Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsMenopause and Joint PainJoint Pain SymptomsOther Joint Pain CausesPain ReliefWhen to See a Provider
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Menopause and Joint Pain
Joint Pain Symptoms
Other Joint Pain Causes
Pain Relief
When to See a Provider
Joint pain is a common symptom ofmenopauseand can affect any joint, including knees, shoulders, elbows, and hands. Hormonal declines, which are the cause of menopause, can affect various body areas, including the muscles and bones.
Menopauseis part of the aging process. A person who menstruates is considered in menopause when they have gone 12 months without a period. The average age for menopause in the United States is 52.
The first stage of menopause isperimenopause, which typically starts in the early to mid-40s and can last an average of four years.Menopause that occurs before age 45 is consideredearly menopause.
This article will cover the causes of joint pain in menopause, what menopausal joint pain feels like, other possible cases, and more.
AzmanJaka / Getty Images
Can Menopause Cause Joint Pain?
Estrogenis a sex hormone responsible for many body functions, including keeping bones, joints, and cartilage healthy.It helps with natural bone replacement and preventingjoint inflammationand pain. Estrogen also directly affects muscles, tendons, and ligaments and contributes to muscle mass and strength.
Bone and muscle function is improved with optimal estrogen levels. Research shows balanced estrogen levels can decrease stiffness in muscles, tendons, and ligaments, leading to better joint performance and reduced injury rates.
Up to 50% of people in menopause report joint pain.For 21%, joint pain is a significant symptom.
Joint pain and swelling related to estrogen decline often affects the small joints of the hands and feet.Other joint areas, including the knees, elbows, and neck, can also be affected.
Menopause: Symptoms, Coping, and Duration
What Does Menopause Joint Pain Feel Like?
Menopausal joint pain is often at its worst in the morning and improves with activity.You may alsoawaken to stiff joints.
Additional joint symptoms might include:
Menopausal joint pain can affect your ability to do daily activities, as well as your overall quality of life. Persistent pain and stiffness make performing routine tasks harder and affect the enjoyment of favorite activities.You may also experience stiffness that limits your range of motion and makes walking and other activities difficult.
Joint pain may affect your emotional health and lead to feelings of anxiety and depression.You might also experience sleep troubles because joint pain makes it challenging to find a comfortable sleep position, or joint pain may wake you up at night.
Other Possible Causes of Joint Pain During Menopause
Hormonal shifts during menopause can lead to joint pain and stiffness. But menopause is not the only possible cause of joint pain during this time.
Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis(OA), a type of wear-and-tear arthritis, strikes people assigned female at birth at higher numbers than those assigned male at birth, with an increased risk for hand and knee OA.The effects of knee and hand OA seem to increase with age and tend to be more rapid between ages 50 and 75.
The risk for hand OA peaks after menopause more than 3.5 times higher in women aged 50 to 60 compared to men of the same age range.Researchers believe that estrogen deficiency is to blame for the increased risk for females.
A Note on Gender and Sex TerminologyVerywell Health acknowledges thatsex and genderare related concepts, but they are not the same. To reflect our sources accurately, this article uses terms like “female,” “male,” “woman,” and “man” as the sources use them.
A Note on Gender and Sex Terminology
Verywell Health acknowledges thatsex and genderare related concepts, but they are not the same. To reflect our sources accurately, this article uses terms like “female,” “male,” “woman,” and “man” as the sources use them.
Menopause and estrogen declines are not always the cause of OA, and joint pain in menopause may occur without OA.It is not unusual to experience joint pain or develop OA due to aging. OA is also related to other factors, including genetics. So, while menopause might be to blame for some people’s joint pain, it is not always the primary cause.
Joint Pain Causes and Treatment Options
Osteoporosis
Declining estrogen levels may also lead to the development ofosteoporosis, a bone disease that weakens bones and makes them more vulnerable to fractures (breaks).
While osteoporosis does not directly contribute to joint pain, it may do so indirectly. For example, osteoporosis can lead to spinal, wrist, and hip fractures, which can cause you to have joint pain.
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis(RA) is anautoimmune inflammatory disorderaffecting thesynovial liningsof the joints.Autoimmune diseasesoccur when the immune system malfunctions and starts attacking healthy tissues.
RA usually starts between ages 25 and 45 but can also develop in older adults.RA after age 45 is consideredlate onset.
