When I hit my late 40s, perimenopause really smacked me in the face – although it all started with my knee.
One day, I got back from a long walk and noticed my knee felt really inflamed. At first, I thought it was just bad shoes, but the pain and swelling kept getting worse.
Within a couple of weeks, I could barely walk and had to strap up my knees just to get by.
It meant I couldn’t do the things I love, like gardening and martial arts and going to the boxing fitness class near my home in East London.
I suppose I was already having night sweats and brain fog back then, and I felt grumpy a lot of the time. But I hadn’t connected the dots – and neither had my GP.
I went to the doctors several times and was given explanations for everything but perimenopause.
Things finally got better after a nurse who cares for my dad referred me to a gynaecologist. That’s when I learned about the link between joint pain and falling oestrogen levels.
Oestrogen protects the parts in your body where two bones meet, so when levels drop in perimenopause and menopause your joints can get stiff and painful.
Your bones also lose density faster because of these hormonal changes, which means they can get weaker and more likely to break.
For me, it was a real wake-up call. The idea of losing my mobility terrified me, as I don’t feel right if I’m not moving.
My pain improved a lot when I got myself on hormone replacement therapy (HRT).
But I’ve also had to learn how to support my body differently, with more weight-bearing impact exercises and muscle strengthening to help me maintain my bones and balance.
Even just jumping on the spot for a minute or two can really help, because the impact when you hit the ground sends a signal to your body to make your bones stronger.
Walking is another weight-bearing exercise, so I’ve started doing this a lot more, often with my daughter and dad.
Dancing is ideal too, so my daughter and I will often have our own mini disco before bed!
I’m even back at my community boxing classes, where the mix of movement and music keeps me energised.
I also enjoy strength training, Pilates and stretching in my garden. It’s about finding what my body is able to do now.
Women are told by society not to make this phase of their lives a big deal.
But it is a big deal when so much is changing in your body! With perimenopause, I feel my body seizing up if I don’t move.
Luckily, I’ve learned how to look after my joints. It’s been a long road, but I’ve realised that movement – in any form – is non-negotiable for me.