PCOS joint pain: Understanding the link and finding management options

Although it’s not among the associated symptoms, joint pain is frequently reported by females with this diagnosis. Furthermore, studies confirm a 73% higher prevalence of knee, hip, and hand osteoarthritis in women with PCOS compared to healthy, age-matched females.

According to the growing body of knowledge, PCOS joint pain can be caused by chronic inflammation, insulin resistance, excess weight, hormonal imbalance, and associated health conditions like hypothyroidism. Luckily, you can manage it with the help of time-tested management tactics like:

• Anti-inflammatory diet
• Regular exercise
• Weight management
• Supplementation
• Medical treatments

PCOS is a chronic hormonal condition that can affect a variety of systems and functions in your body. The most commonly associated symptoms include menstrual irregularity, fertility issues, weight gain, and hormonal imbalances. Yet, there also might be additional, not directly linked, conditions that are still prevalent, such as PCOS joint pain.

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Does PCOS Cause Joint Pain?

Joint pain is not conventionally considered one of the core PCOS symptoms. Nevertheless, its prevalence in women diagnosed with this condition is incredibly high.

A large controlled study from 2015, revealed a high (5.2%) prevalence of knee, hip, and hand osteoarthritis in females who have PCOS. Although the percentage is small, it was 73% higher compared to results found in age-matched controls. Since osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease, it’s possible to assume that there might be a direct, though hidden, link between PCOS and joint pain.

While osteoarthritis is an acquired joint disease, there are also many PCOS women who report overall pain and discomfort in joints. Currently, we have a growing body of knowledge linking PCOS to chronic low-grade inflammation and pain. These might be additional contributors to reported musculoskeletal discomfort. Along with other changes related to PCOS, they may contribute to your joint pain, though further studies are still needed.

Common Issues That Can Contribute to Joint Pain PCOS

While exploring the possible connection between PCOS and joint pain, it’s important to take an objective look at various PCOS-related symptoms that may contribute to joint discomfort. The most common contributors include:

Chronic Inflammation

Although the link is still inconclusive, there is a growing number of experts who link PCOS to chronic, low-grade inflammation. Studies exploring the inflammatory profile of PCOS women found they have moderately elevated levels of circulating C-reactive protein (CRP), which is a big inflammatory maker.

How does this affect the rest of your body? As a natural immune response, inflammation affects pretty much all of your body, including joints and soft tissues. When it’s chronic and untreated it can potentially cause significant damage, leading to progressive stiffness and pain.

Insulin Resistance

Insulin resistance is a deep inner issue accompanied by elevated levels of insulin hormone and the inability of your cells to respond to it properly, potentially leading to weight gain. This condition is believed to affect around 65-70% of females with PCOS, making it rather prevalent.

Without proper management, insulin resistance can lead to increased blood sugar levels and insulin spikes. These issues can trigger a strong inflammatory response, which can potentially cause joint issues. Additionally, insulin resistance can lead to a metabolic syndrome, which is known to exacerbate joint pain and lead to more serious diseases, such as osteoarthritis.

Excess Weight and Obesity

Weight gain is one of the most common symptoms of PCOS. By affecting your hormonal balance, this condition can promote changes in your appetite, fat distribution, and metabolism. Adding to this rather widespread issue with insulin resistance, we can see a clear link between PCOS and uncontrolled weight gain. In the long run, this weight challenge can develop into more serious conditions, such as type 2 diabetes and obesity.

This factor can also greatly affect joint pain PCOS. It’s long known that the body weight you carry has a direct impact on the strain you put on weight-bearing joints, such as knees. Science says that you put an additional four pounds of force on your knee joints with every pound you gain. Respectively, excess weight caused by PCOS can be a massive contributing factor to joint pain.

Hormonal Imbalance

Clearly, your hormonal balance is one of the first things that PCOS messes with inside of your body. Females diagnosed with this condition tend to have elevated levels of androgens (male hormones) and lower levels of essential female hormones. This imbalance affects, first of all, your menstrual cycle and reproductive features. However, hormonal fluctuations can also lead to a variety of other issues.

Hormonal fluctuations are also linked to joint health. To be more specific, changes in estrogen levels may affect joint lubrication and contribute to inflammation, whereas fluctuating progesterone may affect bone remodeling and joint laxity. This might be another significant contributor to PCOS joint pain.

Associated Health Conditions

Last but not least, PCOS is known to increase the risk of developing a whole range of other health conditions, including thyroid disorders, fibromyalgia, autoimmune issues, and others.

Over time, some of these conditions can contribute to joint health problems. For example, hypothyroidism is widely associated with joint pain and muscle aches. At the same time, it can contribute to weight gain, which we’ve already listed as one of the direct causes of joint pain PCOS.

