Hot flashes, sleep disturbances and mood swings: these are some of the most common symptoms of menopause, but they are far from the only ones. Every year millions of women experience lingering pain throughout their bodies coming from their joints and muscles. This pain isn’t in your head. This is unfortunately one of the side effects that comes with age, but in Los Angeles, anti-aging therapy can help.

The bottom line is that about half of all women experience joint or muscle pain during menopause. Knowing the root of your pain can help you find ways to better manage it during anti-aging therapy in Los Angeles.

Fibromyalgia vs. Muscle Pain

Sometimes aches and pains are simply a result of tired, overused muscles, but sometimes your symptoms could indicate a different problem. Many women develop fibromyalgia during middle age—often around the same time they are developing the early symptoms of menopause. Some women mistake their fibromyalgia as a side effect of their changing body, but that isn’t always the case. If you develop chronic pain throughout your body, then it is time to talk with your doctor about your condition.

Fibromyalgia is a syndrome marked by excessive, long-term pain throughout the whole body. The pain reaches the joints, muscles, tendons and tissues and doesn’t go away, leaving millions of people fatigued, chronically in pain and sometimes bedridden.

The causes of fibromyalgia are unknown, but there are certain events and factors that will increase your risk of developing the condition, including:

• Trauma
• Sleep disturbances
• Infection
• Arthritis
• Lupus

Fibromyalgia is most common in women and can develop at any stage of a woman’s life after the age of 18. The condition is most frequently diagnosed among middle-aged women and is often a concern during treatment for menopause.  Your anti-aging doctor can determine if your muscle pain is a result of menopause, or if it is associated with a different problem like fibromyalgia.

Menopause and Pain

When fibromyalgia isn’t to blame, anti-aging therapies can often help reduce pain that develops with age.

Other forms of pain that often develop during menopause include:

• Migraines or chronic headaches
• Back pain
• Osteoarthritis

Hormone replacement therapy is known to relieve some pain associated with menopause, while complementary treatments like massage, trigger point injections and even prolotherapy can help relieve pain when properly combined with your anti-aging treatment program.