menopause and OA

[NikkiE]

Hi
I have been having certain symptoms and got a blood test and yup, its early menopause (I'm 43). I was just wondering if this is likely to affect my OA as i know there is a danger of osteoporosis when going thru the change at a younger age. I'm currently getting PRP therapy at the moment and hope that one day i can get some stem cell treatment someday soon. Is menopause likely to hinder any healing?

I'm currently taking a bunch of supplements (glucosamone/condroitin, fish oil, calcium+vit D, multis, shea oil tabs, collagen). The doc recommended weight bearing exercise, but obviously I can't walk too much let alone run with my bad knees.

I'm just wondering if there's anything further I can do?


(Starting to feel real old now!) 

[runlolarun]

I'm not a doctor and can't give you a medically vetted answer to your question, but I am 50 yrs old, and had early menopause due to chemotherapy about 5 years ago.  I also have OA, and I'm also getting PRP.
As far as I know, the only thing menopause messes with (big oversimplification of course) is your hormonal system.  General aging also seems to reduce muscle mass, or cause you to be less able to build muscle.  So your best bet as an "older" female is to lift weights.  That's what seems to be recommended.  I have heard absolute ZILCH about menopause delaying or reducing healing, but I suppose it is possible.  You could ask your doc about that.

 I think NOT exercising is a lot worse for your OA AND menopausal symptoms than exercise.  Assuming you're otherwise healthy, why not try weights and swimming or biking?  Even yoga is good for strengthening, assuming you do the more rigorous stuff and not simply stretching and breathing (I'm sure that's good too...but ya gotta hoist some weight around to get strong).   Water running is great if you can't do any impact. 

As to me, I still run despite OA because it doesn't hurt, and I'm insane (haha), and need strenuous exercise like I need coffee in the morning.  I also bike, and do weight training and strengthening exercises for legs, core and upper body.  As a result, I don't have much OA pain at all, and I think PRP is helping a lot in terms of ROM and lack of stiffness.

Vit D, as you've said is also good.  But there's no real substitute for exercise, specifically weight training, and strengthening stuff...

best
lorien

[runlolarun]

correction:

I guess swimming and water running don't class as "weight-bearing".  So you may want to try yoga and weight training, with the emphasis on the latter.  Swimming is great for general health and aerobic stuff tho (and makes you feel good). 

best of luck
l

[Lottiefox]

Another weight training fan here.....I don't run anymore as it does hurt, and I don't want to create more damage with my laterally tilted patella! But weights- yes, they definitely help both my mood and my physical strength. I combine them with balance work - lateral raises on a BOSU are a whole new challenge and then go heavy when I have someone to spot me. I don't do squats or lunges as they hurt, but I can manage a lot of the other stuff and I am sure it helps my bone strength and density. I also do cross trainer, bike, swiss ball routines, abs workouts, boxing etc. I would think that non impact work can only help whether you're in the menopause or not? I think that must also help the PRP keep working? I suppose the other option is HRT....

If I didn't train then I really would go mad. I would feel like my crap knees had won!

Good luck

Lottie 

[NikkiE]

Thanks Guys for the answers. i guess i was freaking out a bit. I read somewhere also that once your hormone levels drop you lose the protective effect over your cartilage - god knows what that means when the cartilage you've got is already well and truly stuffed!

I agree that I think swimming is out, and cycling seems to stir things up these days (as well as giving me some grief in my hip), so weights it is....

I wonder, does the weight training prevent any muscle loss?

Thanks again.

PS what is a BOSU?

[NikkiE]

hee hee Lottie, I am interested in trying the cake therapy mentioned in your profile. Which works best black forest or mud?

[Lottiefox]

Hiya

Weight training will help work the muscles, and depending on whether you train for endurance (high reps, lower weight) or strength (low reps, higher weights) you'll see a difference in muscle tone and function. Working the muscles around the knee will definitely help balance and the stability of the knee.

My patella cartilage is pretty stuffed - I look on the bright side that if it is stuffed I can't do too much more damage and should work on keeping the rest of the knee strong!

I wonder if you have the cycle set up correctly for your knees/hips - might be worth just getting someone to check how far you extend and rotate. I know I tried a different indoor cycle and it was CRAP and hurt my knees, then went back to my normal gym where they have really good ones and its fine again. I also can't use the recumbant cycle, just cramps up my calves and pulls my knee to much. Have you tried any form of aqua exercise other than swimming? I don't swim as I don't like it and the kicking annoys my left leg, but I can cope with aerobic type stuff in the water along with jogging motions and pedalling. I can also cope with boxing (partner with pads or punchbag and thats great for upper body endurance and cardio).

A BOSU is literally a Both Sides Up - a kind of wobble board.

http://www.bosu.com/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BOSU/story.html

You do need to be careful not to fall off awkwardly though!

Oh and the cake - I find chocolate or carrot cake works best for me.....then I have to lift heavier weights to burn it off! (or Rocky Road, or coffee sponge....so many cakes...so little time.....)

Hope the knees are OK,

Lottie 

PS I am also queen of the supplements and added in pure Rosehip capsules about 3.5 weeks ago. General achiness - reduced......could be the weather, could be the rosehips!!

[runlolarun]

Ditto what Lottiefox said... balance training is GREAT stuff, (love me some BOSU)  and yeah, if I were you I'd check the height of bike saddle.  Done right, biking's really good for ROM.  You may also be starting off with too much resistance on the bike. 
And I forgot the elliptical!  The elliptical is weight bearing, so helps strengthen bones, but non-impact.  I find it boring as hell but its a really good workout.

Strength training is supposed to build muscle...right?  (think Mr. Universe)  So yes, it decreases muscle loss if you keep at it. 

Cake huh?  I gotta admit I'm more of a pizza/potato chip person myself.  Sigh.  Grease and salt....

[Lottiefox]

Yep, good point on the resistance on the bike and knee aggravation - I can't manage the hill climbs I used to, need to focus on spinning and RPM rather than strength and pushing. If I do a spin class I have to tell the instructor or else she thinks I'm deaf/lazy!!

Bought myself a second hand BOSU - bargain - wohoo, now I can wobble in front of the computer or whilst doing the ironing!! 

And grease and salt can also help I find with knee pain....hand cut chunky chips, salt, mayonnaise and ketchup...yummy. 

Lottie 

[runlolarun]

And grease and salt can also help I find with knee pain....hand cut chunky chips, salt, mayonnaise and ketchup...yummy. 

Lottie 

oh maaaaan....NOW I'm hungry...