Muscle aches can be a sign of a hormonal imbalance associated with menopause. "Aching, sore joints, muscles and tendons" are some of the 35 symptoms of menopause, according to Project Aware or the Association of Women for the Advancement of Research and Education (AWARE).
Considerations
Dr. Meghan McGowan, an obstetrician and gynecologist at Sanford Clinic Women's Health at the Sanford University of South Dakota, notes that a woman's body goes through many changes around menopause because of the dramatic decline in estrogen production. "The loss of estrogen can result in a number of symptoms," she adds.
Among those are aches. "Body aches may be a sign of muscle weakness, tendonitis or even bone loss," McGowan says. "Muscles, tendons and bones all have estrogen receptors, and those parts of the body can suffer and become weaker from the lack of estrogen during menopause, resulting in daily pain."
Back Pain
This is a common complaint during menopause, reports McGowan. She says it can be a sign of simple muscle weakness or strain, but it can be a more serious indication of bone loss in the form of osteopenia or osteoporosis. "The muscles and bones of the back respond favorably to estrogen and are stronger as a result during the time in a woman's life prior to menopause," McGowan explains. "With the onset of menopause and the loss of estrogen, weakness in the muscles and bones of the back can result in pain."
Misconceptions
Menopause often gets blamed for aches and/or pains that are part of the aging process, not a sign of the permanent stop of menses. "Because menopause occurs in most women after 50 years of living, body aches that may not be associated with menopause are often attributed to the 'change.' A good rule to remember is that 25 percent of women usually have no symptoms and only know they're menopausal when their menses stop," says Dr. Gloria Bachmann, interim chairwoman of the Ob/Gyn department at the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. "Fifty percent of women have mild symptoms, and 25 percent have severe symptoms."
Massage
This is one form of treatment that can help alleviate muscle pain. "The benefits of massage continue to be researched, but we think that the mechanical pressure and movement of skeletal muscles and superficial tissues can increase blood flow, decrease swelling and decrease tension within those muscles; thus, massage may produce pain relief," McGowan says.
Bachmann says massage therapy, and in some cases physical therapy, can be effective to reduce muscle pain from menopause. "However, massage therapy alone is not sufficient---exercise, a good diet, adequate sleep and healthy lifestyle should also be followed," she stresses.
Yearly Visit
Women who have gone through menopause should continue to have a yearly appointment with an Ob/Gyn or primary-care physician.
"We are here to help you though this change in your life," McGowan says. "[It] is key to maintaining a healthy lifestyle at any age."
McGowan suggests writing down specific questions before the visit. "Come prepared to tell us about your diet and exercise routine as well as specific menopausal symptoms that you may have. We can help you to live a happier and healthier life during menopause," she says.
References
- Project Aware: The 35 Symptoms of Menopause
- Meghan McGowan, MD, Health at the Sanford University of South Dakota, Sioux Falls, S.D.
- Gloria Bachmann, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, New Brunswick, N.J.
