Question:

Can menopause cause aching joints – knees, hips, lower back? It’s worse in cold weather. Also, in October, my knee swelled badly. It wasn’t caused by an injury. The swelling and pain are now gone. I saw three doctors for the problem and even had an MRI. Slight arthritis was the diagnosis. Can it be menopause?   

Name withheld

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Answer:

Aching joints are more associated with aging generally than with menopause specifically, although some have speculated that there may be a relationship between hormones and arthritis. Bone loss does hit its peak rate during perimenopause; in addition to arthritis, you may also be suffering from osteoporosis. Have the doctors evaluated your bone density? It would be good to know if you’ve lost significant bone mass.