Leg Pains - Bone pains - Menopause Forum

I have been experiencing excruiating pains that seem to come right from the marrow of my bones and can actually awaken me at night. They also seem to happen if I lay on the couch, and seldom happen if I am standing.

Although I have not had a period for over 2 years these bouts of pain seem to happen on a regular 26 day cycle. It's as if the body still wants to produce the menstral blood and the marrow is working away but of course nothing is happening.

Has anyone else experienced this and what have you done for it if anything? These are not cramps but real pain like an abcessed tooth. It totally disables me for hours at a time and lasts for 3 days to a week and then is suddenly gone.

If you have had these pains do they eventually go away?

I don't take any medications except aspirin for occaissional pain and stiffness. I eat healthy and don't take any other supplements.

Any info would be appreciated, thank you.

Hi Joyce,
Have you seen your doctor for this? Do you have any other medical symptoms?
I have also developed leg pain. Sometimes I worry about bone cancer, because it feels so deep in the bones........but I guess fractures are more of a sign of bone cancer than pain...??
I'm thinking mine are a type of muscle spasm. I take 1200mg calcium a day, and also try to take about 500mg of Magnesium. These 2 minerals are really important to our muscles. Try those, and see if the pains ease up. Actually, you can take as much magnesium as you want, but higher doses can cause diarrhea. I think alot of us get low in magnesium.
I'm like you..........it happens mostly when I'm laying down. I can't lay on my right side, because it makes my legs hurt so much. It seems to come and go through the month. I'll have to keep track, to see if it's cyclical. I agree with you that even though we don't have periods, there's still something inside us, cycling.
Sometimes, for me, gentle stretching excercises help. I stand beside a big chair (with my back to an arm), and rest one leg on the chair arm. I slowly lean backwards, until I can feel my thigh muscle stretching. I hold it for 20 seconds, relax and do it again. It really helps.
(I have something to hold onto while I'm doing these, so I don't fall over!). I hope this helps.

For years (actually, decades) that was my main PMS symptom. Not as severe as you're describing (although, severity is subjective. I have a high pain tolerance -- I feel it, but, I soldier through it), but, very, very sore -- almost like broken bones kind of aching -- deep, strong and relentless pain (like a migraine in my legs).

I'd definitley ask a doctor, but, I'd pursue the exercise and nutrition route, too, as mentioned by CatherineT

I had the pain in my legs for about 5 years. I toke advil everyday. The pain was in my bones and I felt like the muscels and ligaments in the back of my legs were to short. Then they stopped oneday. My legs hurt on days when i walk alot at school on concrete but nothing like the first 5 years.

I have pain in both legs at night. It radiates from my buttocks all the way down. It wakes me up almost every night. I was told this is one of the symptoms of fybromyalgia, along with other types of aches, which means no cure. Tylenol every nite for me.

I have been waking up, the last few months, with legs that feel like I've run a marathon. I don't feel the bone pain, just muscle fatigue... is this related? I've noticed that it appeared about the time my perimenopause started getting worse.

I don't know if this will be helpful or not, but after a life of getting very little exercise, I started working out on the treadmill diligently at about age 51, and shortly thereafter began getting miserable leg cramps in the middle of the night. They would wake me from a sound sleep, and the only way to get rid of them would be to walk around.

I learned that taking magnesium supplements made all the difference in the world.

Good luck to you!
Ellen

When I wake up during the night and in the morning my knuckles in my hands hurt soooooooo bad that I can't bend them. I have to slowly move them & stretch them before I can finally close them. I don't have the strength in them that I did before either. Plus recently my legs have started to act up. If I would jump out of bed I would fall flat on my face. Its like I have to stretch everything out & get it working again before I move. I haven't been taking any vitamins but am going to check into it the next time I am in the store.

This thread was first started a year ago. I am VERY interested in hearing from any of you ladies who posted earlier. What has been the outcome of your leg pains? I am menopausal, and the last few weeks have had pain in my right leg that feels like it might be coming from the bones, but it also might be coming from the muscles or nerves. Hard to say. Walking does not make it worse. It is worse when I lie on my right side at night. It also seems worse when my estrogen dose comes due every 12 hours. Of course, I am worried about cancer like everyone else, but I don't want to expose myself to more X-rays if it is just a menopausal thing.

I can take very little magnesium without getting diarrhea. By the way, all those who take Advil or Tylenol every day, that is dangerous to your kidneys!

I do not have leg pain, but have had pain in my arms for weeks now. Just from the shoulders down a few inches. It really hurts when I sleep on them. Anyone else have this?

