Why do pain occur during menopause and how to overcome it?

Concept of menopause

Menopause is a physiological process of aging in the female body, which is characterized by a decrease in the activity of the gonads and changes in the level of sex hormones. The approximate age of onset of this process is fifty years, but may vary in individual cases from 40 to 55 years. Since the body has individual characteristics, menopause occurs at different ages.

The wear and aging of the reproductive system in women is influenced by a number of factors:

• Lifestyle;
• frequency of intimate relationships;
• early or late pregnancy and childbirth;
• diet;
• presence of bad habits;
• chronic diseases and others.

It should be taken into account that menopause causes not only physiological discomfort, but also significantly affects the psychological state of a woman, manifesting itself in mood swings, excessive neurosis, insomnia, disorders and stress.

Because hormonal levels affect the entire body, women often experience a variety of pain symptoms that can manifest in various parts of the body.

Painful symptoms of menopause

Pain can be localized in such parts of the body as: joints, head, chest, stomach, back, lower back, muscles.

The causes of pain include changes in hormonal levels and general physiology of the body, as well as excessive psychophysiological stress, and lack of vitamins, including calcium.

Medicine claims that depending on the period of menopause, pain can also change its location:

• the initial stage, before the onset of hormonal changes, headaches and temporal pain, twisting of joints, and aching pain in the lower abdomen may appear and become more frequent;
• when the hormonal background began to change, pain appeared in all joints, temporo-occipital pain, and cutting pain in the abdomen.

Often, pain syndrome leads to the development of chronic diseases that entail serious consequences and problems with general health: arthritis, osteoporosis, disorders in the tissues of the spinal discs, pinched nerve endings.

The development of pain in various parts of the female body occurs under the influence of certain factors, despite the common nature of the main cause.

Localization of pain

Complaints that chest pain during menopause are the most common. Breast pain during menopause in women varies, it can be:

• feeling of heaviness;
• swelling;
• burning;
• tingling and other unpleasant symptoms.

This happens due to changes in hormonal levels and the replacement of glandular tissue in the breast with fibro-fatty tissue.

In addition to the mammary glands, women may experience pain in the nipples. It is necessary to pay special attention to such symptoms, as they may indicate the development of pathological problems, such as:

Pain in the lower abdomen during menopause is caused by a change in the amount of estrogen in the female body. They manifest themselves in loss of ability to work, loss of sleep and the appearance of fluctuations in mood.

Painful symptoms indicate problems in the gastrointestinal tract and genitourinary organs. In addition, fluctuations in hormones can lead to the activation of chronic diseases: fibroids, endometritis, tumors, both benign and the appearance of malignant ones. Since the reproductive function of the body is aging, this process is reflected by symptoms in the reproductive system and is manifested by abdominal pain.

Headaches during menopause are also frequent companions, bringing a lot of problems. The reasons that contribute to the appearance of pain in the head include overload and overstrain of the muscles of the neck, shoulders, face, the dynamics of changes in the condition of blood vessels, pressure fluctuations, and hypoxia.

Often there is a state of tension in the neck and shoulders, which causes spasm in the brain. Sometimes strong painkillers are not always able to relieve such pain. Migraine may develop against the background of pain.

Migraine can affect a woman's appearance, manifesting itself in furrowed brows, wrinkling of the forehead, and pursing of the lips. As a result, gradual aging of the skin of a woman’s face occurs.

Muscle pain during menopause occurs as a result of spasm of nerve endings and fluctuations in hormones. Characterized by sharp spasmodic sensations in various parts of the body. They can be caused by physical activity, poor diet and lack of vitamins in the diet.

Back pain during menopause is characterized by hormonal fluctuations and can also be a symptom of the development of new or relapses of existing diseases, for example, intervertebral hernia, osteochondrosis, neuralgia. As a rule, pain symptoms are accompanied by cardiovascular problems, atherosclerosis, and disorders of the genitourinary system.

Pain in the joints can be a consequence of vitamin deficiency in the body, including a lack of calcium, as a result of which the bones become tiny, that is, osteoporosis occurs, and also, with metabolic disorders, gout develops, which leads to arthrosis and atrophy of the joints.

Elimination of discomfort during menopause begins with the woman monitoring her own well-being; at the first uncharacteristic symptoms, it is necessary to contact a gynecologist and undergo an appropriate examination.

Osteoporosis

Bone pain during menopause causes a terrible disease - osteoporosis. The disease causes damage to bone tissue, as a result of which voids are formed in it, which make the bones too fragile.

Bone tissue is continuously renewed. At a young age it forms much faster than at an old age. According to statistics, a woman during menopause can lose 22% of her bone tissue, which leads to terrible bone pain and other consequences.

Osteoporosis occurs unnoticed, gradually affecting bone tissue. At the beginning of menopause, women do not pay enough attention to the fact that their bones hurt, considering it a symptom of age or excessive stress at work. But at the time of the progressive development of the disease, you can get a serious fracture with a slight bruise. Therefore, women over 45 years of age are advised to regularly visit the clinic to have their bones checked for strength. Since every third woman in the world during menopause suffers from bone pain from osteoporosis.

