New aches and pains that don't have an obvious cause?
It does not feel like an old injury. Your hip starts aching, your shoulder stops moving freely, or your first steps in the morning hurt, and you cannot point to anything that caused it. For a lot of women in their 30s, 40s, and 50s, these aches show up out of nowhere and slowly change how you move through the day.
It is easy to brush off as "just getting older," or to feel like no one listens long enough to figure it out. But new joint and tendon pain at this stage often has a reason behind it.
Can perimenopause and menopause cause joint pain?
Often, yes. As estrogen levels decline through perimenopause and menopause, the joints, tendons, and connective tissue can become more prone to aching, stiffness, and irritation. The science here is still emerging and researchers do not have every answer yet, but the pattern is common enough that Dr. Young sees it constantly in women coming in for exactly these complaints.
The point is not that something is wrong with you. It is that this stage of life can change how your body feels, and that there are things that help.
Where it tends to show up
A few areas come up again and again:
- The hip or glute, often felt as hip pain, though it usually comes from the tendons
- The shoulder, including stiffness that limits how far you can reach (frozen shoulder)
- The Achilles tendon at the back of the ankle
- The heel and arch of the foot (plantar fascia)
If one of those sounds like what you are dealing with, you are not imagining it, and you are not alone.
Why estrogen seems to matter
Estrogen helps keep tendons and connective tissue resilient. When it declines, those tissues can lose some of that resilience, which may be part of why aches in the hips, shoulders, and feet become more common during this transition. This is an area of active research, so Dr. Young focuses on what she can directly help: the muscles, joints, and tendons themselves.
A non-hormonal way to feel better, by treating the muscles, joints, and tendons
Dr. Yacey Young, DC, is clear about her role: she is not here to manage your hormones. Her job is the muscles, joints, and tendons, the tissues actually producing the pain. That means you can work toward real relief whether or not you decide to explore hormone options with your doctor.
Just as important, she gives you time. Many women arrive feeling rushed and unheard after short, insurance-driven visits elsewhere. Dr. Young's appointments are time-based, so there is room to understand what is going on and time treat it properly.
Care that includes dry needling and hands-on treatment
Treatment may include dry needling to release tight, irritated tissue, hands-on soft tissue and joint work, and rehabilitative exercises you can do at home. The aim is to calm the painful area and help it move and load better again.
Where hormone therapy fits, and how Dr. Young works with your doctor
If you are curious about hormone replacement therapy, that is a conversation for your primary care doctor, and Dr. Young is glad to point you back to them. Some women pursue it, some prefer not to, and both paths are fine. Her care focuses on the musculoskeletal side and works alongside whatever you decide.
What to Expect at Your First Visit
Step 1: We listen and assess
Step 2: We treat the source
Step 3: A plan you can live with
What relief can look like
Moving more comfortably. Less ache in the hip, shoulder, or heel, and more ease in everyday movement.
An explanation that finally fits. Understanding why this is happening, instead of writing it off as just aging.
Care that works around your choices. Relief aimed at the muscles and joints, whether or not you pursue hormone options.
Common questions about menopause and joint pain
It varies. For many women, the right treatment and movement noticeably reduce the pain and improve how the area works. Dr. Young will not promise it disappears overnight, but most people feel real improvement when the muscles, joints, and tendons are addressed directly.
No. Some women explore hormone therapy or supplements with their doctor, and that is a personal choice. Dr. Young's care works on the muscles, joints, and tendons directly, so you can feel better regardless of what you decide on the hormone side.
New aches at this stage are common, but that does not mean nothing can help. There is usually a treatable musculoskeletal reason behind the pain, and that is exactly what Dr. Young focuses on.
You can book directly, no referral needed. If anything comes up that is better handled by another provider, Dr. Young will tell you.
Young Spine & Joint is a time-based, cash-pay practice. Your first visit is a longer appointment and follow-ups are shorter. You are welcome to ask about current rates when you book a free consultation.
You deserve to be heard. Let's figure this out.
If new aches and pains have you wondering what is going on, you do not have to sort it out alone or just live with it. Dr. Yacey Young takes the time to understand and treat what is actually causing the pain. Book a visit in Lawrence to get started.
