I can remember when things first started feeling uncomfortable. I am a pen and paper kind of girl. In fact, I am writing this blog post out with pen and paper, and I always do. About a year and a half ago, I started feeling some discomfort in my thumb while I was writing. After a while, I would have to take a break because of the pain. It would go away, but the next thing I knew, it was hurting even without me writing. Next, it was for a couple of weeks, then it would go away for months, but when it returned, it lasted about a month and I was in a lot of discomfort.
No one could have made me believe that joint pain just happens. I found myself questioning if I had arthritis, but a visit to my doctor helped me see what was going on (even though he prescribed arthritis cream for my thumb) In the past year I have noticed a few other aches I am dealing with, and trying to nurture them as best I can. My goal is to approach this situation in a more natural manner before taking things like pain medicine, but you must do what works best for you. In my research, there does not seem to be a way to avoid joint pain entirely in perimenopause, but there are some things we can do to ease it.
Adding a supplement for your joint and bone health can be helpful. Please consult with your physician first because every person is different. My doctor recommended a magnesium and vitamin D3 supplement for my bone health when I was 35. I have been diligently taking them for the past 13 years. Over time, I kept hearing about the loss of collagen as we age and decided to incorporate this supplement into my diet as well because of the benefits for joint health too.
Depending on the area you are experiencing joint pain, things like stretching and hot and cold therapy can give some relief. One area I experience joint pain in is my right elbow. I mostly feel this when I am working out and lifting weights. Stretching this area and gently moving it around helps ease some of that pain. On the other hand, the recent pain I have noticed in an area near my ankle seems to become aggravated when stretching. So, I do not push into the stretch as deeply. I have yet to try hot or cold therapy to see if this works, but I am open to it.
Another thing to consider to help ease your joint pain is your overall lifestyle. I know you hear this a lot, but the truth is so much of our overall health (even joint pain) is tied to how we treat our bodies on a daily basis. Regular exercise, specifically resistance training can help with this issue and is considered one of the best treatments. That's because exercise helps strengthen the muscle that supports the joints and provides lubrication according to Dr. Pamela Mehta with Resilience Orthopedics. You can also watch your nutritional intake and remove things that may cause inflammation. Eating lots of whole foods and foods that are naturally rich in vitamins and minerals are anti-inflammatory and good for your joints.
These are simple ways I am fighting the joint pain I have been experiencing. Do your research and talk to your physician to develop a plan that could work for you. Try some of these ideas to see if they help and let me know any suggestions that may have helped you during this process. Have you started experiencing joint pain and perimenopause?
Great tips my friend! That joint pain does appear out of no where and can be frustrating. Plus, I think it leaves us questioning so much. The more we talk about it, the more others will feel seen and heard!