Estrogen is a female sex hormone that plays a primary role in the development of osteoporosis. The onset of menopause reduces the production of this vital hormone, so bone mass becomes thinner and bone pain appears .

Ways to deal with pain

Depending on the location of the pain syndromes, the doctor will choose a program to support the body and get rid of unpleasant sensations.

As a rule, women are prescribed hormonal therapy as an option to maintain hormonal fluctuations; it is carried out after studying the woman’s hormonal levels. Homeopathic remedies are also applicable, such as phytohormones, which allow you to compensate for missing hormones in the body. For neuralgia, sedatives and relaxing drugs are prescribed.

As for traditional medicine, decoctions of medicinal herbs will help relieve pain and calm the nervous system: chamomile, string, calendula, sage, mint. They are able to balance the mental state, relax muscles and relieve pain.

What you need to know about sex during menopause, read the article. Why does my stomach hurt during my period? Useful information here.

Depending on the location of the pain, a woman may need consultation and examination with a mammologist, surgeon, neurologist, cardiologist and other specialists. Menopause is not a disease or pathology - it is a stage of life that any woman goes through, but this stage requires a particularly careful approach and control.

Nutrition for joint pain for women during menopause

Bone pain and menopause often accompany each other. To prevent the occurrence of unpleasant symptoms associated with the restructuring of the body during menopause, and to alleviate the condition, women use a diet. The diet does not allow obesity and includes a huge amount of vitamins, phytoestrogens, and calcium. List of substances and products necessary for the female body:

• potassium (beans, potatoes, pumpkin, prunes, oatmeal);
• phosphorus (meat, fish, legumes, bran, yeast, nuts, etc.);
• magnesium, boron, zinc (garlic, wheat porridge, asparagus, peaches, strawberries).

The listed substances affect the strength of bones, the tone of muscle tissue, mental activity, and the hormonal background of a woman. To prevent bone diseases, it is important to eat foods that contain vitamins A, C, B, and D. You will have to limit sodium, the bulk of which the body receives from table salt. This substance in excess negatively affects the functioning of the heart and inhibits metabolic processes.

The cost of therapy will depend on the treatment package prescribed by the doctor. As a rule, specialists try to select inexpensive drugs for patients from the groups of painkillers, chondroprotectors, bisphosphonates, etc. Suitable drugs can be purchased at an online pharmacy, and you can order targeted delivery. The price of treatment for joint pain is different for each patient and depends on the set of products that the doctor prescribed to her. The average cost of therapy can be calculated by compiling an approximate list of drugs:

• price for Artron - 600 rubles;
• price for Aquadetrim – 200 rubles;
• price for Ibuprofen – 15-20 rubles;
• price for Fosavance – 1300 rubles;
• the price for Nycomed is 40-50 rubles.

The main stages and types of menopause

In medical science, it is customary to distinguish 3 different stages that a woman experiences during menopause. These are premenopause, menopause itself and postmenopause. Each of these periods is characterized by certain characteristics.

• Premenopause . This period is characterized by the fact that the level of sex hormones gradually begins to decrease, menstruation does not stop completely, but there is no longer a regular cycle.
• Menopause . We can talk about the arrival of menopause as such only when there has been no menstrual flow at all for more than one year.
• Postmenopause . At this stage, the woman’s body is completely rebuilt to new operating principles. Postmenopause lasts until the end of a woman's life.

Hot flashes - painful sensations

During hot flashes, a woman's level of the hormone estrogen sharply decreases. The sensations are as follows: the temperature is rising, there is not enough air, you want water, it seems that everything is boiling inside. During menopause, the iron in the brain that regulates body temperature partially does not function. Over time, thermoregulation processes will return to normal, but for this you need to wait several years.

When the next hot flash comes, the blood vessels narrow, and the woman feels like she is about to lose consciousness. It is during the high tide that painful sensations appear. You can avoid them - just take a test for female hormones, see which one is missing, and start taking medications that correct hormonal levels.

For severe pain, doctors recommend taking painkillers. But, only in the first year or two of menopause. It is necessary to “accustom” your body to cope with the new hormonal levels.

Causes of pain during menopause

Pain during menopause is a fairly common phenomenon; in addition to it, hot flashes and insomnia are often observed. A woman becomes nervous, irritable, touchy about this, and gets tired quickly.

During menopause, depression can even develop. The appearance of the woman herself also changes, her hair begins to fall out, her figure becomes fuller, her skin loses its elasticity and fresh appearance, and her joints hurt. It goes without saying that it is easy and simple to get sick during this period of life.

Pain during menopause is caused by the following reasons:

1. A decrease in the level of sex hormones, which are not only responsible for reproductive function, but also regulate many processes in the body that have nothing to do with childbirth.
2. Lack of calcium in the body, which leads to joint pain and the risk of fractures.
3. The neck often hurts in those women who do work that requires constant sitting. Cashiers, accountants, office workers, teachers, librarians, and so on fall into the risk category.
4. Constant nervousness and stress.
5. Excessive physical stress on the female body.