RA can develop during menopause, but hormonal imbalances may not be the cause of joint symptoms. No evidence suggests that menopause can lead to the development of RA.
The earliest symptoms of RA are joint pain and tenderness.Additional symptoms include:
Psoriatic Arthritis
Like RA,psoriatic arthritis(PsA), is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system malfunctions and attacks healthy tissues. PsA affects both the skin and joints. Its shared connection to menopause is dropping estrogen levels, which may increase your risk for the condition.
PsA and menopause might also share some overlapping symptoms, which makes it harder to distinguish between the two conditions.
Such symptoms include:
What to Know About Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA) and Menopause
Fibromyalgia
Some people report that fibromyalgia symptoms begin after menopause, suggesting a connection between a hormonal imbalance and widespread musculoskeletal pain.Fibromyalgia symptoms also seem to worsen with the onset of menopause.
How to Relieve Menopausal Joint Pain
Lifestyle modifications, including exercise and diet, can reduce menopausal joint pain and even reduce your risk for OA and osteoporosis. Additional lifestyle changes include stress management and quitting smoking. Treatment options include over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers, acupuncture, hormone therapy, and nutritional supplements.
Exercise Regularly
If you experience joint pain, you might want to limit your movement, but healthcare providers recommend physical activity to manage pain and stiffness.
Regular physical activity can keep muscles around affected joints strong, decrease muscle loss, and control joint swelling and pain.
Regular exercise can also help increasejoint cartilagelubrication, further reducing pain and stiffness.It can improve sleep and decrease fatigue.
Eat More Anti-Inflammatory Foods
Your diet plays a vital role in managing menopausal joint pain. You will want to eat a well-balanced diet with many fruits and vegetables, whole grains, fish, lean meats, and healthy fats.
Adding foods consideredanti-inflammatory, such as nuts, leafy green vegetables, olive oil, and oily fish, might help to prevent joint pain.You will also want to avoid foods that increase inflammation, such as refined carbs (i.e., white bread), fried foods, soda and other sweetened beverages, red meats, margarine, and other shortenings.
What Are the Best Anti-Inflammatory Foods?
Find Ways to De-Stress
Consider talking to a therapist. This person can help you to better manage the effects of menopause and joint pain on your life. You may benefit from interventions likecognitive behavioral therapy(CBT), which can help you better understand and manage stressful issues.
You may also consider findingways to relax, such as deep breathing, taking walks, meditation, or yoga.
Maintain Your Body Weight
Losing weight can take the stress off joints, easing joint symptoms. Any joint damage, however, cannot be reversed.
Quit Smoking
How to Realistically Quit Smoking: 24+ Steps to Take Right Now
Consider Acupuncture
Acupunctureis an alternative medicine practice that uses small, thin needles that go into the skin at specific points on the body. Western medicine experts believe the procedure stimulates muscles, nerves, and other tissues.
While limited, some of the research on acupuncture suggests it may help the body to release natural painkillers.The risk of harm with acupuncture is low, provided the practitioner uses new, sterile needles for each client.
If you want to try acupuncture, check with your healthcare provider. They can review your medical history and help you decide whether acupuncture is a safe option for you.
Try OTC Painkillers
Many options for OTC medications can help you manage your joint pain. Your OTC pain relief options might include:
Consult with your healthcare provider if OTC medicines don’t help relieve your joint pain. They can prescribe more potent pain relief medicines and treat other causes of joint pain, such as OA, RA, and fibromyalgia.
7 Types of Medications for Joint Pain Relief
Apply Ice and Heat
Applying heat to achy joints can provide temporary pain relief.You can use a heating pad, hot water bottle, warm compresses, or soak in the tub. For inflamed (swollen) joints, use an ice pack to bring down swelling to reduce pain.
Try Menopausal Hormone Therapy
Hormone replacement therapy(HRT) is a form of estrogen treatment. It has been shown to reduce joint pain during perimenopause and following menopause.
There are many different HRT options. Your healthcare provider can advise you on the best options for your unique health situation.
Supplements
Some dietary supplements can help improve your joint health and manage joint pain.
The following supplements are believed to relieve joint pain and inflammation:
Talk to your healthcare provider before starting any new supplement. They can review your medical history and help you decide whether a supplement might help with your joint pain and if it is safe to take based on your unique health situation.
