Symptoms — joint pain and stiffness

What’s inflammation got to do with it?

Remarkably, nearly every woman in our Personal Program reports at least some joint pain, stiffness or body aches. Not a day goes by that we don’t hear from women suffering from back pain, knee pain, shoulder pain, hip pain, neck pain — every form of joint pain you can imagine. Most of them report chronic pain — not just a passing problem — and all of these women are looking for real relief — without a lifetime of drugs.

What causes joint and muscle pain?

Most of us attribute stiffness and joint pain to aging, and feel we just have to accept it — and worse, believe that medication is our only hope for relief. But that’s not so! Except for progressive rheumatoid or osteoarthritis conditions, which require specific care with a specialist, there are many steps you can take to get joint pain relief naturally, without drugs.

Let’s start with the underlying causes of joint pain and muscle stiffness.

First off, years of wear and tear on our skeletal joints are certainly a factor. If we’re overweight, wear and tear are a bigger factor, especially in knee pain, foot pain, and ankle pain. Past injuries to our joints may never have completely healed, leaving them more vulnerable to pain and stiffness.

An inflamed digestive tract is another culprit. Most of the women in the Personal Program who suffer severe or chronic stiffness or joint pain also report digestive problems. That’s because dysbiosis in our digestive system leads in time to systemic inflammation, including inflammation in the joints and the resulting aches and pains.

Insulin and cortisol also work as inflammatory agents. Many of us suffer an excess of both of these hormones, the first from too many sugars and other carbohydrates in our diets, the second from too much stress and caffeine. Prolonged high levels cause the disruption of cellular metabolism, eventually causing inflammation to spread like wildfire.

Imbalanced eicosanoids also add to inflammation. These hormone-like biochemicals are produced in the cells themselves and regulate myriad metabolic processes. “Good” and “bad” eicosanoids are supposed to offset one another. But with an excess of insulin or a deficiency in essential fatty acids, they cannot balance each other out. Systemic inflammation — including chronic joint pain — is only one of many negative consequences.

Fluctuating estrogen levels and poor estrogen clearance (i.e., the way estrogen is metabolized and cleared from the body) can impact how our joints feel as well. There are many studies showing how pregnant women experience changes in joint tissue in response to the enormous hormone shifts in pregnancy. It stands to reason that some women would also have joint changes in response to the hormone fluctuations so common in perimenopause.

The natural remedy for joint pain

So what can you do to find relief from chronic pain? It’s key that you provide support for your body and balance in your life. Proper diet and nutritional supplements are the foundation. Phytotherapy can help offset estrogen dominance and support hormonal balance. Lifestyle changes, especially exercise and stress relief, work wonders over time.

We’ve been very successful in our Personal Program in addressing the underlying causes of joint pain and helping women find relief.

Our Personal Program is a great place to start

The Personal Program promotes natural hormonal balance with nutritional supplements, our exclusive endocrine support formula, dietary and lifestyle guidance, and optional phone consultations with our Nurse–Educators. It is a convenient, at-home version of what we recommend to all our patients at the clinic.

• Start by assessing your symptoms with our on-line Hormonal Health Profile. It’s easy, informative, and free.
• To learn more about the Program, go to How the Personal Program Works.
• For further reading about your symptoms and other health topics, go to Explore Our Knowledge.
• If you have questions, don’t hesitate to call us toll-free at 1-800-798-7902. We’re here to listen and help.

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Last Modified: 12/07/2007