Why is there pain during menopause?

Most often, women experience pain in the lower part of the body, namely the lower abdomen, lower back, and thighs. Sometimes the pain is so severe that it seems as if the whole body hurts. This condition can be caused by the following disorders:

• Disorders that are associated with intestinal function.
• Problems in the functioning of the reproductive system organs.
• Diseases that are associated with the bladder and other organs of the excretory system.

Pain is an unpleasant and abnormal phenomenon, but in this case it is understandable from the point of view of medical statistics. Every woman who experiences menopause may experience pain in one area or another of the body.

Typically, the most difficult phase of adaptation to the “new woman” lasts about 5-10 years. Menopause begins at about 45 and lasts until age 60. However, all numbers are very individual. Under the influence of life conditions and circumstances, for some women menopause may begin later, and for others earlier.

In order to keep your body in order, you will need to consult a gynecologist, and if menopause occurs with complications, then more specialized specialists.

Attention! Menopause can occur either for completely natural reasons on its own, or it can be caused artificially with the help of certain medications. This is usually done in cases where older women experience bleeding or endometriosis.

Lower back pain during menopause

The back and lower back hurt during menopause due to a lack of calcium in the body, which is also characterized by age-related changes in bone tissue. Among other things, a woman during menopause often gains extra pounds, which also increases the load on the spine and joints.

Nerve endings are concentrated in the spine, so the back and lower back can hurt even when a woman lifts weights, does backbreaking physical work, or bends too low.

To prevent back pain, you need to limit weight lifting and heavy physical work, or keep it all to a minimum. But since it is quite difficult to do this in the modern rhythm of life, it is worth finding a middle ground. To do this, you just need to listen to your feelings, pay attention to pain, because it is this that indicates that something is going wrong in the body’s functioning.

Chest hurts

Pain in the mammary glands is defined as mastalgia. The main reason is hormonal imbalance. Unpleasant sensations occur both in both glands and in one of them. The nature of the pain is aching, pulling, sharp. A surge in mastalgia occurs when estrogen production decreases. To eliminate pain, it is recommended to start taking hormonal medications (as prescribed by a gynecologist and mammologist).

Important! Remember that mastalgia is a symptom of malignant neoplasms. Do an ultrasound of the mammary glands.

Abdominal pain during menopause

Indicators of how menopause is progressing are determined by the genitals. Everyone understands that a woman’s genital organs are concentrated in the pelvic area, so if any problems occur with the organs of the reproductive system, pain occurs in the pubic area and lower abdomen.

However, pain in the lower abdomen is not always caused by diseases of the internal organs of the small pelvis. Often psychosomatic reasons are to blame, since a woman during menopause experiences despondency and apathy; this condition often borders on depression. They understand that youth is fading, that their appearance is no longer so attractive and beautiful. Often a woman is not entirely satisfied with her life, it seems to her that everything was in vain and she achieved nothing.

Such soul-searching often ends in pain of a psychosomatic nature. Some people, due to constant nervousness, experience problems with the stomach and digestion, and loose stools.

Of course, all the pain can be attributed to the fact that it arose from nerves, but still it would not be superfluous to go for a consultation with a gynecologist, and also with a gastroenterologist, if only to simply rule out the possibility of developing diseases of the stomach and pelvic organs among women.

If, however, during the examinations nothing out of the ordinary was discovered, then it is worth visiting a psychologist who will help put your thoughts in order and direct your soul-searching in the right direction.

What gynecological diseases can cause abdominal pain during menopause?

If you went to the doctor, and he still discovered pathologies in the internal organs of the small pelvis, then it is worth knowing what diseases are most common during menopause.

1. Uterine fibroid . This disease can occur in women whose menopause occurs too late, after 50 years. Most often, pain with uterine fibroids is periodic, short-term, and occurs in attacks. You can suspect fibroma using such a sign as bloody discharge from the vagina of a non-menstrual nature. Fibroma itself is a benign formation, but if it is persistently ignored, it may well develop into malignant.
2. Endometriosis . This is a disease that is typical for both women of reproductive age and women in menopause. It can begin due to hormonal imbalance and excess weight, which is also characteristic of menopause. Not only abdominal pain can indicate that a woman has endometriosis. This is also evidenced by bloody discharge, which is quite abundant. Headaches cause anxiety, and sometimes it’s migraines, insomnia, and fatigue due to this, since the woman cannot rest properly. The pain has no specific source; This depends on the fact that it is not always known where the tumor cells are located: on the appendages, in the intestines or on other organs.
3. Chronic salpingitis . This is an inflammatory process of the fallopian tubes, which can become more active during menopause. There is no bloody discharge, but, as with any inflammation, with such an illness the temperature rises.
4. Synechiae in the uterus . During menopause, the organ atrophies as unnecessary, shrinks, and becomes smaller in size. It is because of this that the organ cavities begin to grow together and adhesions form. This disease is asymptomatic for a long time, only regular pain in the lower abdomen during menopause can help to suspect something is wrong. With this disease, fluid forms inside the uterus itself; this condition will require immediate relief of the process through surgery.
5. Malignant tumors . It often happens that cancer does not make itself felt for a long time and is discovered only at a late stage, when there is simply no talk of a complete recovery. When it comes to early formations, they can manifest themselves with the help of stretching in the lower abdomen and sacrum, but they are so insignificant and unnoticeable that many women, in the hustle and bustle of everyday affairs, simply do not pay attention to them. Most often, with such diseases during menopause, the diseased organ is simply cut out, since the woman’s reproductive function has already ended anyway, and it is worth reducing the risk of relapse of the disease. Then, when cancer catches a woman at reproductive age, doctors perform a more complex operation, restoring the organ itself and preserving its reproductive function.

