Hi VanillaLover,
This was one of my first peri-menopausal symptoms 7-8 years ago although I didn't realise it at the time. They was no real pattern/frequency but occasionally it would start during exercise with a heavy, sore feeling in my thighs and if I didn't stop exercising it could develop into a really debilitating and sore cramp which would take several days to recover (like DOMS). At the time I was very fit and working as a personal trainer doing lots of running and cycling amongst other things. I had blood tests, saw physios, osteopaths, had acupuncture and noone could find anything obviously wrong. I put it down to overtraining and dehydration.
It rarely happens now but the last few times it did it was preceded/accompanied by a menopausal anxiety/panic attack - like my muscles had tensed up in response to an adrenaline rush. It was then that I wondered if it was linked to the Menopause. I then noticed during the covid years that at certain times of the month my thighs felt very achey and I couldn't even face going for a short walk let alone anything more vigorous. This in turn made me anxious and I lost confidence, as exercise has always been a big part of my life, so it felt like a vicious circle.
I had previously tried to manage all my peri-menopause symptoms with all sorts of natural supplements and remedies, yoga, stretching, physio and meditation but once I'd made the connection this symptom was the one that made me want to try HRT. I started HRT in August 2021 and it has really helped reduce my sore, achy thighs.
