[Stacy2012]

I am wondering if there is any connection between hormones and PN. Do any of you ladies notice that your symptoms get worse around your period??

Mine do. So do these mysterious muscle aches and joint pains, they seem to happen at this time. My PN symptoms and flare ups seem to occur around my period too.

Don't know if it is coincidence or related.

[Susanne C.]

Originally Posted by Stacy2012

I am wondering if there is any connection between hormones and PN. Do any of you ladies notice that your symptoms get worse around your period??

Mine do. So do these mysterious muscle aches and joint pains, they seem to happen at this time. My PN symptoms and flare ups seem to occur around my period too.

Don't know if it is coincidence or related.

My pain is definitely much worse that time of the month. I also have sciatica pains in both legs then, and have for as long as I can remember, much longer than my CMT has been painful. Looking forward to menopause!

[Stacy2012]

hmmm, that is interesting. I wonder what the connection is.

Like we aren't miserable enuf at that time. hrmf!!

[mrsD]

I never really noticed.

But there is research about falling estrogen levels near the period time, connected to chronic headache... migraine type.

This has to do with an action of estrogen on dopamine receptors in the brain.

I can't find the scientific article right now (we had it at a pain conference 3 yrs ago), but it is now reaching the lay internet.
This is one example:
http://www.headachemag.org/Articles/...trual-Migraine

http://www.sharecare.com/question/ho...pain-threshold

At the pain conference they suggested using a very low dose estrogen patch for that part of the monthly cycle. This prevents the crash in estrogen levels and blocks the pain trigger.

[mrsD]

Here is one study on pain from Dr. Zubieta:

http://www.med.umich.edu/opm/newspage/2006/dopamine.htm

If you Google Dr. Zubieta...you find many pain articles about this subject.