Treatment of intimate discomfort during menopause

Treatment of discomfort in the intimate area during reproductive age will be somewhat different from treatment of similar manifestations during the menopausal period. During menopause, we are talking not only about eliminating the symptoms and root cause of the disease, but also about balancing this treatment with the characteristics of the stage of decline of the reproductive system.

Proper treatment of burning and other signs of discomfort should be carried out comprehensively. It is necessary to simultaneously influence the source of pathological symptoms, alleviate discomfort and create conditions to prevent relapses of the disease in the future.

Therefore, therapy for intimate discomfort should include the following areas of action:

Eliminating the immediate causes of discomfort

This is the most basic direction of therapy for burning sensation and other symptoms of distress. The choice of tactics depends directly on the provocateur.

For diabetes mellitus, the main focus of treatment will be the prescription of medications to keep blood glucose levels under control. An endocrinologist can prescribe medications such as Maninil, Metrofin, Glucophage, Siofor, etc.

Candidiasis is treated with antifungal drugs, which are used both topically (Nystatin suppositories, Pimafucin) and orally (Fluconazole capsules, Diflucan). Additionally, agents may be prescribed that restore the balance of microflora in the vagina, for example, Vaginorm, Vagilak suppositories.

It should be noted that during the use of vaginal suppositories, unusual secretion may be observed for some time. For example, discharge after Pimafucin can be yellow, brown, red and pink, which is only in some cases considered a pathology.

Dermatitis requires elimination of the cause that provokes the exacerbation, as well as the use of creams that relieve unpleasant symptoms (Radevit, Solcoseryl).

Gardenellosis is treated with suppositories and Metronidazole or Clindamycin tablets.

Recurrence of genital herpes is blocked by antiviral drugs (tablets and ointment Acyclovir, Zovirax). Additionally, a course of treatment is prescribed with the help of immunomodulators: Viferon, Genferon, Cycloferon.

Trichomoniasis is treated with drugs in tablet form (Metronidazole, Clindamycin) and with topical medications (vaginal tablets Ornidazole, Ginalgin).

Using topical products to relieve itching

When treating discomfort in the intimate area, drugs are used to alleviate the woman’s condition, because itching and burning can cause serious suffering. To relieve unpleasant symptoms, topical agents are used. By themselves, they do not have a healing effect, but they provide fairly quick relief.

An example would be: suppositories Ovestin, Estriol, Estrocad, Cicatridin, Vagikal), gels (Divigel, Dermistril).

The use of such drugs can relieve itching, moisturize the mucous membrane of the genital organs in women and restore the joy of intimate relationships.

Hormonal support: hormonal and non-hormonal

Eliminating symptoms of discomfort in the intimate area during menopause involves balancing the amount of estrogen, a decrease in the production of which is considered the main culprit of the main unpleasant aspects of menopause. To balance hormonal levels, the modern pharmacological industry offers drugs containing plant analogues of estrogens.

With the help of such means, it is possible to delicately influence the deficiency of these hormones, while avoiding unwanted side effects.

The most popular among women are non-hormonal tablets for menopause: Qi-Klim, Estrovel, Mense, Menopace, Klimadinon, etc. As well as special creams for menopause for the intimate area against irritation.

In addition to the use of dietary supplements, the lack of estrogen can be compensated by using products containing similar substances. These include: soybeans, legumes, broccoli, cauliflower, oats.

Medicinal plants can also become a source of phytoestrogens: red clover, hogweed, red brush, sage, shepherd's purse.

If the use of gentler methods does not bring the desired result, then it is often necessary to resort to hormone replacement therapy (HRT). The choice of drug is made by the doctor based on the test results and the collected medical history. These may be products that combine a combination of estrogen and progesterone, or contain one type of hormone. HRT is indispensable when removing the ovaries and uterus. The use of this method of treatment brings fairly quick results, but at the same time increases the risk of developing side effects, including the initiation of oncological processes.