PCOS and Joint Pain: Best Management Strategies to Try

As you now know, PCOS and some symptoms and health issues associated with it can indeed affect your joints. The severity and prominence of musculoskeletal changes can vary greatly depending on your existing health conditions, lifestyle, and body mass index (BMI).

Luckily, if you start noticing morning stiffness and pain in joints, there are a few management tactics that can offer relief:

1. Follow an Anti-Inflammatory Diet

Your diet plays a significant role in PCOS management. With the help of well-balanced and healthy nutrition, you can address a variety of PCOS symptoms at once, including:

• Regulating hormonal balance
• Improving insulin resistance
• Assisting in weight management
• Preventing the development of additional issues, such as type 2 diabetes

Additionally, following a proper diet can help you manage PCOS joint pain. Diets that embrace whole foods and healthy fats and eliminate (or restrict) sugar and processed foods can have a notable anti-inflammatory effect, which can improve your joint health.

2. Integrate the Right Exercise

Regular physical activity is also an important part of the overall PCOS treatment plan. Exercise is known to help improve hormonal balance, assist in weight management, and enhance mental well-being. Additionally, exercise is known to beneficially affect joint health.

According to studies, regular activity helps strengthen muscles surrounding affected joints and thus, reduce the strain you put on them. Also, exercise helps reduce bone loss, address inflammation, and reduce stiffness and pain. You can integrate regular low-impact exercises like walking, swimming, yoga, and similar to create regular activity. Additionally, you should implement regular strength training to keep your muscles and joints strong.

3. Find an Effective Weight Management Approach

Losing weight can help you stabilize hormones and improve PCOS symptoms. Besides, it will reduce the strain you put on your joints and thus, can help eliminate joint pain.

To gain these benefits, you need to find a weight management approach that works for you. Focus on adjusting your dietary patterns and increasing your physical activity to lose weight healthily, without losing muscle. Also, be sure to consider your initial BMI and existing health conditions to set smart body goals and achieve them without a hassle.

4. Leverage the Right Supplementation

Natural supplements, such as omega-3 fatty acids, magnesium, and others, can have a highly positive impact on PCOS. When selected wisely, they can help balance your hormones and lose weight more efficiently.

Besides, certain supplements can have a positive effect on your joints. These include:

• Turmeric
• Glucosamine
• Fish oil
• Chondroitin
• SAMe
• And others

To get the most out of your dietary supplements, be sure to consult with a healthcare professional. An expert will help you assess your condition and choose the most suitable natural aids that will improve it.

5. Get Medical Treatment

Although dietary and lifestyle adjustments are important for managing PCOS and related symptoms, it’s important not to disregard medical interventions. Hormonal treatment, androgen-blocking medications, and insulin-sensitizing agents like metformin are broadly used in PCOS females to address their condition and relieve symptoms. Since PCOS joint pain is typically linked to related symptoms, managing them medically can also help you alleviate pain. 

Additionally, if PCOS treatment and lifestyle adjustments don’t work and pain persists, you can consider rheumatologic evaluation and physical therapy to improve your joint health.

When to Seek Medical Assistance

PCOS joint pain may be a rather unpleasant thing that interrupts the quality of your everyday life. However, apart from causing general discomfort, it may be a sign of deeper, more serious problems, such as an autoimmune disease, arthritis, or similar.

To support your health in the long run, it’s important that you don’t ignore joint pain. Don’t hesitate to get a comprehensive diagnosis and personalized guidance from a healthcare specialist to be able to detect any big issues early on and address them accordingly.

FAQ

Can PCOS cause joint pain?

Although it’s not considered a direct symptom, many women with PCOS report joint pain. Currently, there is a growing number of research suggesting that there might be an indirect link between PCOS and joint pain. Although more studies are needed, we can already assume that these two conditions should be addressed together.

What factors can contribute to joint pain PCOS?

PCOS is a chronic hormonal condition that’s associated with a variety of underlying issues, many of which have a confirmed impact on joint health. In particular, the main contributors to PCOS joint pain include chronic inflammation, insulin resistance, excess weight, hormonal imbalance, and associated health conditions like hypothyroidism.

How can I reduce PCOS joint pain?

Although the issue is rather persisting, there are multiple management strategies that offer significant improvement. In particular, the best ways to address joint pain associated with PCOS include implementing an anti-inflammatory diet, exercising regularly, managing weight, leveraging the right supplements, and receiving the needed medical treatment.

Conclusion

So, does PCOS cause joint pain? As you now know, joint pain is not a direct symptom of this hormonal condition. Yet, a large number of women with PCOS report morning stiffness and pain in their joints, which might be associated with chronic inflammation, insulin resistance, and other issues arising from PCOS.

After reading this article, you should have a better understanding of the hidden link between PCOS and joint pain. Use this knowledge and suggested management techniques to find relief and support your joint health in the long run!

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