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Leg Joint Pain & Menopause

When estrogen levels start to decline in peri-menopause, this can cause joint pain as well as leg cramps, according to Perimenopausesupport.com. Estrogen loss can result in diminished bone density and muscle mass. When this happens, more pressure is put on the joints. In addition, earlier in life when estrogen was working optimally, it enhanced calcium absorption. During peri-menopause, it no longer does that as well. This means that women can become deficient in calcium, which can result in leg cramps.

  1. Osteoarthritis

    • As we get older, we are likely to develop some physical problems such as osteoarthritis, which is the wear-and-tear version of arthritis, when joints are becoming worn out from overuse. This occurs about the same time that a woman becomes peri-menopausal and can cause joint pain, as can fibromyalgia, which is a condition that affects the muscles.

    Arthralgia

    • According to All4naturalhealth.com, many women first experience joint pain, which is called arthralgia, when they enter into peri-menopause, at which time joints can become painful and stiff. Hormonal imbalances can lead to painful joints. When estrogen levels plummet, joints become inflamed and and painful.

      All4naturalhealth.com notes the importance of doing range-of-motion exercises, such as yoga, to maintain flexibility.

    Medications May Worsen Pain

    • Taking certain medications to relieve joint pain can do more damage than good. Pain medications such as Advil and Motrin are reportedly capable of eroding cartilage. A person who does not exercise but takes pain relievers may find that joints and muscles get weaker over time, which causes pain.

    Menopause Arthritis

    • Joint pain is so common among middle-aged women that it is sometimes referred to as menopausal arthritis. Joint pain can result in a vicious cycle: Pain causes depression, which leads to lessened physical activity, which leads to depression, which can lead to still more pain. Women should keep active and do stretching exercises on a daily basis because this restores mobility and eases joint pain.

    What to Do?

    • Some women have found relief in herbal remedies. Others use supplements that contain glucosamine sulfate, omega 3 fatty acids, proanthocyanadins and tumeric, which reportedly work well in improving joint health.

      Those suffering from joint pain, leg cramps and restless leg syndrome may find that taking supplements that contain calcium, B12, B6 and magnesium help relieve these symptoms.

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