4 Ways Menopause Causes Painful Legs

 

Leg problems of various kinds are quite common during menopause. These can include:

• Restless legs
• Aching legs
• Swollen ankles
• Hot, puffy feet
• Cramps in your leg muscles

Why Menopause causes painful legs:

1. Magenisum deficieny

Magnesium deficiency is very common during menopause.

This is due to:

• Falling estrogen can affect the absorption of magnesium and that can influence many of the body’s functions during menopause
• Additionally, a poor diet can cause a magnesium deficiency
• Stress can also burn up magnesium

Symptoms of a magnesium deficiency

• Cramps, especially at night
• Restless legs can be really painful and can take a long time to settle down
• Pins and needles

What can help for magnesium deficiency?

• Taking a magnesium supplement before bedtime or with your evening meal
• Taking a tissue salt before bedtime 
• Making sure that your diet includes magnesium-rich foods.
  These include lean protein, fresh fruit, green leafy vegetables, whole grains as well as seeds and nuts

2.Fluid imbalance

• Falling estrogen can interfere with the hormones that control the water balance in the body, which means there is a big chance you can be dehydrated as you go through menopause
• If you suffer from hot flushes and night sweats, that can dehydrate you as well, interfering with your whole water balance

Symptoms of a fluid imbalance

• You are likely to get swollen ankles or legs
• Your legs can get achy and tired.

What can help alleviate fluid imbalance?

• Make sure that you are drinking more than enough water, over and above anything else that you are drinking during the day
• Taking a supplement to help with water retention

3.Circulatory problems

• Estrogen can cause your circulation to deteriorate during menopause making it more sluggish
• Leading a more sedentary life, having a desk job and just not moving around as much as before, can affect circulation in the legs
• Dehydration can be a factor, too
• Being dehydrated can interfere with your circulation

Symptoms caused by circulatory problems

• It can cause swollen ankles and swollen legs
• You can get tired or hot legs as well as restless legs
• The possibility of varicose veins

What can help with circulatory problems?

• Stay hydrated with plenty of plain water
• Taking a supplement that can help with varicose veins and alleviate swollen ankles

 

4.Structural issues

• Menopause can cause your posture to change
  This happens due to your joints being affected by a decline in estrogen levels, which then puts pressure on your posture, and that in turn causes leg cramps
• Poor posture while you are sitting at your desk all day
• If you spend all day sitting at a desk, it can affect your shoulders, which in turn affects your lower back, your hips, causing leg pain and swollen ankles

Symptoms caused by structural issues

• You might suffer from painful knees, ankle pains and sore feet
• Your hips can ache and suffer from general pain all over

What can help against structural issues?

• Stretching and strengthening exercises
• Get advice from a chiropractor, just to make sure it is nothing more serious
• Pilates and yoga are also great in improving posture and creating body awareness
• Keeping active can help to reduce body aches and at the same time keep muscles toned.
  

  Sources
  menopause.livebetterwith.com – menopause and leg cramps
  avogel.co.uk – leg problems during menopause

Menopause & HOT BURNING FEET

This can happen as you are about to fall asleep and suddenly your feet start to burn.
Many women say that they have to stick their feet out from under the covers because they just can’t cope with them being so hot.
One of the main causes of this symptom could be that your nervous system is damaged or simply overtaxed with more anxiety and stress being experienced during menopause.

What you can do to help yourself

• Take pantothenic acid (B5) as it contributes to the proper functioning of the nervous system
• An iron deficiency can also contribute to hot feet
• Turmeric has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that can help reduce nerve pain.
• Evening primrose oil may also help reduce nerve damage symptoms.

Sources
gennev.com – electric shocks during menopause