Your Key To Pain – Free Moments – Joint Supplements

by Martha Flanders · Published February 10, 2023 · Updated February 13, 2023

Is your joint pain pushing you off the track with your daily activities? So, ever thought about modifying your lifestyle to get rid of this pain that bothers you again and again?

How about you pause, think, reflect and act? Yes, the idea is to identify why your joints pain so much. One of these reasons could also be menopause.

Menopause is a natural part of ageing that occurs when a woman’s ovaries stop producing eggs and oestrogen levels decline. The average age of menopause in women across the globe is 51 years. And this transition can give birth to a range of physical and emotional symptoms, including mood swings, hot flashes, and sleep disturbances. While the list can go on and on, one symptom among these that often gets overlooked is joint pain.

Are Hormones Affecting Your Joint Health?

So, what causes menopause joint pain?

As and when a woman starts nearing the menopausal age, her ovaries’ release of hormones, oestrogen and progesterone starts fluctuating. As a result, these hormones get imbalanced.

The Oestrogen hormone affects reproductive organ development, bone, and joint health, the cardiovascular system, metabolism, and behaviour.

During menopause, the ovulation process becomes irregular. Further, the production of the hormones – oestrogen and progesterone – Also decreases and causes most of the symptoms of menopause, including joint pain, osteopenia, osteoporosis, and osteoarthritis.

As oestrogen levels decline during menopause, the body’s collagen production may also decrease. Collagen is a protein that helps to keep the joints lubricated and flexible, so its decline can lead to joint stiffness and pain.

In addition to the decline in collagen, menopause can also lead to weight gain, which can strain the joints and contribute to joint pain.

How are Menopause Joint Pain, Osteoarthritis and Osteoporosis Connected?

Calcium, Vitamin D, and a few steroid hormones, such as oestrogen, are critical for bone and joint health.

Oestrogen controls bone cell health and regulates new bone cells (osteophyte) formation. Further, it prevents the excessive breakdown of bone cells and, thus, preserves bone health. If your bones are healthy, your joints are also healthy.

Joint pains start with osteopenia, a condition where bone density is decreased and is a precursor to osteoporosis and osteoarthritis.

Osteoporosis, commonly known as brittle bone disease, is a condition where the bones become thin and fragile and are easily prone to fracture with minor impact. Osteoporosis causes body pain and weakness.

The degeneration in joints causes Osteoarthritis. With age, the cartilage that serves as a cushion at the ends of the bones wears off. And so does your joint health. The connective tissue holding the joint together starts deteriorating. The joint lining also gets inflamed. Osteoarthritis is a significant cause of joint pain during and after menopause.

Oestrogen is one of the factors that help in preserving and maintain bone mass. As oestrogen production decreases with menopause, women lose bone mass. Thus, resulting in osteoporosis and osteoarthritis.

An average of 25% of bone mass gets lost between menopause and 60. Why? It occurs due to the depletion of oestrogen levels.

Recurrence of pain in joints and bones with a history of a previous injury or repetitive injuries can occur during menopause. Oestrogen protects the woman’s body from inflammations. As the oestrogen levels decline during menopause, the possibility for inflammation increases, and so do joint pains.

The joints that are prone to pain and osteoarthritis after menopause are

Hips
Knees
Ankles
Shoulders
Neck
Elbows
Wrists
Fingers

Along with joint pain, women also experience a series of symptoms classified as Fibromyalgia, a chronic pain condition with signs of pain, fatigue, and vaginal dryness.

Keep Your Bone and Joint Health in Check

Here are some common investigations and tests to check bone and joint health

Blood tests for Vitamin D, B12, and calcium
X-Ray or MRI of the joints and bones
Bone densitometry scan

Why is Menopause Joint Pain a Concern?

Joint pains affect the mobility and functional ability of a woman. It also affects her mental capabilities and increases her vulnerability.

Stress during menopause increases pain intensity and hinders the independent, demanding, active life of a woman going through menopause. Osteoporosis and osteoarthritis increase the chances of fracture and may lead to permanent injury or damage, confining her life or limiting her activities.