Well, I'm ghaving terrible burning in my legs and knees, hands etc... I think my mind is going. I really do. Pain also, but it eases when I walk. Is this related to menapause? I take tons of fish oil and magnesium. Sorry for the spelling. :) Arum

I too get terrible pains in my bones.It seems to be my hips & my shoulders that get me.It's worst in bed or when I'm sitting down,although I'm aware of the pain most of the time.I'm a 49 year old fitness instructor but don't feel my pains are exercise related.It's not muscle or joint pain but one that emanates from deep in my bones.I'm putting it down to pre menopausal stuff as my periods are all over the place - very irregular,very heavy etc.I don't get hot flushes,I take a variety of supplements & wonder if anyone has any experience of ACTIVIVE as the blurb sounds encouraging & I'm also wondering if I might have Fybromyalgia.Unfortunately our local doctor is not the most clued up on these matters.
Any input would be gratefully received

Hi youngkimmie,
I was thinking fibromyalgia too, before I got to the end of your post. I have fibromyalgia, which started after I had a very bad bout with the flu and pneumonia. But that was just a couple years before I started having irregular periods in perimenopause. As I talked more and more with women with fibromyalgia, I was amazed at how many were just beginning perimenopause! So I believe some of us have a major problem with the loss of hormones.
I was on HRT for awhile, but the fibromyalgia symptoms continued. So I don't think that is the answer.
My fibromyalgia started with intense hip and shoulder pain. I had to sleep on the couch for several years when it started, otherwise I could never get out of the bed.
Some of my worst fibromyalgia symptoms have eased up, now that I'm in menopause, but I'm still pretty stiff alot, and have other funky symptoms.
Alot of people seem to be helped by antidepressants. Not because they are depressed, but because the antidepressants seem to help with their pain and their sleep problems.
Lots of women in perimenopause start having sleep problems, and being sleep deprived can cause alot of muscle aches and pains.
I've found that gentle stretching exercises help, and cutting back on sugar and carbs and caffeine. Good luck to you!

I am smack in the middle of menopause. About 3 periods a year for the last 2 years. For about 3 years now I have been having pain in my hips mostly, but also one shoulder (NOT the joint--but more the upper arm--muscle? tendon? ligament?) and occasionally a bit in the back. First I thought overweight together with the big 5-0, was just catching up to me. Then I thought my BP medication (Hyzaar) might be the culprit, at I had to start taking that at about time the body aches started. So I got a BP monitor and found I could reduce the med by half. About this same time my body felt a whole lot better, so I thought AHA!! Well, about 2 weeks of feeling better and I got a period. After that, the body pain came back with a vengeance. Finally, this old girl put 2+2 together. The pain is from menopause. I assume the lack of estrogen. Then when my system gets a shot of estrogen again I feel so much better, briefly.

I do not want to take HRT. I am beginning my quest for supplements (I am starting with soy isoflavones and black cohosh) to help me with this.

Funny...I have no menopause mood swings and only VERY SLIGHT hot flashes. But oh, the pain in my hips some nights could make me weep. I take aspirin or ibuprofen about 4 nights a week and that helps for half the night. I will not get up and take something at 2AM and add stomach ulcer to everything else, nor will I EAT something to take a pill with. I'm already overweight! Aleve or tylenol don't seem to give me much relief.

I'm gonna keep watching here for more helpful suggestions. I have too many years left to feel this crippled! Does it go on forever??

Joyce,
I just spoke to my nutritionist about this very thing. She told me my body nedds more magnesium.

Thank you for all the information everyone has given. I am suffering terribly from leg pain as well and am trying some of the suggestions. My younger sister has gone thru menopause and had the shoulder and leg pains and has assured me that they will subside!!! I hope so, soon!! I am tired of walking around like a little old lady @ 47 years old. Nightly trips to the bathroom are the worst for me. I feel like I am going to snap a bone or something. I'm trying the magnesium so we'll see if that works. Thanks again for the help!!

Unfortunately, after waiting what seemed like forever for some relief, I went to the Dr. and found that I have a medial meniscus tear in my knee. I am having surgery this Thursday to help relieve the pain. So much for an easy answer!!!

A couple of you have mentioned arm pain. I just turned 50 and have no signs of menopause yet--periods still regular, no hot flashes. I have had some whopper migraines, which is unusual. But the thing I'm most concerned about is a relatively sudden onset of upper arm pain. I am slender and very active. I work out daily: spinning and pilates, and I've done these for years with no muscle or other pain. Over the last six months I've developed this arm pain which, as others have posted above, doesn't seem to be the joint or rotator cuff (although it could be related) and is not due, I'm sure, to a tear or injury. It is in both arms and is a "deep" muscle-type ache and pain when I lift my arms or stretch them behind me (like taking something out of a back pocket). I would like to know more about whether or not this is related to menopause (and why). I do take daily vitamins, incl. D and magnesium.