General strengthening procedures for the treatment of burning in the groin

To ensure conditions for a speedy recovery and prevent recurrence of relapses, favorable conditions for the functioning of the body should be provided. This may include:

1. Complete nutrition that satisfies the basic needs of the body and takes into account the specific course of gynecological problems. For example, you should reduce your consumption of sugar, the excess of which creates a favorable environment for the proliferation of fungal infections and aggravates the course of diabetes. In addition, it is important to avoid excess salt, spices, that is, products that increase the irritating properties of urine;
2. Taking vitamin and mineral complexes to help replenish energy reserves;
3. High-quality rest, providing complete recuperation;
4. Moderate physical activity, combined with time in the fresh air, helps increase blood flow and saturate the body with oxygen.

Headaches during menopause

Headaches are quite common accompaniments of menopause: they border on depression and apathy, which prevent women from relaxing and enjoying life. In addition to depression, such symptoms can be caused by the fact that a woman’s spine, shoulders, and neck are too tense. Sometimes women also get headaches because they tie their hair too tightly.

If a headache attack occurs suddenly, and it causes your temples and forehead to ache, your vision becomes dark, and your palms sweat, then this is a clear sign of migraines.

If pain occurs most often in the back of the head, and in the morning you notice swelling of the face, then you should monitor your blood pressure, as such symptoms indicate its increase.

Among other things, pain in the head area can occur in women due to taking certain medications as a side effect of them. It follows from this that no medications should be taken without a doctor’s prescription, and if side effects occur, then immediately contact him again and complain about it.

Attention! If during menopause women experience pain in various parts of the body, then the best way to get rid of them is physical activity. This could be exercises in the pool, in the gym, in a dance class, or just walking in the park, refusing to use public transport, yoga, morning exercises or exercises with dumbbells. Just choose what suits you best and start training. The main thing is to do exercises regularly, and not occasionally.

Thus, pain during menopause in women is an understandable phenomenon, but abnormal. Therefore, consult a doctor as soon as possible, first finding out what exactly is hurting you, even if it seems that there is pain throughout your whole body.

Menopause is a period of life in which self-medication can not only be useless, but also significantly harm a woman, therefore, for treatment and further recommendations on this matter, you should only contact specialists.

Interesting and educational video on this topic:

What is menopausal syndrome, its symptoms and characteristic signs

There inevitably comes a time in every woman's life when her body begins to age. This period is called menopause. It begins after 45 years and lasts for several years. At this time, certain changes occur, the result of which is the complete extinction of reproductive function. Menopause has 3 stages:

• Premenopause. During this period, the frequency of the menstrual cycle changes, it may become longer (in some cases it becomes more frequent). A woman experiences symptoms such as hot flashes, sleep disturbances, depression and irritability, sudden weight gain with the appearance of a “beer belly.”
• Menopause. The shortest stage, which lasts only 12 months. It begins after the end of the last menstruation. The onset of this stage is indicated by a reduced level of FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone). Only it can be reliable evidence of menopause.
• Postmenopause. After 1 year of absence of menstruation, the final stage of restructuring of the female body begins. Childbearing function completely fades away.

Can there be pain during menopause?

Most women experience the following characteristic symptoms of menopause:

• Tides. This is a sharp, sudden sensation of heat. It lasts from a few seconds to 5-6 minutes. They also end abruptly, the woman feels chills and breaks out in sweat.
• Sleep disorders. Their causes may be hot flashes, depressive states, and other psycho-emotional disorders.
• Dryness of the mucous membranes, their thinning. As a result, intimacy causes discomfort; a woman may feel a burning sensation, pain (and not only during sex).
• Predisposition to fractures, pain in legs, back.
• Increased blood pressure. Occurs due to the accumulation of cholesterol in the body. Plaques complicate the normal flow of blood in the vessels.
• Gynecological diseases. After 45 years, the risk of developing uterine fibroids, endometriosis, and mastopathy increases.

The listed symptoms can cause such unpleasant consequences as various pains. Any system can suffer, thus signaling possible problems. Therefore, complaints of headaches, muscle or joint pain, and characteristic pain manifestations in the mammary gland can also be considered satellites of menopausal syndrome.

Causes of pain

Menopause is caused by a decrease in the amount of the female sex hormone estrogen. It is produced by the ovaries. This substance takes part in a large number of processes, including: maturation of eggs, ensuring normal pregnancy, absorption of calcium, potassium, magnesium and much more.

A decrease in the concentration of this hormone leads to the following consequences:

• Poor absorption of calcium provokes thinning of bone tissue. As a result, bone fragility increases.
• Estrogen is synthesized in small quantities by fat cells. Therefore, rapid weight gain is possible; a woman notices that her belly is growing.
• The appearance of cholesterol plaques. As a result, blood pressure increases and cardiovascular diseases develop.
• Problems with the pelvic organs. The genital area suffers first. Hormonal imbalance leads to pathological growth of the endometrium, the appearance of malignant and benign neoplasms.
• Changes in the levels of prolactin, estrogen and progesterone lead to chest pain. As a result, fibrous tissue grows, mastopathy and neoplasms develop.

