Eileen's TOP TIP: Devil’s Claw is best taken after food. If your joint pain is troublesome, start off with a higher dose of Devil’s Claw. Take two tablets twice daily of Atrosan for 3 to 5 days, then 1 tablet twice daily.Our customers love us!
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Joint pain can be a symptom of the menopause
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Joint pain is one of the more common menopause symptoms and it can be one of the more debilitating as it reduces mobility and flexibility. Here, our menopause expert Eileen Durward talks about what triggers joint pain in the menopause, and how it can be eased through lifestyle changes and natural remedies.
Joint pain affects many people as they get older and is also common among menopausal women. Aches, stiffness and swelling around the joint and sometimes heat are typical symptoms of menopausal joint pain. These may be worse in the morning, improving as the day continues.
Joints which experience high impact such as the hips and knees tend to be most affected by this so called ’menopausal arthritis.’ Hands and fingers can also be affected. High impact exercise such as jogging can exacerbate the problem, although this is often eased with rest.
The hormone oestrogen has an important role in maintaining joint and bone health. It is not certain how it does this, but it is thought that it works by minimising swelling around the joint. As you reach the menopause, levels of oestrogen in your body begin to drop. This gives rise to common menopause symptoms including hot flushes and night sweats, and may also result in swollen and painful joints.
Dehydration can also cause joint pain because of a build up of uric acid which can cause inflammation in your joints. Oestrogen is also important for regulating fluid levels in your body, and with falling levels of the hormone, you find that your body is unable to retain water efficiently.
It is important to reduce the pressure of repetitive strain, such as jogging on hard roads, to protect your joints. At the same time though, keeping them flexible will reduce joint pain. Some exercises such as yoga and swimming are beneficial for strengthening your muscles and joints without exerting too much pressure on them.
Diet can have a positive influence on your joint health. Many fruit and vegetables have properties which reduce inflammation. Having a balanced diet is not only healthy and will help you with many menopause symptoms, but will keep your weight level correct. Being overweight will add extra stress onto your joints, increasing your problem.
Calcium is particularly important as it keeps your bones strong and healthy. As you are going through the menopause you may find a calcium supplement beneficial. However, for calcium to be absorbed into your bloodstream effectively, it is important to also have a high intake of magnesium, achieved by including nuts, wholegrains and dried fruit into your diet.
Alternatively, taking a calcium and magnesium supplement would provide some of the same benefits. Some women find that taking magnesium on its own is very effective, as it helps to relax tense muscles.
Stress, surprisingly, can have a negative effect on your joint health. If you are experiencing a lot of stress, your body will release high quantities of the hormone cortisol. This hormone works as an inflammatory agent, and so high levels of stress during the menopause will only make your joint pain worse. It is important if you tend to experience stress to take time to relax every day.
Alternative treatments such as massage or acupuncture help many women with their joint pain symptoms. They directly target the area of pain in order to ease the symptom.
Some women might experience ‘rheumatic’ type pains coming from the inside of a joint. This is where Devil’s Claw can help – it has a similar effect to that of steroids, although without the steroidal compounds, so without the associated side effects. The herb is gentle to the body and may take up to 4 weeks to work its way into the body.
Atrosan® – Devil’s Claw tablets for muscle and joint pains
Relieves muscle & joint pain, backache and lumbago. Also available in 60 tablet size. More info
Conventional medicines for joint pain include painkillers and anti-inflammatories. However, they are not usually recommended for joint pain associated with the menopause as the pain is a symptom rather than the cause itself. To treat menopausal joint pain, your doctor may consider the use of HRT.
If your pain is severe, and home and herbal remedies are ineffective, then there may be another underlying cause. In this case, or if you are worried about your condition, it is important to talk to your doctor as he will be able to prescribe a treatment to help you.
Who doesn’t love a success story and I was so pleased with this one I had to share it...
I just love it when easy, simple things you can do to help yourself can make such a big difference, which is exactly what happened when Margaret (56) asked my advice on joint pain during menopause.
Find out what it was from my advice that Margaret found most helpful...Try it and see how it works for you.
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Menopause Support can provide support to the body through all stages of the 
Menopause but is especially useful when broad range of symptoms such as hot flushes, irritability, tiredness, pains and aches, vaginal dryness etc kick in.
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A herbal dietary supplement containing soy isoflavones, magnesium and hibiscus extract for all stages of the menopause.
TIP: Read why so many women recommend Menopause Support for before, during & after the menopause
Hello lovely ladies, my name is Eileen and I have worked in the Education Department at A.Vogel for over 18 years, lecturing and advising on many health concerns via the Helpline, including the menopause and its dreaded symptoms.