Hence joint pain during menopause is considered a severe health problem. Prevention, monitoring, and managing joint pains help a woman to lead a flexible, mobile and agile life.

Many of the women at Nirva had joint pain affect, their daily lives.

Here are some supplements, our experts suggest.

Best Supplements and Herbal Remedies for Menopause Joint Pain

Ayurveda uses herbs to manage pain. It is effective in reducing pain and improving mobility. Some of the commonly used herbs are

Moringa

Moringa is a plant native to the sub-Himalayan regions of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan. The plant is commonly known as the “drumstick tree,” “horseradish tree,” or “ben oil tree.” It has long been employed in traditional medicine for its medicinal features. Further, it is also grown for its highly nutritious leaves, which are rich in vitamins, minerals, and amino acids.

Research shows that this herb has anti-inflammatory properties, which help reduce joint pain. This herb gets used for internal use, and its paste can also be applied to painful areas.

Shallaki

Shallaki is the common name for Boswellia serrata, a tree native to India and the Middle East. The tree produces a resin used in traditional medicine for centuries. The resin, also known as Boswellia or frankincense, has been used to treat various conditions, including inflammatory diseases such as arthritis and asthma.

Shallaki is used as a herbal supplement to treat joint pain and inflammation. Some studies suggest that it effectively reduces joint pain and swelling in people with osteoarthritis. It is also known to improve the growth of bone and cartilage.

Castor

Castor oil is a vegetable oil derived from the castor plant’s seeds (Ricinus communis). It has been used for centuries in Ayurveda for various purposes, including treatment of joint pain and inflammation. Both the leaves of the castor plant and oil are used to reduce pain and stiffness of joints, especially lower back pain and knee pain.

Punarnava

Punarnava (Boerhavia diffusa) is a tiny shrub native to India and has been used in traditional Ayurvedic medicine for centuries. Also, sometimes it gets used as a herbal supplement for treating joint pain, swelling and inflammation due to its anti-inflammatory properties. It is used in the form of supplements as well as in diet.

Guduchi

Guduchi (Tinospora cordifolia) is a plant that is native to India and has been in the books of Ayurveda for centuries now. It often gets referred to as “Amrita,” which means “nectar of immortality” in Sanskrit. Guduchi is believed to have several medicinal properties, including immune-boosting, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant effects.

Guduchi is used as a herbal supplement for a variety of health purposes, including the treatment of joint pain and inflammation.

Guggulu

Guggulu (Commiphora wightii) is a plant native to India and is traditional Ayurvedic medicine. It is the resin produced by the plant that gets medicinally. Further, it comprises many medicinal properties, including anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects.

Guggulu is used as a herbal supplement for various health purposes, including the treatment of joint pain and inflammation, weight loss, and skin conditions. It is usually in combination with other herbs like Guduchi and Moringa.

Asthisrinkala

Asthishrinkala (Cissus quadrangularis), also known as veldt grape or devil’s backbone, is a plant native to India and Sri Lanka. Asthishrinkala has been used in traditional Ayurvedic medicine for various purposes, including as a treatment for fractures and injuries and as a pain reliever. It is also believed to have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

Devadaru

Devadaru (Cedrus deodara) is a cedar tree species native to the Himalayas, commonly found in India, Nepal, and Pakistan. It is also known as “deodar,” “Himalayan cedar,” or “god’s tree.” Devadaru has been used in traditional medicine for various purposes, including the treatment of joint pain due to its anti-inflammatory properties. Its bark helps reduce pain, especially during winter.

Bala

Bala (Sida cordifolia) is a tiny shrub native to India and is an inevitable Ayurvedic medicine for pain management. It is used as a herbal supplement to treat joint pain and inflammation. It is used in the preparation of ayurvedic bone tonic and oils.