Painkillers

Dysmenorrhea affects 90% of all women. These are mainly persons aged 18 to 35 years. The pain can be so unbearable that it is impossible to do without taking medications to relieve it. It is impossible to just sit still, they cover the whole body and thoughts. Strength weakens and irritability increases.

Rescue by taking medications:

• non-narcotic analgesics;
• non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs;
• antispasmodics.

Non-narcotic analgesic drugs are the weakest of painkillers in their action. They eliminate common menstrual ailments in the stomach.

Basic, frequently used:

• Analgin;
• Spazgan;
• Spasmalgon;
• Baralgin;
• Revalgin;
• Maxigan.

Medicines from the NSAID group are good at soothing discomfort and inhibiting inflammation. To achieve the greatest effect, take them a couple of days before the expected menstruation. Medicines are prescribed if the patient refuses hormonal drugs or there are individual contraindications to such therapy.

1. Dialrapid. A fast-acting medicine that produces a noticeable effect within five minutes. Drowns out negative sensations of any intensity.
2. Ibuprofen. Reduces pressure in the uterus, causing the frequency of its contractions to decrease. Frequency of administration: three times a day, always after meals.
3. Ketoprofen. It has a similar effect to Diclofenac. It acts by inhibiting the production of prostaglandins and weakening the contractile movements of the uterus. Take two to four capsules daily. Contraindicated for treatment in patients suffering from gastrointestinal inflammation, liver dysfunction, and hemophilia.
4. Naproxen. Take twice a day. Restrictions for use: lactation, bronchospasms, ulcerative lesions of the gastrointestinal tract. Medicines with similar effects: Nalgesin, Sanaprox, Apranax. Pronaxen.
5. Indomethacin. Creates an analgesic effect, fights inflammation, and reduces fever. The medicine passes into breast milk, which requires stopping feeding or choosing a different drug.
6. Piroxicam. Available in different forms: tablets, capsules, gel, suppositories. The analgesic effect is noticeable after half an hour and lasts up to one day. Relieves fever, inflammation, pain relief.
7. Ketolong. It has a high pronounced analgesic activity. Eliminates intense pain.
8. Paracetamol. It has a therapeutic effect for mild to moderate aching ailments. Up to four tablets per day are allowed. Contraindications for choosing paracetamol are the presence of alcohol dependence, pathological changes in the liver and kidneys.
9. Diclofenac. Reduces the synthesis of prostaglandins. It is not advisable to take Diclofenac for gastrointestinal inflammation or asthma. Take up to three times daily. There are analogues of Diclofenac: Voltaren, Diclovit, Naklofen, Rapten.

The safest NSAIDs, given their side effects, are considered to be Ibuprofen and Paracetamol. Combination medications containing both of these substances are designed to help stop menstrual pain.

These include:

• Khairumat;
• Next;
• Brustan;
• Ibuklin.

Antispasmodics relax the muscle tissue of the uterus. Their action is focused on weakening spasms that occur under the influence of prostaglandins, released in large quantities during menstruation.

A doctor's prescription is not required, but compliance with the instructions is mandatory.

Effective antispasmodics:

1. No-shpa. One of the most commonly used medicines. For heart disease, lactose intolerance, and lactation, the use of similar drugs is recommended, including: Unispaz, Spakovin, Spasmonet.
2. Drotaverine. Myotropic antispasmodic. Relieves neurogenic and muscle spasms of internal organs. It has a vasodilating effect, which improves the blood supply to tissues.
3. Papaverine. Prohibited for glaucoma, heart block.
4. Galidor. It has an antispasmodic and sedative effect. Contraindicated if you are susceptible to epileptic seizures.
5. Buskopan. Strong medicine.

Side effects of antispasmodic drugs include allergies, nausea, dizziness, migraines, and defecation problems.

Unbearable pain, which cannot be relieved with conventional medications, requires the use of strong medications. They are available in the form of suppositories and tablets.

The most powerful candles:

• Meksalen;
• Efferalgan;
• Miralgan;
• Tylenol;
• Baralgin;
• Akamol-Teva.

Potent tablet drugs:

• Ketanov:
• Ketonal;
• Combispasm;
• Menalgin;
• Nise;
• Novalgin;
• Nurofen;
• Solpadeine;
• Spasmalgon;
• Tempalgin.

Strong painkillers are prescribed by the doctor after an examination and determination of the causes of dysmenorrhea.

Pain in muscles and joints during menopause

Lack of calcium leads to wear and tear of bone tissue. This causes joint pain. The legs and back are the first to suffer.

Female hormones are involved in the process of calcium absorption. It is quite logical that a decrease in estrogen causes a deficiency of this mineral in the body. Calcium takes part in the formation of bones and muscle tissue. With age, chronic deficiency leads to the fact that these systems are not able to withstand the loads to which a woman is exposed (frequent swelling in the joints is observed).

Additional sources of the problem are inactivity and eating fatty foods. Muscle atrophy occurs, they no longer support the bone skeleton, increasing the load on it. In this case, the most vulnerable areas suffer: knees, arms, lower back, back.

