Joint Pain: Hormonal vs Arthritis
Bringing Joint Pain Into Focus
Nobody WANTS to focus on their joint pain, yet bringing it into focus can help you take the guess work out and understand the underlying cause and therefore the solution to getting you relief.
Lori, 49, is a current patient of mine who came to me with hip and low back pain. She explained that her doctor had diagnosed her with arthritis 5 years ago and was prescribed anti-inflammatory medication.
At first the medication gave her some relief from achy joints, but overtime the pain persisted and eventually got worse. She did not want to take anti-inflammatory meds forever with little to no resolution.
We ran some blood work and a female hormone panel and discovered she was showing signs of peri-menopause, most likely contributing to her hip/ low back pain.
Working on a few lifestyle modifications and personalized supplementation within 3 months Lori was pain-free for the first time in over 5 years!!!!
Arthritis is a condition describing inflammation in a joint often leading to stiff and achy joints. Having “arthritic or degenerative changes” in a joint is a normal part of aging, however, having inflammation and pain is NOT!
Having taken thousands of x-rays on people over the past 17 years in practice I have seen many spines with generalized arthritis who doNOT have pain.
Painful arthritis can be drastically reduced by eliminating chronic low-grade inflammation (see my last newsletter series on inflammation here >>> ).
As estrogen begins to decline and hormone levels become topsy-turvy, women may experience a slew of symptoms.
What a lot of women don’t realize is JOINT PAIN is often one of them.
Taking a leap into hormone replacement therapy is one way to alleviate symptoms, yet I have found that supporting some foundational functions such as adrenals, inflammation, and/or bio identical hormones can address the root cause.
HOW DO I KNOW WHICH APPROACH IS RIGHT FOR ME?
Your Desired Outcome: Your approach to joint pain typically will be determined by your goals. Indeed, symptom relief is at the top of everyone’s list, but what else can you consider? >>>>
LET’S TALK ABOUT HIP PAIN!
Hip pain is a common area where hormonal joint pain will reveal itself. We have estrogen receptors in our joints. Estrogen supports the health and elasticity in our joints and surrounding tendons/ligaments . With declining levels of estrogen as peri-menopause begins setting in, it’s not uncommon that women will experience hip, low back and/or knee pain.
Gluteal Tendonopathy: - is a condition involving the tendons that connect the muscles of the butt (your glutes) to the bones of the pelvis and thigh (the hip and leg). Declining estrogen causes disorganization of collagen fibers leading to a lack of strength and stability of the hip.
All muscles are important, but the bum muscles are a big one (badum pshh). The glutes support our upright position against gravity. That alone is a big job!!
Common Symptoms with Gluteal Tendonopathy:
pain in the morning
pain when going from sitting to standing
pain with lateral movement
pain with hip stretches
female age 35-60
walking up or down stairs
Why Is This Important Dr. Bean?
Arthritis and bursitis in the hip area can also cause the above symptoms! If you are someone experiencing hip pain and in menopausal age range, having a health professional exam you can lead you towards the correct cause of your pain.
There are many women suffering from chronic hip, low back, and knee pain who have been diagnosed with arthritis, when in reality it’s menopausal in nature, and vice versa.
I always recommend getting a professional opinion from someone who will diffentiate between the three possibilities.
Ready to begin to determine what is your personal & best approach to solving joint pain??
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