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[GabbyP]

Hi all
New to group and hoping someone out there in the ether might have joint aches as part of their perimenopausal mix and found something that works?  51, perimenopausal, insomnia, few hot flushes, lots of anxiety, palpitations but main symptom for me is joint aches - bottoms of feet, hands, shoulders - some days even hurts to hold the steering wheel!  I started on HRT five months ago, basically phoned the doctor and told her what to put me on - Oestrogen 2 pumps a day but suffered from tearfulness, vertigo, migraines and three bouts of thrush in the first three months.  GP asked me what I'd like to do when I went back for advice so went to see a private menopause specialist who put me on patches instead and halved the dose so that I can adjust to it over a longer term.  I am sleeping better, I think the anxiety is a little better but nothing has touched the joint aches and its the most debilitating part for me.  Blood tests have ruled out anything else as a cause. I am diagnosed with CFS and fibro but have successfully managed these with diet and exercise for a number of years but now find myself being sucked back into ill health because I hurt so much in new places!!!  I take CBD oil, pre and probiotics too.  Anyone have any tips or ideas? 

[CLKD]

Over the counter pain relief on a regular basis.

Morning    as oestrogen levels drop off muscles may become lax = aches and pains, also the body may become dry: inside and out.  Allergies may become more persistent.  It's The Change - does what it says on the tin though many of what we suffer ain't written on the label 

It may be that the fibro is being aggravated by a drop in oestrogen levels. 

[Gnatty]

I would imagine that at the moment you aren't quite getting enough oestrogen into your system to deal with the joint aches and pains. Maybe once you up it a little you will start to see an improvement. I'm pretty sure oestrogen will sort it out.

[sheila99]

I would also suggest a higher dose of oestrogen but I don't know if you're other health conditions might have a bearing on it.

[GabbyP]

Thank you all.  Not sure how to move forwards as five months in and probably feel worse overall, rather than better! There are positives - my head hair has started growing again for some reason - growth in areas that were very thin for last few years which will help with self esteem. I am less anxious overall I think and not taking days to make a simple decision like which petrol station to visit!  Although still very tearful, I'm down to one or two bouts a day instead of being paralysed by emotions all day long.  On the flip side, I still have vertigo first thing in the morning/during the night, lots of headaches and am still aching.  I'm also getting hot flushes every single night now, plus some daytime ones whereas I was only getting hot sweats once or twice a month.  Not sure which is worse!!!  Think I'll plod on a while longer but hesitant to up the dose after so many side effects previously as I don't feel the side effects are completely under control on the lower dose - that why the meno specialist lowered the dose to start with.  Once all the side effects settled, then I could take the dose higher was the advice.  Ho hum.

[CLKD]

You could up the dose twice a week initially?  See how you feel after 7-9 days?  If that helps, try every 3rd night .......... keeping a note is important as it's so easy to blame the 'extra' rather than the body requiring more 

Over the counter pain relief may help, taken regularly.  A lack of oestrogen may cause muscles to become lax = aches and pains. 

Have you treatment for the vertigo?  It is awful, I knew when I opened my eyes first thing that it was present  .  'Stemotil' helped.  There are specific techniques to ease symptoms so maybe ask your GP for a referral to an ENT surgeon.

[Shells99]

I would love to hear of any solutions for this too. I've been having chronic stiffness in my lower back/sacrum for the last couple of years.
I do light weights 3 times weekly, walk most days, pilates twice a week and yoga 3 times a week.
I'm 53 and post menopause and have been taking tibilone for 9 mths.
I've tried acupuncture and visited physios who all tell me I'm doing everything they would suggest!
But still no relief from this achy stiffness which makes me miserable.
I'm now wondering if extra oestrogen or testosterone might help.
Any ideas welcome.

[CLKD]

Have U tried over the counter pain relief Shells99?  We both have back ache and sciatica so will be turning the mattress round next time I re-sheet.  Both taking 'nurofen'.