Under the influence of hormonal abnormalities, two related diseases develop:

• Osteoporosis. This is brittle bones that is common to most women who go through menopause. A slight blow can be enough to cause serious injury.
• Osteoarthritis. The disease affects the joints; they lack minerals for normal functioning. Chronic inflammatory processes develop. Sometimes this disease, diagnosed in women over 45 years of age, is called menopausal arthritis. With it, the limbs swell, hurt, get tired quickly, convulsions may occur, and weakness can be felt.

Often the back and neck may hurt due to the development of osteochondrosis. It is accompanied by dystrophic changes in the ligaments and structure of the intervertebral discs. The muscles lose their elasticity and do not support the so-called corset well. In particularly advanced cases, an intervertebral hernia develops.

What diseases cause joint pain during menopause?

The main causes of joint pain during menopause are the development of such diseases:

1. Osteoporosis. With this disease, bone density decreases. Because of this, there is a risk of frequent fractures, in which the bones do not heal well. After all, estrogen takes an active part in the metabolism of calcium and protein, which make up bones. It also inhibits the activity of osteoclasts - these are cells that destroy bone tissue. A drop in estrogen levels causes bones to become thinner and more fragile. Joint pain during menopause occurs first from the fact that the load on the joints increases with thinned bones, and then due to the developing pathology of bone tissue.
2. Deforming osteoarthritis. This is a chronic disease of the joints of a non-inflammatory nature. It occurs due to degeneration of articular cartilage. Joints are made up of ligaments, cartilage, and a fluid sac designed to absorb friction. To ensure the normal functioning of all the described elements, collagen is constantly required. When a woman is in menopause, the level of estrogen decreases and, accordingly, the amount of collagen decreases. Its deficiency leads to joints becoming thinner and deformed. First of all, joints that have had increased stress are affected. When a woman begins to hear a crunching sound in the joints when moving and feels stiffness in her feet in the morning, these are the first symptoms of the development of deforming osteoarthritis. If the hip joint is damaged, the center of pain is in the hips. The pain may radiate from the upper thigh to the knee. If the knee joint is diseased, it will be difficult for the patient to walk up the steps.

One of the most unfavorable consequences of hormonal changes in the body during menopause is a disruption of the process of bone mineralization. As a result, there is an increase in bone fragility and the risk of fractures.

Frequent accompaniments of menopause are a feeling of fatigue and stiffness of movement.

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45–55 years for a woman is the time of greatest blossoming. This is a time of experience, self-sufficiency and conscious beauty. Unfortunately, a wonderful age is often overshadowed by the unpleasant manifestations of menopause. Along with hot flashes, pain of various localizations is a faithful companion of menopause. In this article we will look at the reasons for their occurrence and find out whether it is possible to get rid of painful sensations. Let's discuss all the known ways to combat pain during menopause - from taking hormones to changing lifestyle.

Headaches during menopause in women

To the question whether a headache can occur during menopause, the answer is clear. This is a constant companion of menopausal syndrome. Painful sensations are caused by various reasons, including physical dysfunctions of certain systems and psycho-emotional disorders.

Headaches are an inevitable accompaniment of menopause. There are a number of reasons for their occurrence.

Localization of pain can be in the occipital, temporal, frontal and parietal regions. Depending on this, the doctor may suspect the following reasons:

• Increased blood or intracranial pressure. It is especially common in older people. Associated with blockage of blood vessels by fatty formations - cholesterol plaques.
• Dysfunction of cerebral vessels. Depletion of the walls, chronic diseases lead to frequent spasms or excessive dilation of blood vessels. After 45 years of age, the risk of migraine attacks increases.
• Neuralgia of nerve endings in the neck and head. Hormonal imbalance can lead to irritation of these structures.
• Injuries. Previously received head and neck injuries provoke chronic pain of varying strength.
• Excessive tension in the cervical and shoulder regions. Staying in the same position for a long time, low mobility, and large loads of the same type lead to spasms.

Depression and unstable emotional state lead to severe headaches. The woman constantly feels overwhelmed. Night hot flashes also have a negative effect on your well-being. Sleep disturbances, constant depression of the nervous system, and autonomic disorders have characteristic consequences.

Lower abdominal pain during menopause

Pain in the lower abdomen during menopause is associated in most cases with gynecological problems.