When to Contact a Healthcare Provider
You should let your healthcare provider know if you are experiencing persistent joint pain. They can identify the cause, rule out other conditions, and find a treatment plan that works for you.
Summary
Menopause is the time of life that occurs when you stop having menstrual periods for 12 months in a row. Declining hormone levels can affect your body in many ways. Joint pain is common during menopause and the time before periods end, called perimenopause. The risk for arthritis and osteoporosis also increases during this time.
Joint pain in menopause can be managed and treated in many ways. This includes lifestyle changes like eating a healthy diet, exercising, managing stress, and quitting smoking. Treatment options for managing menopausal joint pain include OTC pain relievers, acupuncture, hormone replacement therapy, and natural supplements.
20 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Lu CB, Liu PF, Zhou YS, et al.Musculoskeletal pain during the menopausal transition: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Neural Plast. 2020;2020:8842110. doi:10.1155/2020/8842110Office on Women’s Health.Menopause basics.Chidi-Ogbolu N, Baar K.Effect of estrogen on musculoskeletal performance and injury risk.Front Physiol. 2019;9:1834. doi:10.3389/fphys.2018.01834McLaren Z, Hum O.Why menopause is relevant to the rheumatologist.Rheumatology (Oxford). 2022;61(4):1303-1304. doi:10.1093/rheumatology/keab848Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Osteoarthritis.Mahajan A, Patni R.Menopause and osteoarthritis: any association?J Midlife Health. 2018;9(4):171-172. doi:10.4103/jmh.JMH_157_18Mei Y, Williams JS, Webb EK, Shea AK, MacDonald MJ, Al-Khazraji BK.Roles of hormone replacement therapy and menopause on osteoarthritis and cardiovascular disease outcomes: a narrative review.Front Rehabil Sci. 2022;3:825147. doi:10.3389/fresc.2022.825147American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Osteoporosis and spinal fractures.Arthritis Foundation.Rheumatoid arthritis: causes, symptoms, treatments and more.Eun Y, Jeon KH, Han K, et al.Menopausal factors and risk of seropositive rheumatoid arthritis in postmenopausal women: a nationwide cohort study of 1.36 million women.Sci Rep. 2020;10(1):20793. doi:10.1038/s41598-020-77841-1Xiao Y, Yi Y, Jing D, et al.Age at natural menopause, reproductive lifespan, and the risk of late-onset psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis in women: a prospective cohort study.J Invest Dermatol. 2023:S0022-202X(23)03135-4. doi:10.1016/j.jid.2023.11.010Dias RCA, Kulak Junior J, Ferreira da Costa EH, Nisihara RM.Fibromyalgia, sleep disturbance and menopause: Is there a relationship? A literature review.IntJ Rheum Dis. 2019;22(11):1961-1971. doi:10.1111/1756-185X.13713Johns Hopkins Arthritis Center.Role of exercise in arthritis management.Harvard Health Publishing.Foods you should eat to help fight inflammation.Arthritis Foundation.How stress affects arthritis.Bliddal H, Leeds AR, Christensen R.Osteoarthritis, obesity and weight loss: evidence, hypotheses and horizons - a scoping review.Obes Rev. 2014;15(7):578-586. doi:10.1111/obr.12173American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Smoking and musculoskeletal health.Chou PC, Chu HY.Clinical efficacy of acupuncture on rheumatoid arthritis and associated mechanisms: a systemic review.Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2018;2018:8596918. doi:10.1155/2018/8596918Arthritis Foundation.Finding the best joint pain relief for you: 24 treatment options.Mei Z, Hu H, Zou Y, Li D.The role of vitamin D in menopausal women’s health.Front Physiol. 2023;14:1211896, doi:10.3389/fphys.2023.1211896
