Thank you all for posting on this site, it has made me feel as though I am not alone!
Brief history: periods stopped at 49, been having hot flushes/night sweats since and occasional mood swings. Already taking glucosamine, had previous shoulder joint problems. I am now 55.
Woke up one morning in April this year with a pain in my neck. Over the course of about a week, it spread on my left side (I am left-handed) to the muscle along the shoulder blade, sometimes shoulder joint, tricep muscle, elbow joint, forearm muscle and wrist. I was in agony. I didn't want to take HRT, I prefer a natural approach, so I did a lot of research and came up with the following plan:
STEP 1. LINDA KEARNE'S MENOPAUSE CAKE. (Other recipes based on this can also be found online). It took about 3-4 weeks of eating a slice every day, but I definitely found some improvement in my symtoms, especially my joints. I also started taking an Omega 3 supplement too. I found some relief using a wheat bag that can be heated in the microwave – mine has lavender inside. Used a cool stick on hot days, again with lavender. Put a mattress topper on the bed to make it slightly more comfortable to sleep. However, I was still having a lot of muscle pain. Time to do more research, which led to...
STEP 2. MAGNESIUM. Various studies say that 60 to 80% of the population may be deficient in magnesium. One of the main symptoms is MUSCLE PAIN. There are several ways to increase magnesium (in addition to food intake), it can be absorbed through the skin or taken as supplements:
Bath or foot bath - with EPSOM SALTS (magnesium sulfate) or MAGNESIUM CHLORIDE FLAKES. This can be quite costly if you use the amount stated on the packet each time.
Supplements – I started taking a combination MAGNESIUM/CALCIUM/VIT D/VIT K tablet, as there is a complex relationship between these vitamins and minerals.
Magnesium Oil Spray (although it is technically not an oil) - this has been a complete life changer for me! You can buy ready made sprays, but I decided to make my own. It is very easy to do, equal measures of magnesium bath flakes and pure water. Boil the water, add the flakes so that they dissolve, cool, then pour into a spray bottle. This is much cheaper than buying a ready made spray. If you have sensitive skin, you may have a rash appear for a week or two and it may tingle or sting when you apply it. Consult a doctor if you have any doubts about trying this, especially if you have kidney problems or have low blood pressure.
I have been using the spray for just over 2 weeks and I am now able to do gardening, housework etc. I still have a minor amount of pain, but it is more just a slight niggle. I have my life back!