Menopause is a blow to the reproductive system. Lack of estrogen provokes a large number of different abnormalities. The appearance of pain in the lower abdomen is a reason to immediately consult a doctor. It may indicate the development of the following diseases:

• Fibroids (fibroids) of the uterus. This is a benign neoplasm that occurs as a result of an excess of estrogen levels over progesterone (an imbalance). It is often diagnosed in women whose menopause began after 50 years of age (late menopause). In addition to nagging or sharp pain, it may be accompanied by bleeding.
• Endometriosis. Refers to estrogen-dependent diseases, manifested in the form of proliferation of endometrial cells. This process is quite unpredictable; its localization can extend to the vagina, cervix, intestines, and bladder. In addition to pain when the lower abdomen is pulled, a woman sometimes observes the appearance of bloody discharge and discomfort in the back.
• Chronic salpingitis. This is a disease that affects the fallopian tube. Often it begins to develop before the onset of menopause, being asymptomatic. But due to low estrogen levels, inflammatory processes intensify. The localization of the pain is on the side with a downward impact, and the temperature also rises.
• Uterine synechiae. Inhibition of the synthesis of female sex hormones leads to atrophy of the ovaries, uterus, and the appearance of adhesions. The process can occur on its own without obvious symptoms; the appearance of pain indicates a possible accumulation of fluid in the cavity. If you ignore this symptom, severe inflammation develops, accompanied by painful attacks that are difficult to bear.
• Malignant tumors. In the early stages, minor aching sensations may occur. Severe pain appears only in the later stages.

Bloating is a sign of intestinal problems. They appear as a result of decreased metabolism. Food is digested worse; many foods are too “heavy” for the female body during menopause. It hurts in the upper part of the abdominal cavity due to problems with the liver, gall bladder, and pancreas.

Other types of pain during menopause

Chest pain is a common occurrence during menopause. There may be several reasons for this:

• Breast dysfunction. Lack of hormones leads to tissue replacement with fibrous and fatty tissue. Mastopathy, other benign and malignant tumors.
• Problems with intervertebral discs. Their wear and tear causes the space between the vertebrae to expand and hernias to form.
• Cardiovascular diseases. These are frequent companions of menopause.

In some cases, so-called goose bumps appear. This is the result of a lack of hormones and vitamins, low collagen levels.

Causes

It is very difficult to say exactly why the lower back hurts during menopause. To do this, at a minimum, you need to examine the patient and also see the results of her tests. The fact is that pain in the lower abdomen can occur for various reasons.

First of all, it is worth noting hormonal changes and their consequences. Lack of estrogen leads to disruption of various body systems, which can provoke pain not only in the lower back, but throughout the body.

Sometimes pain in the lower abdomen during menopause can be due to the fact that it is difficult for a woman to psychologically come to terms with the onset of menopause. Some patients fall into depression, which can manifest as pain in various locations, including in the genital area.

Don't think that back pain is normal. Can the lower abdomen and lower back hurt during menopause without pathology? No, it can’t, in any case, an unpleasant symptom provokes something. And you need to understand what exactly.

Gynecology

If a woman has pain in the lower abdomen and radiates to the lower back, then the first thing she will think is that she needs to visit a gynecologist, and not in vain. During menopause, pain can occur due to the following diseases:

• Tumors of the uterus, such as fibroids and fibroids. These are benign neoplasms that are often found in older women. Often this condition is accompanied by uterine bleeding, sometimes quite long.
• Endometriosis. This pathology strongly depends on the level of hormones in the body. With hormonal imbalance, endometriosis can worsen. Symptoms may include painful periods, heavy bleeding, including in the middle of the cycle.
• Chronic inflammation of the appendages and uterus. Such pathologies can be in remission, and during menopause they can worsen, causing pain and mucous discharge from the vagina.
• Cancerous tumors. Oncology is currently very common, and women during menopause are at risk. Therefore, when menopause occurs, you need to be examined regularly. It must be remembered that cancer develops asymptomatically, and pain can only appear at an advanced stage, when metastases begin to spread.
• Prolapse of the uterus and vagina. During menopause, due to a lack of hormones, muscles and ligaments weaken, which can cause vaginal prolapse. In this case, a woman may feel a foreign body in the vagina, and pain occurs during sexual intercourse.

In fact, a woman after menopause remains an ordinary woman who is susceptible to many gynecological diseases. Therefore, if you have pain in the lower abdomen, you should definitely get examined.

Urology and proctology

Pain and spasms in the lumbar region often occur due to intestinal dysfunction. Flatulence, diarrhea and constipation - all this can cause pain, and often such disorders occur against the background of hormonal imbalance during menopause. For some women, intestinal problems are associated with a mentally unstable condition.

Back pain can be a sign of the development of urological pathologies, in particular cystitis. Cystitis during menopause is generally a very common disorder in women. In this case, unpleasant sensations may be accompanied by frequent urination, burning, and in more severe cases, the urine becomes cloudy and contains blood.

If cystitis is not treated, it is complicated by pyelonephritis and nephritis, that is, inflammatory kidney disease. This condition is also accompanied by back pain and increased body temperature.

Orthopedics

Back pain can occur not only due to damage to internal organs. Often the cause of an unpleasant symptom is pathology of the spine and muscles. First of all, it is worth remembering whether the woman lifted something heavy or sat in a draft. It is possible that your back pain is due to muscle inflammation or a sprain.

During menopause, pathologies of the musculoskeletal system, in particular osteochondrosis, can also worsen. Also, estrogen deficiency is fraught with a lack of calcium in the body, because this hormone is responsible for the absorption of the microelement. Which in turn increases the risk of developing osteoporosis.