Muscle and Joint Pain
Hormone fluctuations in menopause can negatively affect joints, connective tissue and muscle in all sorts of different ways including:
Decreased collagen and bone density
Decreased muscle mass (up to 8 percent decrease per decade since age 30!)*
General muscle aches, pains and stiffness due to a drop in oestrogen
Weight gain due to decrease in muscle mass (muscle burns more energy than fat)
Inflammation which can manifest in many ways but can include joint and muscle pain, swelling or tenderness.
No 1. Magnificent Menopause tip for muscle and joint pain:
There are different natural health solutions for each of the above but my first response to joint pain is always to consume more vitamin D.
With one of my clients all we did was increase vitamin D for the first month or so and her joint pain improved by 80%.
Vitamin D improves calcium absorption, bone strength, muscle function and decreases inflammation. So that’s a good and easy place to start. For those in Northern European countries I would recommend taking a vitamin D supplement, (either in a multivitamin or on its own) for at least the winter months and more so if you spend a lot of time inside.
If you are sick of supplements there are some good vitamin D sprays. You can also increase vitamin D by having more exposure to natural light and the sun. If you wear sunscreen, vitamin D production will be affected to some extent. Vitamin D can also be found in oily fish or eggs from free range chickens that spend more time outside.
I often use Bio Care’s Vitamin D3 spray which you can buy via Natural Dispensary. You are welcome to use my 10% discount (CRP10).
How else can I help?
Menopause symptoms affect many of us dramatically. Both physically and emotionally it can have a significant impact on anything from relationships, work, family life, hobbies and most fundamentally your sense of self.
However, it can truly be the most powerful and liberating time of your life. It may seem impossible to believe right now, but trust me - you can use its challenges to fuel your personal, physical and spiritual growth during this next phase of life.
From Nutritional Protocols, Yoga and Qigong, Menopause Coaching and Workplace Training, I can offer step by step guidance to steer you through menopause’s choppy waters.
First Watch my Free Menopause Masterclass and after that you will be directed to a booking page where you can Book a 20 minute Free Discovery Call and tell me what is going on for you.
If you would like to find out more and take the next step check the links below.
What to do next?
Join my Facebook Group where you can access a community of people going through the menopause transition.
Sign up to the newsletter for my latest articles about menopause nutrition, movement and more.
Visit the Natural Menopause Method website page to find out more about the work I do to help women navigate their menopause journey.
If you are struggling with symptoms at work or you would like to improve the conversations and provisions around menopause in your workplace then visit the Menopause in the Workplace page where you can find information about the packages and presentations I offer.
The symptom quiz has been designed for women going through perimenopause, menopause or post-menopause. It is not a substitute for advice provided by your general practitioner or other healthcare provider. You should not take any action based on the content of this quiz and its results or top tips, without first seeking medical advice.