20 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Lu CB, Liu PF, Zhou YS, et al.Musculoskeletal pain during the menopausal transition: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Neural Plast. 2020;2020:8842110. doi:10.1155/2020/8842110Office on Women’s Health.Menopause basics.Chidi-Ogbolu N, Baar K.Effect of estrogen on musculoskeletal performance and injury risk.Front Physiol. 2019;9:1834. doi:10.3389/fphys.2018.01834McLaren Z, Hum O.Why menopause is relevant to the rheumatologist.Rheumatology (Oxford). 2022;61(4):1303-1304. doi:10.1093/rheumatology/keab848Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Osteoarthritis.Mahajan A, Patni R.Menopause and osteoarthritis: any association?J Midlife Health. 2018;9(4):171-172. doi:10.4103/jmh.JMH_157_18Mei Y, Williams JS, Webb EK, Shea AK, MacDonald MJ, Al-Khazraji BK.Roles of hormone replacement therapy and menopause on osteoarthritis and cardiovascular disease outcomes: a narrative review.Front Rehabil Sci. 2022;3:825147. doi:10.3389/fresc.2022.825147American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Osteoporosis and spinal fractures.Arthritis Foundation.Rheumatoid arthritis: causes, symptoms, treatments and more.Eun Y, Jeon KH, Han K, et al.Menopausal factors and risk of seropositive rheumatoid arthritis in postmenopausal women: a nationwide cohort study of 1.36 million women.Sci Rep. 2020;10(1):20793. doi:10.1038/s41598-020-77841-1Xiao Y, Yi Y, Jing D, et al.Age at natural menopause, reproductive lifespan, and the risk of late-onset psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis in women: a prospective cohort study.J Invest Dermatol. 2023:S0022-202X(23)03135-4. doi:10.1016/j.jid.2023.11.010Dias RCA, Kulak Junior J, Ferreira da Costa EH, Nisihara RM.Fibromyalgia, sleep disturbance and menopause: Is there a relationship? A literature review.IntJ Rheum Dis. 2019;22(11):1961-1971. doi:10.1111/1756-185X.13713Johns Hopkins Arthritis Center.Role of exercise in arthritis management.Harvard Health Publishing.Foods you should eat to help fight inflammation.Arthritis Foundation.How stress affects arthritis.Bliddal H, Leeds AR, Christensen R.Osteoarthritis, obesity and weight loss: evidence, hypotheses and horizons - a scoping review.Obes Rev. 2014;15(7):578-586. doi:10.1111/obr.12173American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Smoking and musculoskeletal health.Chou PC, Chu HY.Clinical efficacy of acupuncture on rheumatoid arthritis and associated mechanisms: a systemic review.Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2018;2018:8596918. doi:10.1155/2018/8596918Arthritis Foundation.Finding the best joint pain relief for you: 24 treatment options.Mei Z, Hu H, Zou Y, Li D.The role of vitamin D in menopausal women’s health.Front Physiol. 2023;14:1211896, doi:10.3389/fphys.2023.1211896
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Lu CB, Liu PF, Zhou YS, et al.Musculoskeletal pain during the menopausal transition: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Neural Plast. 2020;2020:8842110. doi:10.1155/2020/8842110Office on Women’s Health.Menopause basics.Chidi-Ogbolu N, Baar K.Effect of estrogen on musculoskeletal performance and injury risk.Front Physiol. 2019;9:1834. doi:10.3389/fphys.2018.01834McLaren Z, Hum O.Why menopause is relevant to the rheumatologist.Rheumatology (Oxford). 2022;61(4):1303-1304. doi:10.1093/rheumatology/keab848Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Osteoarthritis.Mahajan A, Patni R.Menopause and osteoarthritis: any association?J Midlife Health. 2018;9(4):171-172. doi:10.4103/jmh.JMH_157_18Mei Y, Williams JS, Webb EK, Shea AK, MacDonald MJ, Al-Khazraji BK.Roles of hormone replacement therapy and menopause on osteoarthritis and cardiovascular disease outcomes: a narrative review.Front Rehabil Sci. 2022;3:825147. doi:10.3389/fresc.2022.825147American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Osteoporosis and spinal fractures.Arthritis Foundation.Rheumatoid arthritis: causes, symptoms, treatments and more.Eun Y, Jeon KH, Han K, et al.Menopausal factors and risk of seropositive rheumatoid arthritis in postmenopausal women: a nationwide cohort study of 1.36 million women.Sci Rep. 2020;10(1):20793. doi:10.1038/s41598-020-77841-1Xiao Y, Yi Y, Jing D, et al.Age at natural menopause, reproductive lifespan, and the risk of late-onset psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis in women: a prospective cohort study.J Invest Dermatol. 