Joint pain in menopause: symptoms and treatment

One of the most pronounced signs of menopause is the occurrence of pain in different parts of the musculoskeletal system. Often during menopause, pain in the joints, which are connected both with the reduction of hormonal function and the wear of the cartilage tissue, inflammatory processes in the body.

Joint pain significantly reduce the quality of life of patients and affect overall health, emotional background. However, there are many ways to treat pain associated with menopause, which picks up the doctor after survey and determine the cause of the unpleasant symptoms.

What is menopause

Menopause is called a natural physiological condition of the female body, which is associated with the extinction of hormonal function. Menopause is one of the periods in the development of the climax.

Climax includes the following steps.

1. premenopausal It means the period from the beginning of the menopausal changes before the last menstrual period.
2. Menopause It includes the date the last menstrual period and the next twelve months.
3. perimenopause - this is a significant period of time, covering five or six years before menopause, and two years after the last menstrual period.
4. postmenopause It means the period of time from menopause to sixty-five and sixty-nine years.

After menopause old age comes.

Causes and joint pain in menopause

Joint pain in menopause have many causes. In fact, pain is the only symptom that indicates various disorders in the body.

Joint pain may be associated with a decrease in the volume of bone and calcium elution from the body that is manifested osteoporosis. Quite often in the elderly develop arthritis and arthritis associated with inflammatory processes in the body and mechanical wear of cartilage. Sometimes joint pain indicate poor circulation. Often, pain in joints of the feet develops in parallel with significant weight gain.

Osteoporosis

It is known that osteoporosis affects mainly women in menopause. Specialists point out senior representatives that osteoporosis is a long time progresses latently before the first bone fractures.

Osteoporosis is a pathology in which bone density decreases and increases its fragility. The term literally means "porous bones". In this case, apparently the bones retain their characteristics, changes occur only in the internal structure. The main cause of osteoporosis believe hormonal changes, such as occur during menopause.

In women, osteoporosis usually occurs the first type that develops after menopause. This form of osteoporosis leads abrupt fading functional activity genital system, in particular, estrogen deficiency. The level of estrogen not only affects reproductive function, but also causes bone health.

However gipoestrogeniya may be supplemented by other factors:

• degradation processes calcium absorption;
• insufficient synthesis of vitamin D;
• reduction in motor activity.

Osteoporosis occurs without overt symptoms until the first fracture that usually affect the femur, thoracic and lumbar vertebrae. By the manifestations of osteoporosis include:

• resistant dorsalgia;
• kyphotic deformity of the spine in the thoracic region;
• reduction in the growth of women by a few centimeters.

The most dangerous consequence of osteoporosis, leading to disability, include a hip fracture.

Arthrosis and arthritis

In general, arthritis occurs in older people due to mechanical wear and tear of cartilage. When osteoarthritis is always celebrated the defeat of cartilage and bone. For adequate livelihoods joints vital collagen, which is produced significantly worse during the menopause.

In most cases, arthritis affects the hip and knee joints, are experiencing the greatest load. Often arthritis develops in the joints of the spine, legs, fingers and hands. Arthrosis are many reasons. It increases the risk of osteoarthritis in women of menopausal age due to the extinction of hormonal function. And such more severe arthritis.

The cause of arthritis in older women may also be:

• obesity;
• metabolic disorders, e.g., diabetes, thyroid disease;
• long-term overload;
• genetic factors.

In the early stages of osteoarthritis symptoms. May cause minor pain on the background of the load, which disappear at rest. With the growing time pain occur even in the absence of movements.

Pain in osteoarthritis It caused a gradual thinning of cartilage and bone appearance friction surfaces.

Many women confuse arthritis and arthrosis. These diseases affect the joints, but have different etiology. Arthritis occurs due to inflammation that manifests the change in blood parameters.

For reasons of arthritis in women during menopause include:

• estrogen deficiency;
• obesity;
• Prolonged stress;
• infectious diseases;
• diabetes;
• thyroid disease.

Arthritis symptoms are somewhat different from those for arthrosis:

• nocturnal pain and morning stiffness;
• tingling of the fingers;
• swelling;
• the disappearance of the pain associated with movement.

poor circulation

Hormonal changes in menopause also affect the condition of vessels. According to statistics, about 70% of postmenopausal women feel the symptoms of disorders of the cardiovascular system.

The symptoms during menopause include:

• Blood pressure drops;
• increasing rhythm heartbeat;
• weakness;
• dizziness.

Often during menopause develop arrhythmia and tachycardia. In the case of atherosclerosis blood circulation and transport of oxygen to the various tissues in an organism. Over time, there are muscle pain. Due to lack of blood circulation, muscles begin to weaken, there may be convulsions. Woman says heaviness and pain in the joints of the feet, which requires treatment.

Obesity

Often the pain arises due to excess weight. It is known that adipose tissue is capable of increasing levels of estrogen, which promotes hormonal disorders. Furthermore, being overweight leads to the development of various diseases with cardiovascular and endocrine systems.

