Hand and feet joint pain getting worse

[longtompot]

I've had joint pain on my hands and feet gradually getting worse, but quite slowly to start with so didn't quite realise it was happening until I couldn't pull up my duvet during the night. I have seen my gp and they have done bloods (not gout or arthritis) and told me to up my hrt gel to three pumps a day. I have been on that for a few weeks now and tbh it feels the pain is getting worse. Any suggestions? I guess going to to the gp is the main one, but really what else can they do or suggest?

Collagen powder has massively worked for me. I had terrible back, hip, general knee joint pain, started hrt 5 months ago. Msssive improvement since starting collagen 2 months ago

How's your Vitamin D level? I found taking Vit D really helped with pain in my hands and hips.

@GentleSheep Ive just started on my winter taking of vitamin d, though early days yet as only taken 5 days. It was low last year so started the supplements and as far as I know it was a much better level. I didn't have this joint pain then though, just super tired and zero energy.

Mine went after a while on hrt.
I had been taking painkillers and suddenly realised these pains had gone.

Magnesium spray can help.

Things that helped me were stretching out my whole body including regular hand and feet stretching. Heel drops helped the most and using a tennis ball.
Exercise. Staying still made it worse.
Regular aupuncture took the pain away.

@Thevegetarianchef I've been on hrt for over 18 months, but just upped the gel for the past couple of weeks

@TeaRoseTallulah I take a daily Magnesium supplement from Nutrition Geeks, their triple one

@zazazaaar I will look at that. My GP, last time I saw her, referred me to physio for hand exercises so I will dig it out and send it off

Try the oestrogen spray instead. It gets into your system better. Also you should be on progesterone and testosterone as well. Women actually have 4 hormones not just one like the NHS likes to pretend and when they aren’t supported or on the right levels then the side effects are horrendous and can be life changing

A blood test will not pick up Osteoarthritis unless it is actively in an inflammatory flare.

You need x-rays to confirm it.

I only say as I am 44, only peri, and have it in my hands, right hip and right ankle and my bloods haven't flagged once for it, but its very obvious in x-rays in my hip/ankle, and visually noticeable in my index finger joints.

I believe as I have no womb I shouldn't be on Progesterone. Not on testosterone though.
Prescribed I take/use Estradiol gel 0.06% 3 pumps a day, Vagirux pessary twice a week, Estriol 1mg/g 3 times a week.
The magnesium is Nutrician Geeks 3 in 1 with M glycinate M Malate & M Citrate
One daily vit d Sunvit D3 800IU, but looking at the back of the packet I could take two a day so will do that from tomorrow.

I didn't know oestrogen is available in a spray so will look into that, thank you.

@Kreepture I don't think it's osteoarthritis, my hands look as they usually do, just a bit swollen every now and then through the day. Do you get shooting, sharp like pains with it? It's something I can ask about when I go back as she did say to do so if things don't improve. I just wanted to try things and give them time, before going back, otherwise it'll be try vit d, try magnesium etc etc and then months down the line it could still be bad.

I do really appreciate all your replies. It's so frustrating not being able to do things like normal, ie cutting veg with a knife. My youngest has JIA and really struggles when her hands are bad and I really feel even more for her

@Kreepture do you get bony lumps on your finger joints due to osteoarthritis? If yes, how fast do they progress? Will HRT help in slowing down oa?

yep, have them mostly on my first two fingers on the joint nearest the finger tips.. they've slowly appeared over time about the last 5 years really, they're not currently impinging my mobility or grip.

I do get pain/stiffness in my hand knuckle of my dominant hands forefinger and the base of my thumbs. I don't really know if HRT helps though, i'm sorry, i'm only 44 so they still have me on the Pill as my GP won't look at HRT until i'm over 45.

I found giving up alcohol and losing the excess weight I had really helped with this. I don't know if either apply to you OP.

Post menopause the problems have completely gone. I wish someone had told me that when I was going through it.

Sugar is an inflammatory. I gave it up. Pain went away.

back on it now though, Im addicted :-(