Hi girls,

2 weeks before my period my tendons at the side and below both my knees ached. Period arrived and the aches went, only to be replaced by swollen & aching achilles tendons (again both ankles). I didn't do anything to cause this to my knowledge. Anyone know if tendonitis is Peri related? My doctor is useless as usual!

Squiggle

hi squiggle... its me denise... i get the pain feeling in bhind my knees... like i stretched them out... and running down the calfs of my legs... it lasts about 2-3 days right before and at the start of "flo"... then it goes away... also i get the catch feeling in my right buttovks... i think it ha to do with peri or pre.... because i notice it alot worse right at "flo" time...

Hi Squiggle, I'm not sure if it's peri related? Or age related, but I go through almost the exact thing you are describing. I have blamed it on my job: I walk pretty much my entire 7 hour shift and climb MANY sets of stairs. Mine pain is focused mainly on the inside of the knee area, and often in the ankle area as well. Strange, isn't it?
HUGS!

Hi squiggle,

I think it's common to have achy joints during peri. Tendonitis is something I've struggled with for years, but it is not due to peri. Tendonitis is a very specific condition that can be diagnosed as such. I don't think that brief achiness that comes and goes is tendonitis. Tendonitis is small rips and tears in the tendon that comes as a result of activity or strain in that area. I hope that helps!

Kleeo - you sound just like me. Maybe it's just the way we are.

That's interesting RS - thanks. I'm sorry you've had to suffer tendonitis for so long.

I guess the knees might not be tendonitis from what you say, although it is not the joint that was aching but the fleshy bit between the knees. Just an ache though and slight swelling.

However, my doc seemed to think my ankles were definitely achilles tendonitis as they are really sore and swollen. I can barely walk or drive. The only thing I can put it down to is I was gardening really early in the morning last weekend and my ankles were maybe not warmed up when I crouched down. Didn't feel anything at the time though - only later in the day. How long does it last? I can't rest my feet properly as I have 2 young kids to run after and I can't take Ibruprofen either due to gastritis, so it has to be Ibruprofen gel. Any other tips welcome! Where do you get your tendonitis?

Great to meet you on WYST by the way!

Hi Squiggle,

If your doc said tendonitis in your ankles, and if you were squatting down while gardening, that sounds like tendonitis. What I meant was, hormones don't cause tendonitis, activity does. The first treatment is usually anti-inflamatory meds like Ibuprofen. If that doesn't help, you can go to physical therapy where they might do ultrasound, stretching, massage, and exercises with you. You can also get a cortisone shot to bring down the inflamation quickly. I have to do stretches and exercises for my arms every day.

If I were you, I would really try to rest if you can. The more you use the tendons, the more risk there is of re-straining them. Can you hire a babysitter to take care of the kids for a few hours each day? Think about how you might manage and change your routine if you were in bed with a broken leg, and then do that.

The time to take care of yourself is NOW! I say this because I've had tendonitis in my arms for several years, and the pain and limited activity is absolutely no fun! If you don't take good care of it and allow healing while it is acute (right now, if it just happened), then it can become chronic. Believe me, you don't want it to become chronic!

How long does it last? If you take care of it, maybe several weeks. If you don't, then maybe years. I got mine the first time due to an injured tendon from a blood draw in my arm (bad nurse!). The second time it was because I was using a spray bottle to spray laundry stain remover on my husband's jeans, which were very dirty. Silly, but that did it!

Let us know how it goes for you! Nice to meet you too!

Hey Squiggles, the ibuprofen is what I take to help the 'achey's that I get. Maybe you should ask your doc or pharmacist if there is any form that you could take that WOULDN'T affect your tummy? My Mom takes something for her arthritis that is 'enteric coated', and it doesn't bother her sensitive tummy at all (I BELIEVE it's enteric coated ibuprofen, but I could be mistaken ~ it MIGHT be aspirin.) I sympathize with you, because it's VERY annoying. Sometimes I swear I've simply worn out my poor knees and ankles. And the ironic part is, the closer I get to a period? The WORSE it gets. Strange, eh? I hope you can find something to help your pain!
HUGS!

HI Kleeo - that's a good idea, I'll ask next time I see the doc! My mum/mom takes aspirin to help to avoid her having a stroke in her old age (a good idea) and at the moment I won't be able to when I get to her age. There must be a way!

I've pulled my shoulder this morning by sleeping in a draught - so even more of the Ibruprofen cream this morning!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Squiggle you poor thing! You sound like me !~ If I woke up ONE morning without having pain SOMEWHERE, I would surely think something was terribly wrong! LOL I think I'll look for the ibuprofen cream you are talking about ~ I've never heard of it before! Anything is worth a shot!
HUGS!

You may be hypothyroid. I had tendonitis in my knees, down the front of my lower legs, and in my feet and ankles. I had this off and on for the last 6 months for no apparent reason. It got worse at certain times of the month. I also had back pain, fatigue, headaches that got better and worse throughout the month, so I thought it was all hormonal, age and perimenopause. Turned out I have hypothyroidism. After just 5 weeks of thyroid replacement hormone all my aches and pains are almost completely gone!

I asked my doctor why it got worse and better during the month. She said progesterone has a soothing effect on soft tissue and reduces inflammation, so at the times of the month when your progesterone is higher you will feel better. With that in mind I tried some natural progesterone cream ***. It helped a lot. Within just a few days I was feeling less achy. That helped me get through that first month before the thyroid treatment kicked in. Now that the thyroid medication is working I don't seem to need the cream.

So get your thyroid checked if you haven't already! Ask your doctor to give you a TSH test. Keep in mind the new standard is a normal range of 0.3 to 3.0. Many doctors still use the old standard of 0.5-5.0. That's way too high. My TSH was 4.2 and I felt half dead. Don't let them tell you you're normal with anything over 3 (and, actually, my doctor says she treats anyone with symptoms if their TSH is over 2.5)

More info:
http://thyroid.about.com/cs/testsforthyroid/a/newrange.htm

In the mean time, try some of that cream!




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Hi Sunni,

Good thought- thanks for the suggestion. Fortunately i had my thyroid tested about a month ago because of my palpitations and it was all OK. So I guess it's carry on with the cream!

Actually, rereading your post, I will check the actual level with the doctor - thanks!

Yes, find out what the actual TSH number is, and what the lab's "normal" range is considered to be. If it uses the old standard I'd request a recheck from a lab with current standards. I originally had my TSH checked by an "old" lab and it was 2.6, right in the middle of "normal" for them. A different doctor retested with a "current" lab and it came back as 4.2 that time. Apparently labs using old standards may be using inaccurate testing methods as well.

Also ask your doctor if they did other thyroid tests like T3 and T4 levels and thyroid antibodes tests.

Have you tried magnesium supplements for your palpitations? Unless you love brazil nuts or eats massive amounts of spinach you, like most of us, probably don't get enough magnesium in your diet. I've found magnesium supplements to be helpful for palpitations.

Sorry if you've already heard all this. I'm new to this forum so I don't know your history.