Overweight negatively affects the musculoskeletal system. It is known that for increasing the weight repeatedly increases the load on the hip and knee joints. This factor affects the appearance of their destruction and pain.

Overweight It acts as a mechanical factor, on the one hand, and on the other - as a biochemical - due to changes in metabolic processes.

other causes

Joint pain in women during menopause - is a sign of having a variety of reasons. Pain is not always directly related to the injury. In particular, joint pain may occur in the following cases.

1. Unusual load. Often elderly representatives addicted to long walks, intense physical activity, which do not match their physical condition and age.
2. Neuralgic pains. Irritation of the nerve plexus causes pain spread pulse and pain, which is sometimes concentrated in the joints. Treatment is carried out after a neurological examination.
3. Fibromyalgia. This is a disease that occurs due neurosis. More likely to develop in women before menopause. Women experience pain in the back, joints and limbs. At the same time there is a characteristic burning sensation of the skin. The causes of disease are not precisely known, the treatment includes a mandatory psychotherapy and antidepressant.

Joint pain may be caused by their damage, ligament injuries, inflammation of the mucous bags, malignant tumors. Treatment is carried out after finding out the cause of ailments.

methods of diagnosis

Diagnosis of pathologies of the joints is quite complicated. This is due to the fact that the joints are targeted at more than 150 diseases. However, the diagnosis in women of menopausal age has its own characteristics. This is due to the characteristic factors that cause the occurrence of joint pain in this age group.

Diagnosis of joint pain in women in menopause include.

1. The survey and inspection. Typically, the primary reception performed therapist who suspected certain pathology may direct the patient to another specialist. The doctor carefully examines the patient's medical history, he drew attention to the presence of edema, obesity. It is essential purpose of laboratory examination, which helps to identify hormonal abnormalities, inflammation, thyroid disease, diabetes. In the acute phase pain diagnosis can be difficult as sharp pain can arise, for example, rheumatism.
2. X-ray. This survey method is used for diagnosis of diseases for over a hundred years. By means of X-ray can evaluate the condition of the joint: the bone structure, the location surfaces, measure the thickness of the cartilage. In normal cartilage thickness arthrosis excluded. When thickening of bone, osteophytes occur can be determined the mechanical wear of the joint. Radiography also reveals arthritis, osteoporosis, tumors.
3. Laboratory research. Through various tests can detect inflammation, hormonal disorders, infections and various diseases that cause joint pain.
4. US. X-rays allows us to study the state of the bones, and ultrasonography - soft tissue. Of particular value is ultrasound to assess inflammation and circulatory disorders.
5. CT and MRI. This is the most complex studies that evaluate the state of both bone and soft tissue. Through these diagnostic methods to detect various pathologies can bodies, which will select the most effective treatment.
6. Scintigraphy. In the study using radioactive substances, which are introduced into the vein. The contrast agent accumulates in abnormal foci. The method helps to differentiate osteoarthritis from arthritis, identify metastases of malignant neoplasms.

In some cases pain in the diagnosis of a particular joint can be used in arthroscopy.

medical therapies

Treatment of pain associated with menopause depends on the diagnostic results. Of considerable importance is the severity of pain. When remission maintenance therapy may be used.

Generally, treatment is complex and includes receiving hormonal, anti-inflammatory drugs, vitamins and trace elements, hondroprotektorov. As part of combination therapy have a good effect of traditional therapy and exercise therapy.

Normalization of hormonal levels

The use of hormonal agents is due to major cause of joint pain during menopause. It is known that joint pain often arise due to hormonal changes in the body.

Doctors may recommend a treatment following hormones:

• Divina;
• klimonorma;
• Angelique;
• Klimov;
• Premarin;
• Cyclo-Proginova.

Medications have different shapes:

• pills;
• gels;
• Injectable solutions;
• patches.

Gynecologists point out that sometimes the treatment of hormonal drugs is impossible because of significant side effects and contraindications. In this case, you can use homeopathic remedies and herbal remedies:

• Estrovel;
• Remens;
• Klimadinon;
• Klimaksan;
• Klimakt Khel.

calcium supplementation

At menopause there is leaching of calcium, which causes a variety of pathological changes in the state of the musculoskeletal system. It is known that calcium is contained in some products, which are recommended to consume in order to maintain calcium in the body. However, one is not enough food. It is necessary to take vitamin complexes in addition, to make up for the loss of calcium in the body. These vitamin complexes must contain calcium and vitamin D, which is not absorbed in another form.

Doctors prescribe the following drugs:

• alfacalcidol;
• Akvadetrim;
• Vigantol.

Also are effective:

• Nycomed;
• Natekal;
• Kaltsinova.

Sometimes specialists prescribed for menopause bisphosphonates:

• Fosamax;
• Aklasta;
• Fosavans.

NSAIDs

When expressed joint pain are appointed by nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. These drugs necessarily assigned when inflammatory processes in the joints, for example arthritis, and also expressed pain in osteoarthritis.