My own personal experience of going through the menopause (and surviving it), which I regularly blog about, as well as that of hundreds of menopause women who ring the helpline or email me every day, allows me to offer my guidance, advice and sometimes just a much needed shoulder to cry on, to menopausal women all over the world.
Like what you read? Sign up to my regular emails full of simple tips and advice to help you through all the stages of your menopause.
Atrosan® – Devil’s Claw tablets for muscle and joint pains
Relieves muscle & joint pain, backache and lumbago. Also available in 60 tablet size.
More info
What's being asked
As well as night sweats, poor concentration, etc., my husband says that I smell strange - is this usual?
This is quite common as hormone levels fall. Lower hormone levels can affect the friendly bacteria ...
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Can you tell me if aching hips, lower back and groins are part of the menopause? I haven't had a period for nearly a year. I'm 44 years old. I am having hot flushes, so pretty sure it is menopause. I generally am feeling unwell for most of the day. Is this normal?
Joint and muscle aches and pains are quite common in the menopause and some women do feel under par ...
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72 Comments
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J Davies — 26.09.2017 07:17
Hi just joined can I use devils claw along side the starter pack when it arrives?
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Eileen — 26.09.2017 11:12
Hello.
Devil's claw tincture is fine to take along with the Menopause support tablets.
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Michelle — 23.09.2017 07:05
I was 36 when my symptoms started
Night sweats, hot flushes,
Doctors dismissed my symptoms and put it down to stress. Then my periods became irregular by the time I was 40 periods had stopped
My joint pains were horrendous in shoulders to the point I was becoming a pain killer junkie.
I had cortisone injections
I changed doctors and finally was listened to.
I was very reluctant to start HRT and in actual fact find start taking it until o was 45 so 5 years of my doc trying to persuade me, and omg what a difference it made to my joint pains.
I do have arthritis in both Shoulders and hips, but some taking my HRT I've gone from pill popping every 4 hours to virtually zero.
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Eileen — 26.09.2017 11:12
Has your doctor advised that you continue HRT indefinitely, Michelle?
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Michelle — 27.09.2017 19:15
No nothing has been said about indefdinately.
But I went to gynacholgist who also advised me to take the hrt.
The problem is there is a risk with breast cancer but I've been told by a few doctors that the studies done on breast cancer and hrt were done on ladies in the 50s when breast cancer is more likely.
Also was told the body shouldn't be getting rid of these hormones until into the 50s so hrt isn't a worry for those under 50.
Hrt also protects don't quote me but I think they said the lining of the womb.
It's definitely made a massive change to my life.
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Michelle — 27.09.2017 19:15
No nothing has been said about indefdinately.
But I went to gynacholgist who also advised me to take the hrt.
The problem is there is a risk with breast cancer but I've been told by a few doctors that the studies done on breast cancer and hrt were done on ladies in the 50s when breast cancer is more likely.
Also was told the body shouldn't be getting rid of these hormones until into the 50s so hrt isn't a worry for those under 50.
Hrt also protects don't quote me but I think they said the lining of the womb.
It's definitely made a massive change to my life.
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Eileen — 28.09.2017 08:44
Hi Michelle,
I'm so glad you have a solution to your problem currently. My advice ongoing would be to talk to your consultant about when (and if) you have to come off HRT, as you will benefit from doing it really slowly over as long a period as possible, to avoid a recurrence of your initial symptoms.
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Julie Clark — 22.09.2017 07:42
Hello there. I am 59 and had my last period just 18 months ago. I have suffered almost every menopausal symptom imaginable over the past 10 years or so and thought I would be finally be over most of them, however, these past few months I am suffering quite a lot with aches and pains in my legs (not when I'm resting, just when I'm trying to move about) and also lower back pain from time to time. The aches seem to start in my groin and go down my legs.....I have suffered with fibroids in the past but thought they would have shrunk by now. I'm reluctant to go to the doctors as I don't want to be put on HRT and surely I must be nearing the end of all these horrible menopausal symptoms as I will be 60 next year.....Just wondered your thoughts on these horrible leg aches and pains. Thank you
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eileen — 22.09.2017 10:27
Hi Julie
Back pain can often irritate the nerves to the legs causing pains that could go down to the feet. I would suggest going to see a Chiropractor who can check everything for you and offer treatment if necessary. 10 years is quite a long time to be going through the menopause, have you had regular checks on your thyroid levels, vitamin D and iron? These can all appear mid-life and cause menopause-like symptoms. If not, it is a good idea to ask your doctor to test for them just to rule them out.
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