Arthritis, tendonitis and bursitis. Surprise!

Unexpected ways menopause can affect our bodies.

Menopausal Monday week 2

Photo by GMB Fitness on Unsplash

Have you gotten injured lately and have no idea how? Is it taking longer to recover from a workout? You might be able to blame menopause.

During the menopausal transition our hormones, mainly estrogen, fluctuate. We can gain weight, have a decrease in muscle thickness and a decrease in flexibility. We can start to experience bone loss too.

Our connective tissues are affected by estrogen loss, and it causes our tendons to become stiffer. A stiff tendon does not stretch and can put us at greater risk for injury.

This change in my body totally took me by surprise, when I tried to get into shape and lose weight last year. I had no clue that falling estrogen would affect my tendons and ligaments.

By 54 years old I had passed the magical year mark that would count as crossing the menopausal line. I also noticed I had gained over 25lbs! One day I found myself comparing myself to someone on a social media and something in me broke. I used to be like that. She was my age too so there was no excuse! What had happened to me?

I decided I would work-out and lose weight. Weight had always come off easily for me in the past but was becoming more difficult. I walked, ran, did aerobic yoga and drastically cut my calories and the weight did come off. During one of my jogs, I noticed my inner knees getting stiff. I kept going as I usually did and told myself it would go away. This time it did not. Eventually I was diagnosed with osteoarthrosis and a shredded meniscus. A weekend of rest did not fix this injury, it was too late. Surgery was not an option at that time for arthritis or meniscus damage. Physical therapy and gel injections helped but most of the damage was done.

Did it end there? Did I learn? Nope! I had a frozen shoulder issue 4 years ago and I had recovered, but not completely. I kept pushing though. Early this year I ended up with calcified tendinitis from years of overuse. I was lucky, no surgery needed, and I can recover with injections and physical therapy….and rest.

Not giving up! No way

Should we stop exercising? Definitely not. Moderation is the key, and we need to listen to our bodies We need to rest them and give them a little more time to recover. One of the best exercises we can do is muscle resistance training like free weights, resistance bands, yoga and walking. We need this to keep our bones strong. Don't forget physical balance exercises and mental balance as well.

55 and my goal was to do a handstand. So close. Then shoulder tendonitis caught up to me a few months later.

So, for now I'm listening to the doctors and most of all my body. I need to accept that my body has changed, and I need to alter the way I do things, including being more mindful in how I move. This does not mean I'm giving up, it’s quite the opposite.

Please be well and listen to your body!! You are strong. You are loved. You are beautiful. You are much more than any one part of yourself. Our bodies are a gift, and they are depending on us for this this new adventure in our lives.