Low oestrogen can cause muscles to become lax = aches and pains.  I know that we don't do enough exercise (both late 60s).  Note to Self  . Swimming is, supposedly, good for muscles.  However.  Until I can build my 4 bedroom bungalow with pool off the main bedroom ........... the Plans are in my head 

[Shells99]

Have U tried over the counter pain relief Shells99?  We both have back ache and sciatica so will be turning the mattress round next time I re-sheet.  Both taking 'nurofen'.

Low oestrogen can cause muscles to become lax = aches and pains.  I know that we don't do enough exercise (both late 60s).  Note to Self  . Swimming is, supposedly, good for muscles.  However.  Until I can build my 4 bedroom bungalow with pool off the main bedroom ........... the Plans are in my head 

Hi CLKD
Thanks for replying.
Yes I've tried ibuprofen on a few occasions but I would rather find an alternative to painkillers as I feel these are only a temporary fix and masking the cause if that makes sense?
Yes I've always heard good things about swimming.  Only thing is I seem to have lost confidence in the water since perimenopause and I can only do breast stroke. As you say it would be ideal to have a pool at home to save on all the faffing about getting to a local pool lol.
I don't have much room left to fit swimming into my exercise schedule, something would have to give. 

[CLKD]

That would B ironing perhaps    ?

Pain relief is designed to ease symptoms  .  If 1 requires them for more than 2 weeks, it's time to discuss about HRT hike?

[Lyncola]

I don’t think pain killers is the answer. I try to use as little pain killers as possible. If you take pain killers every day you will soon have other serious medical problems. Always read the back of the box, there is a good reason why only so many a day and for how many days in a row you can use them.

If your not sure talk to your chemist or doctor.
I hate when people ask me why I’m not taking pain medication. If I did for every little problem I definitely would be in trouble. For example to get over my wisdom teeth removal (the pain was bad for eight weeks) only took it for ibuprofen for 4 days. Then I put up with the pain, but with lots of doctor and dentist visits. Plus my husband would tell you, weeks of me complaining 

Just my thoughts, I see you already do Pilates. That really helps, every morning I do core strength Pilates. I know my first year of menopause my back was really sore, saw my doctor, had X-ray, MRI, saw a rheumatologist. Apart from having two degenerate disk, no one could tell me why? I love Tiger Balm, Its my first go to for back problems. But like I said after my first year it got better?

[sheila99]

May not be relevant but how is your posture? Particularly when seated. We're at an age where we can't get away with things we used to. Maybe swap the weights for swimming? Have you tested for oestrogen levels?

[CLKD]

Also foot wear; seating in front of TV; mattress - pain relief is for relief of pain.  If you are hungry, do you not eat 

[Lyncola]

Yes medication is for pain relief, but my point is some medication is for short term and other medication like amitriptyline is for long term.
I’ve had specialist doctor (rheumatologist) as me why I’m not using Panadol or ibuprofen for pain relief.
 Yes I do at times but if I took pain relief for when I had bad pain (bad back all year), I’ve would given myself a heart attack. Or if you are like my husband and have kidney problems, ibuprofen would mess up his kidneys further.
I was pissed at my neurologist who wanted me to take this medication every day (it was basically ibuprofen). I did my internet research, the longest I could take it is two weeks, he wanted me to up the dose every two weeks and take it long term. So to get rid of my headaches and facial pains, I had to give myself high risk of a heart attack. And the two weeks I was on it, it didn’t work anyway.

That’s why before taking medication you talk to the chemist or your doctor. Or read the back of the pack or do a internet research. Pain medication is wonderful but if you abuse it you will end up worse off.

[CLKD]

Morning.  The UK packets state 'not to be taken for longer than 2 weeks, then see a Doctor if symptoms continue'.  Amitriptyline nor Paracetamol never touch any pain that I suffer with.  I find that if I take 2 'nurofen' immediately rather than waiting to see whether the pain will 'go', it works faster. 

I believe that Amitriptyline was developed to ease seizures.  'valium' is used as a muscle relaxant for short term purposes.