Can Menopause Cause Nerve Pain? What Menopausal Women Should Know.
Nerve pain is a lesser-discussed symptom when it comes to talking about menopause. It often gets overshadowed by hot flashes and night sweats, leading to many women shaking these symptoms off as just responses to stress.
Nerve pain often becomes more common during the menopausal transition, and increasing awareness is key to addressing and relieving this symptom.
Can Menopause cause Nerve Pain?
Let’s cut right to the chase. Does menopause cause nerve pain and if so, are you at risk? Menopause itself may not cause nerve pain directly, but with levels of estrogen becoming lower during menopause, this can contribute to its development. Studies have also shown that women experiencing perimenopause may also be prone to developing nerve pain.
The Role of Estrogen
Estrogen is one of the two major sex hormones that women produce, responsible for all the major milestones like puberty, monthly cycles, pregnancy, and menopause. Estrogen also affects cardiovascular health, brain function, and the strength of your bones.
When entering menopause, the ovaries stop producing high levels of estrogen. And when estrogen gets low, you can start to experience:
- Hot flashes
- Night Sweats
- Irregular periods
- Fatigue
- Nerve Pain
The Role of Estrogen in Nerve Health
Nerve pain or neuropathic pain happens if your nervous system malfunctions or gets damaged. These damaged nerve fibers send the wrong signals of pain to different parts of your body resulting in pain in places like:
- Organs
- Arms
- Legs
- Fingers and toes
Estrogen is responsible for maintaining a protective coating around them which supports the communication between nerves. When estrogen drops, nerve communication gets disrupted. This shows itself as:
- Burning or crawling skin sensation
- “Electric shocks” or frequent “zaps”
- Tingling or numbness in the hands and feet
Nerve pain can be caused by other conditions. It is important to speak with a provider about the symptoms you are experiencing.
Ways to Manage Nerve Pain
Yes, nerve pain sounds terrifying, but don’t worry, there are many ways to manage and eliminate symptoms.
- Lifestyle Adjustments
Developing and maintaining a regular exercise schedule along with eating fresh fruits and vegetables can help manage symptoms, as well as limiting alcohol intake and quitting smoking.
- Nutritional Support
Increasing your intake of B12 and magnesium through foods that are rich in them or adding a vitamin to your daily routine can help in aiding nerve pain.
- Hormone Replacement Therapy
Hormone replacement therapy or HRT is a medical treatment that can help stabilize hormone levels leading to a reduction in nerve pain symptoms.
Find Relief with HerKare
At HerKare, hormone replacement therapy or HRT is an option when it comes to eliminating the symptoms of nerve pain.
Nerve pain can affect your overall quality of life, making it hard to enjoy the things you used to. Estrogen replacement therapy can help you feel like you again.
We are here to listen. If you want to learn more about how hormone replacement therapy can help nerve pain, schedule an appointment today.
Estrogen: Hormone, Function, Levels & Imbalances
Neuropathic Pain (Nerve Pain): What It Is, Causes & Symptoms