I'm wondering if anyone has had a similar experience as I have:

The last few nights (not during the day) I have had a strange pain in one of my shins. It feels like it is in the bone, but it's hard to tell, and doesn't last for very long. As both my parents have had cancer (kidney and thyroid), I'm a bit overcautious, but I'm rather worried about this pain. I noticed many of you discussed bone pain related to menopause, but I'm only in my 20's; however, I did start my period today. Does anyone have any input before I run off to a doctor...?

im only 19 but since a very young age i suffer from leg pains it feels as if its in the bone itself. the doctor just kept saying its growing pains. i can get anytime but mostly at night it only goes away if i drink a pain pill and if i dont it gets
worst and the pain moves to my back. any advice please

Hi Ladies,
I found this site while looking up the medical term
for the shoulder, arm & sometimes leg pain I had for almost 2 years. I am 51 1/2. I have been taking natural sources of calcium/magnesium for years, as well as C, B-complex, minerals...my periods were like clockwork for years and suddenly ceased. I've always stayed active, but one Spring morning in 2009 I woke up and had a frozen left shoulder and bone pain, reduced mobility in my shoulder and for the next several months I used a topical homeopathic cream called Topricin and that seemed to help. Then the pain shifted to my right shoulder and sometimes in bed, my legs would ache, too.
I started taking cimicifuga racemosa 30c internally, a homeopathic remedy, 6 months ago. I am symptom free after 2 years!
Homeopathy works, has no side effects! Find a good practitioner in your area. It's worth it!

i am 45 years old and i am getting my periods every 6 months since the last 2 years. the pain in my legs have started about a year back and at times they are so much that i want to cry out. i am known to have a high pain thresh hold. my heels also ache when i put weight on them after some period of inactivity. i have been a very active person through out and this disability is causing a lot of discouragement. incidently i have been diagnosed with hypo thriod some times back. is there a link between my pains and thyroid? i am so glad to meet others on this thread.

Hi, I am 41 years old and have been in a lot of pain in my thighs..i used to go to the gym, and enjoyed walking, but it has all come to a stop!! I am in my feeling alone, my local doctor has no idea? found this site..read all the mess...great support!!!!!

Was THRILLED to find this site!! I am 54 (a young 54 by the way.. :o) :o) I thought my recent leg pains were from low potassium due to my high blood pressure medication. (hydrochlorothiazide - water pill). Research showed that was a possible side effect. Ok, problem solved. WRONG!! Blood test showed my potassium was just fine, so now what! Never heard from ANYONE about PAINFUL legs, due to menopause. Not that it surprises me, cuz it seems that just about anything goes when it comes to the depleting of our womanly estrogen. waaaa! What DOES perplex me...if menopause is suppose to be a natural body process, part of aging, why our body does not naturally adjust to it?????? Ahhhh, such is life. In any event, I'll be keeping the bottle of Aleve, (which works fantastic by the way, if you've never tried it), and the much needed fan as of late, (DAM HOT FLASHES), in arms length and continuing on!! Thanks for all the insight. Best to you all!

I have fibro, degen disc, stenosis in lumbar but this leg pain isn't sciatica. The doc thought I had a stroke because my leg was gimp. Now it isn't gimp but excruciating bone pain. I also have spina bifida and other icks. This is new though. Interesting about putting it together with menopause here! It tingles too. My CT came back fine and my Carotid ultrasound did too, cept for incidentally seen thyroid nodules. I see a DO at UCDavis now and am scheduled for a thyroid ultrasound....next week, but no follow up til Oct with my DO there. It was suspected that I had Metastatic and Multiple Myeloma, 6 years ago but and had a full body bone scan. My primary said "as far as I can tell, you don't have either". I asked what that meant. He said he had to cover his ass. I am thankful to have been scheduled for at the DO instead of the Endocrinologist I wanted (I believe the DO can get me there...she is good!) because I want a full Endo panel. My primary wouldn't give me one! He also is supposedly "working on" scheduling me for the Neurologist there. But his appt maker keeps dropping the ball (point pen) and makes appt on top of appts for the same thing at different places. Talk about stress. We have to eliminate stress from our life to feel better. And darn that menopause, I am supposed to be done but I was ridin' that ol cloth pony this Valentines Day. Enough!!! :) Try to stay positive and watch old gigs you went to on youtube or your fav songs....or Jimmy Kimmel on hulu at your convenience for your laugh endorphins. Laugh a lot and also meditate!!! Good healing meditations is what I listen to!

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