The benefits of NSAIDs can include the use of:

• tablets;
• candles.

The most frequently recommended the following medications:

• Aspirin;
• diclofenac;
• ibuprofen;
• Indomethacin.

After treatment with NSAIDs eliminated pain, edema and improving joint function. Typically, these drugs are not taken continuously, but only when expressed pain. The drugs lasts from several hours to several days. The drug is taken after a meal, to minimize the risk of side effects.

NSAIDs differ negative impact on the gastric mucosa. Sometimes develop allergic reactions. For women in menopause there is a risk of stomach bleeding and perforation of the stomach.

chondroprotectors

There are no tools that can stop the joint destruction. Nevertheless, some experts prescribe drugs that can have a positive effect on metabolic processes in the joints. These drugs are called hondroprotektorami. Supplements contain components that make up the cartilage. It is believed that hondroprotektory can help stop the progression of joint disease in the early stages and have a supporting effect.

Perhaps the appointment of the following chondroprotectors:

• Don;
• Teraflex;
• arthritis;
• Alflutop.

These preparations include chondroitin, glucosamine. Chondroprotectors should be used for a long time, and repeat the treatment every six months.

The feasibility of using chondroprotectors regularly challenged. Some experts consider them to be not only useless, but harmful in the treatment, which may aggravate the disease.

Recipes of traditional medicine

Folk medicine since ancient times used to eliminate pain in the joints, including for women in menopause. The funds are well tolerated and have no significant side effects.

Some experts at pains in the joints recommend using the following plants as part of comprehensive treatment:

• nettle leaves;
• white willow bark;
• Golden mustache;
• arnica;
• lingonberry leaves;
• flowers and fruits of elderberry black;
• leaves and fruits of chestnut;
• kidneys black poplar;
• liquorice root.

These plants are used in the form of decoctions, infusions and tinctures. It is noteworthy that the properties of some plants studied pharmacology and their use in the treatment can be considered scientifically valid.

In the treatment of joints is widely used potato that helps even in advanced stages of joint destruction. Good analgesic effect has garlic, pepper and ginger root. Useful for joints apple cider vinegar, which should be taken three times a day for a teaspoon to a glass of water. Also, good effect renders mineral water and bee products.

In the absence of contraindications for the treatment of joints, you can use an ointment, rubbing, compresses, baths with medicinal herbs.

Physical therapy and exercise therapy for joint pain

A special role in the treatment of joints in menopause have physiotherapy techniques. Modern medicine uses various methods of physical therapy.

When the pain in the joints of the following methods of physical therapy can be used in women during menopause:

• cold;
• heat;
• ultrasound;
• electrotherapy;
• acupuncture;
• massage;
• balneotherapy;
• hydrotherapy;
• mud therapy;
• clay treatment;
• stretching;
• stretching;
• magnetic therapy;
• laser therapy;
• rentgenobluchenie.

physiotherapy method should be prescribed by a doctor, as some tactics may be prohibited in various diseases. In particular, thermal procedures can not be used with fibroids and other tumors. Of considerable importance is the nature of pain. For example, in the acute phase it is recommended sparing effect on the background of the main treatment.

When the pain in the joints of exercise are an integral part of the treatment. However, the load should be gentle and does not lead to increased pain. Useful light exercise without a heavy load from a sitting position and lying. Before performing the exercises recommended to consult a doctor. The nature and desirability of physical activity is determined by specific pathologies that led to the emergence of pain in the joints. Preferably attend gymnastics and engage under the supervision of an instructor.

Food

An important component of the treatment of pain of the joints in women in menopause is diet. There is no special diet that would eliminate the discomfort and pain. However, there are products that are useful, or, on the contrary, it is undesirable to consume in diseases of the joints.

In menopause should be included in the diet of various vegetables, fruits and herbs. In inflammatory processes can be harmful protein products. It is desirable to limit the consumption of meat and dairy products. Some types of meat such as pork, contain a lot of calories and contribute to weight gain. In addition, when an excess of protein is released much uric acid, which may be deposited in the joints.

Supportive treatment and prevention

Often during menopause joint pain are chronic in nature, that is, proceed with periods of remissions and exacerbations. That is why it is important to supportive care, which includes routine screening, receiving medication drugs and exacerbations warning by gentle load on joints and special use diet. For the prevention of osteoporosis is also important regular intake of preparations containing calcium. Bad habits such as excessive alcohol consumption and smoking, are not the best way affects the condition of the joints.

Sometimes to eliminate or reduce pain can get rid of excess weight. This is due to the fact that obesity triggers hormonal imbalance, cardiovascular diseases, which may be the cause of pain in the joints have representatives in menopause.

When the pain in the joints have representatives who are in menopause, you should not choose the type of physical activity with the load on the affected joints. Moderately useful exercise improves metabolic processes, performance of the surrounding tissues. To select a suitable set of exercises it is desirable to seek specialist LFK.