Menopause and Low Back Pain

Did you know that 80% of women of menopausal age suffer back and other joint pain, including, but not limited to: neck pain, headaches, mid back, wrist, elbow, knee and ankle pain. This pain is associated with the hormonal changes of menopause where the ovaries will stop producing estrogen and progesterone.

Common over the counter medication has shown to have a negative effect on pain. Women who took analgesics (opioids) actually reported worse pain scores, higher BMI and were more likely to be depressed.

So what is the best way to treat menopausal joint pain?

Chiropractic is a safe, non-drug type form of pain relief therapy that has shown to be especially effective for these symptoms. Combining chiropractic care with a healthy diet and exercise routine has shown to be the most effective strategy for treating low back and other joint pain.

Your Chiropractor can prescribe a treatment plan that includes advice and resources for diet and exercise to best combat menopausal pain and symptoms naturally!

To get rid of your pain and live a better life – Book in with a Chiropractor today!

Dr Alexandra Byers (Chiropractor)

References:

1. Kozinoga M, Majchrzycki M, Piotrowska S. Low back pain in women before and after menopause. Przegla̜d Menopauzalny = Menopause Review. 2015;14(3):203-207. doi:10.5114/pm.2015.54347.
2. Whelan TJ, Goss PE, Ingle JN, et al. Assessment of quality of life in MA. 17: a randomized, placebo controlled trial of letrozole after 5 years of tamoxifen in postmenopausal women. J Clin Oncol. 2005;23:6931–6940
3. Cray L, Mitchell E, Woods N. Symptom clusters during the late menopausal transition stage: observations from the Seattle Midlife Women’s Health Study. Menopause. 2010;17:972–977.
4. Chou R, Qaseem A, Snow V, et al. Diagnosis and treatment of low back pain: a joint clinical practice guideline from the American College of Physicians and the American Pain Society. Ann Intern Med. 2007;15:478–491. [PubMed]
5. Saper RB, Sherman KJ, Delitto A, et al. Yoga vs. physical therapy vs. education for chronic low back pain in predominantly minority populations: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial. Trials. 2014;15:67. [PMC free article] [PubMed]
6. Mishra N, Mishra VN, Devanshi Exercise beyond menopause: Dos and Don’ts. J Midlife Health. 2011;2:51–56. [PMC free article] [PubMed]
7. Li WC, Chen YC, Yang RS, Tsauo JY. Effects of exercise programme on quality of life in osteoporotic and osteopenic postmenopausal women: a systemic review and meta-analysis. Clin Rehabil. 2009;23:888–896. [PubMed]