Katejo, my initial symptoms were excruciating back and shoulder pain and weird tingling sensations (aged 40). Later this pain went away, only for it to return a few months later in my ankle and calves. At one point I was having to use a crutch. Doctors put it all down to a sporting injury at the time (in those days I was very fit). Took another year before I got a diagnosis (via a neurologist!). Since then, I have discovered that this specific pain could well have been caused by water retention 'touching' nerves on my ankles and under my arms, which in turn caused referred pain.
I started HRT last October and it definitely helped. However, it wasn't enough to control the crazy fluctuations I was getting (sometimes my estrogen would go sky high and I'd end up feeling pregnant - nauseous, sore boobs and absolutely shattered) so I have now switched to a new pill, Qlaira, designed to help people in peri who need something to suppress their hormones rather than simply top them up. Once my estrogen dips permanently, I will switch back to HRT.
Good luck , B x