What is the link between menopause and joint pain?

One word = Oestrogen.

As you enter menopause, which is on average at around 51, levels of this hormone start declining. Scientists are still investigating this link, but speculation is that it could be that oestrogen plays a role in pain pathways in the body.

They have also found that the development of Osteoarthritis is linked to an oestrogen deficiency.  Other factors that contribute to joint pain are dehydration and obesity.   Oestrogen is important for regulating fluid levels in your body. When Oestrogen levels decline, your body can’t retain water efficiently. When joint cartilages are well-hydrated, the friction rate between bones is lower, unlike in dehydrated cartilages. Due to higher friction, dehydration accelerates the process of joint damage.

5 Tips to relieve joint pain

• Manage Weight– Overweight/obesity adds more pressure to your joints and causes pain
• Exercise– Although the first instinct tells you to stay in bed until the joint pain goes away, that’s not the smartest idea. In fact, it would only aggravate the pain. The solution is to do low-impact activities that don’t stress your joints too much.
• Hot and Cold – Apply hot compresses to relieve stiffness in your joints or ice packs to alleviate the pain. To most people, the combination of hot and cold therapy works the best.
• Meditate – Meditation won’t magically take away the pain, but it can help you reduce stress and enable you to cope with pain better.
• Get a Massage – Besides soothing and de-stressing effects of massage, it also improves blood flow and range of motion