2023:S0022-202X(23)03135-4. doi:10.1016/j.jid.2023.11.010Dias RCA, Kulak Junior J, Ferreira da Costa EH, Nisihara RM.Fibromyalgia, sleep disturbance and menopause: Is there a relationship? A literature review.IntJ Rheum Dis. 2019;22(11):1961-1971. doi:10.1111/1756-185X.13713Johns Hopkins Arthritis Center.Role of exercise in arthritis management.Harvard Health Publishing.Foods you should eat to help fight inflammation.Arthritis Foundation.How stress affects arthritis.Bliddal H, Leeds AR, Christensen R.Osteoarthritis, obesity and weight loss: evidence, hypotheses and horizons - a scoping review.Obes Rev. 2014;15(7):578-586. doi:10.1111/obr.12173American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Smoking and musculoskeletal health.Chou PC, Chu HY.Clinical efficacy of acupuncture on rheumatoid arthritis and associated mechanisms: a systemic review.Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2018;2018:8596918. doi:10.1155/2018/8596918Arthritis Foundation.Finding the best joint pain relief for you: 24 treatment options.Mei Z, Hu H, Zou Y, Li D.The role of vitamin D in menopausal women’s health.Front Physiol. 2023;14:1211896, doi:10.3389/fphys.2023.1211896
Lu CB, Liu PF, Zhou YS, et al.Musculoskeletal pain during the menopausal transition: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Neural Plast. 2020;2020:8842110. doi:10.1155/2020/8842110
Office on Women’s Health.Menopause basics.
Chidi-Ogbolu N, Baar K.Effect of estrogen on musculoskeletal performance and injury risk.Front Physiol. 2019;9:1834. doi:10.3389/fphys.2018.01834
McLaren Z, Hum O.Why menopause is relevant to the rheumatologist.Rheumatology (Oxford). 2022;61(4):1303-1304. doi:10.1093/rheumatology/keab848
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Osteoarthritis.
Mahajan A, Patni R.Menopause and osteoarthritis: any association?J Midlife Health. 2018;9(4):171-172. doi:10.4103/jmh.JMH_157_18
Mei Y, Williams JS, Webb EK, Shea AK, MacDonald MJ, Al-Khazraji BK.Roles of hormone replacement therapy and menopause on osteoarthritis and cardiovascular disease outcomes: a narrative review.Front Rehabil Sci. 2022;3:825147. doi:10.3389/fresc.2022.825147
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Osteoporosis and spinal fractures.
Arthritis Foundation.Rheumatoid arthritis: causes, symptoms, treatments and more.
Eun Y, Jeon KH, Han K, et al.Menopausal factors and risk of seropositive rheumatoid arthritis in postmenopausal women: a nationwide cohort study of 1.36 million women.Sci Rep. 2020;10(1):20793. doi:10.1038/s41598-020-77841-1
Xiao Y, Yi Y, Jing D, et al.Age at natural menopause, reproductive lifespan, and the risk of late-onset psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis in women: a prospective cohort study.J Invest Dermatol. 2023:S0022-202X(23)03135-4. doi:10.1016/j.jid.2023.11.010
Dias RCA, Kulak Junior J, Ferreira da Costa EH, Nisihara RM.Fibromyalgia, sleep disturbance and menopause: Is there a relationship? A literature review.IntJ Rheum Dis. 2019;22(11):1961-1971. doi:10.1111/1756-185X.13713
Johns Hopkins Arthritis Center.Role of exercise in arthritis management.
Harvard Health Publishing.Foods you should eat to help fight inflammation.
Arthritis Foundation.How stress affects arthritis.
Bliddal H, Leeds AR, Christensen R.Osteoarthritis, obesity and weight loss: evidence, hypotheses and horizons - a scoping review.Obes Rev. 2014;15(7):578-586. doi:10.1111/obr.12173
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Smoking and musculoskeletal health.
Chou PC, Chu HY.Clinical efficacy of acupuncture on rheumatoid arthritis and associated mechanisms: a systemic review.Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2018;2018:8596918. doi:10.1155/2018/8596918
Arthritis Foundation.Finding the best joint pain relief for you: 24 treatment options.
Mei Z, Hu H, Zou Y, Li D.The role of vitamin D in menopausal women’s health.Front Physiol. 2023;14:1211896, doi:10.3389/fphys.2023.1211896
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