain on my hands and feet - anyone else?

[longtompot]

I have had pain in my hands for a while, thought it was gout as was drinking a bit too much. I've completely cut that down and still getting it. Ive seen my GP, had bloods done, and it's not gout or inflammatory arthritis so it's more fun the menopause is throwing at me.
It's worst in the morning, either when I wake to get up or during the night, to the point I can't grasp my duvet to pull it over me. It's eases once I get up, but doing anything that requires pressure hurts ie chopping root veg, cleaning something that requires a bit of scrubbing, and it hurts more than a normal bump if I knock my knuckles on something, and not even that hard. It's also affected my feet, especially the tops of them and it aches up my shins part way, and my toes are sore too.
I have upped my Oestrogel gel to three pumps from two but it's only been a few days so no easing yet, and tbh it is feeling pretty bad this evening though that might be weather related.
I just wondered if anyone else has experienced this and how long it took for them to ease, especially after upping medication, and if that didn't help what did help.

Medical info, hysterectomy inc ovaries removed 18 months ago, now in early 50s, using Vagirux pessary and Ovestin cream for atrophy, taking magnesium supplements

What are your vitamin d levels like? Deficiency can cause joint pain

@Marigoldsbloom I think they are ok now. I am outside a lot which I hope is helping. They were low last year so I took vitamin d over the winter and plan to do the same again this year, and well every year.

I had this too during the menopause and thought that it was arthritis setting in and that would be me going forward. I had it for a year or so and then it completely disappeared. I don't know if that was because I came through the menopause or because I got so fed up with menopause symptoms that I lost three stone, started exercising and gave up alcohol.

The think I wish people had told me about menopause is that all the rubbish you suffer won't necessarily last forever.

Yes - its agony at times.
Started HRT in march and it pretty much stopped, but its returned the last few days so I’m wondering if the decline in the weather is related. Maybe i need to move to the Mediterranean!

@longtompot if your tipple of choice is a spirit, change to wine?

Purely, anecdotal mind.

@Arregaithel its wine but I do like a gin & tonic. I have pretty much switched over to no or low alcohol for both having discovered Tanqueray does a really good zero alcohol gin, and Kylies zero alcohol sparkling rose and whites are excellent, as is Sainsburys low alcohol blanc de blanc sparkling Chardonnay.
But, to is coming into red wine season and yet to find a good alternative

I used to waddle about like a little old lady first thing in the morning. Coming down the stairs in the morning was a bit scary at times, had to do one step, by step at a time holding onto banister. Couldn't open a jar of anything as wrists just so weak.

Now nowhere near as bad now - lost a few stone, walked more, sorted out diet removing lots of UPF/sugar etc, started HRT, lower weight allowed me to come off long term high blood pressure meds and omeprazole, started taking a good multivitamin and high strength Omega 3.

Not sure which one did it, probably all contributed in part, a complete overhaul was needed.