Rasna

Rasna (Pluchea lanceolata) is a herb native to India and has been used in traditional Ayurvedic medicine for centuries. It is used for the treatment of joint pain and inflammation, as well as various other health conditions. This herb gets widely used in the preparation of decoction and tablets.

Dietary Recommendations for Menopause Joint Pain

Weight management with a healthy BMI and a wholesome, nutritious diet help in healthy ageing and happy menopause. The experts at Nirva give utmost importance to the role of diet in tackling joint pain and it works!

Follow proper meal times.
Eat soft, warm food.
Chew food properly.
Drink 150-200 ml of warm water every half an hour between 6 am and 8 pm.
Make every meal balanced with one healthy whole grain carb, one animal protein or plant protein, seasonal vegetables and season-specific spices.
Include seasonal fruits with breakfast, local and seasonal vegetables, whole grain foods with lunch, diluted carbs with roasted and cooked lentils, and boiled fibre-rich vegetables for dinner
Do not mix grains. Use one type of grain. Choose low glycemic indexed grains like millet.
Include cow ghee in the diet to optimise immunity and supplement Vitamin B 12, calcium, and essential fat.
Avoid junk and high-sugar food.

Home Remedies Against Menopause Joint Pain

Try the following to relieve your joint pain from the comfort of your home.

Apply fomentation with thin corn soup boiled with turmeric and crushed mustard if the pain is of a pricking type.
Apply corn starch paste in milk if the pain is of a burning type.
Do stretches and muscle-tightening exercises using hard surfaces like walls as support.
Use ice packs on sore areas if there is redness and a burning sensation.
Use Dasamoola Kashayam-filled hot water bottles or soaked hot towels on sore areas if the pain is of a pricking type.
If the pain is of a non-burning kind, apply oil heated with a paste of garlic and pepper for relief.
Continuously pour warm water added with a paste of turmeric, rock salt, and neem leaves on the painful area for 15-20 minutes to relieve pain.
Try fomentation using a towel dipped in warm rice-washed water or rice starch treated with turmeric and crushed sesame seeds to relieve pain.

Try them out the next time your knee bothers you and see the difference for yourselves!

Cope with Menopause Joint Pain

Accepting and understanding menopause is the key to preventing and managing joint pain after menopause.

Regular Exercise

You can consider regular moderate exercise that includes joint movements like walking, jogging, or cycling. Low-incline walking for 30 minutes a day in the evening can be beneficial.
Muscle stretching and strengthening exercises can help immensely. Remember to do your warm-ups before stretching.
Do Yoga and Pranayama for at least 30 minutes in the morning to help prevent and reduce joint pain.
Try swimming or walking in a swimming pool to reduce joint pain.

Protective Gear

Wear proper joint-protecting devices like a lumbosacral belt, knee cap, ankle strap, etc, during walking and exercise.
Wear appropriate footwear to prevent and reduce joint pain.

Proper Posture

Give importance to proper gait and posture.
Frequently look out for stooping, hunching, sideways bending, backwards bending, change of shape of toes and joints, bunions, etc. They can develop slowly and may go unnoticed till they become severely painful and uncomfortable.

Extra care

Expose yourself to the rising or setting sun for 30 minutes or the noon sun for 10 minutes to help maintain Vitamin D levels crucial for bone health.
Be cautious to prevent injury or falls while carrying out your daily activities.
Get regular blood tests for existing diseases and possible deficiencies and follow up with doctors.

To Conclude

Usually, for women who care for their health diligently, joint pain associated with menopause slowly reduces as hormones stabilise. Joint pain-free menopause depends on the woman’s constitution, profession, lifestyle, environment, climate, general health, stress levels, diet, exercise, etc.

The current lifestyle of a woman demands an active life after menopause, usually living alone or with an ageing spouse. Many women are involved in other activities, like demanding careers, hobbies, interests, social service, travel, care for parents, babysitting grandchildren, and much more. All these are possible if a woman has a healthy body and a happy mind. She has to be flexible and mobile to enjoy a relaxed, healthy post-menopausal life the way she wants.