I am 38 years old and I have been told that I am going through the menopause. I have just recently started getting some pain in the joints of my fingers, making it very difficult to grip or fully open my fingers. I also find that when I roll over in my sleep I experience a sharp pain in the muscles in my back which wakes me up. I am unable to roll over without pulling on the mattress to haul myself over. Are theses symptoms likely to be caused by the menopause and how can I alleviate them? I would also like to know if there is anything I can take to stop myself bursting into tears for no apparent reason and at the most inopportune moments.

Joint pain is a common symptom during the menopause and is often caused by falling oestrogen dehydrating the 'protective padding between the joints resulting in pain and inflammation.

You could try Devils Claw, and remember to drink plenty of plain water to ease the dehydration.

Try to avoid caffeine and fizzy/sugary drinks as they can contribute to the problem. However, joint pain can be caused by other factors so it is important to check with your doctor as well.

You may find taking a high strength female multi-vitamin will help with the emotional side of things, low B vitamins and low magnesium can cause mood swings/upsets etc.

Eileen Durward

Do you have questions? Please feel free to ask.

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As the A.Vogel Menopause expert, I recommend Menoforce^® Sage tablets and Menopause Support to help you through this stage of your life

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Did you know?

You won’t get the menopause the minute you turn 50! The average starting age is actually between 45 and 55 and it can often depend on a number of factors including hereditary, weight and health, however every single woman will have an individual menopause.

Learn the truth behind other menopause myths