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Can progesterone help arthritis?

by Tamsin
(UK)

I am 40 and was suddenly left widowed 3 years ago. I have a 6 year old son and whilst I was pregnant (third trimester) my joints started to swell and became 'very' painful, to the point of wearing splints.

My GP said it would go after the birth of my son but it only decreased after I stopped breast feeding when my son was 16 months old. Then approximately one year after my husband died it all flared up again and I have now been diagnosed with arthritis and they think it's the psoratic one. The swelling on my left knee and left wrist is unbearable when I have a flare up (just before a period) and I actually gained 10lbs in fluid last time. I have an athletic physic and am usually 9 stone 4 lbs. I had the merina coil fitted as they put me on Methatrexate but this drug didn't suit me. I am currently trying Sulphasazoline.

My flare ups are always before a period and last for approximately 10 days. I also take a reducing dose of steroids (Prednisolone 10mgs, was 25mgs), Arcoxia 90mgs and various pain killers but nothing seems to help. I was wondering if I was estrogen dominant and need the progesterone a week before a period is due as this is my weakest time. I struggle with being a single parent and being unable to carry out the simplest of tasks when enduring a flare up. I had 2 miscarriages, before my son but was always healthy, albeit I did experience terrible periods to the point of passing out and vomiting. Thankfully since the birth of my child this area has settled down considerably.

Now I just 'feel' so old! I want to get my spring back into my step as I have always been a very hands on/active person prior to this disease! I have hair loss too but don't know if this is from the amount of drugs or a deficiency in hormones? I take daily supplements but to be honest if my body decides it's going to flare up, there doesn't seem to be anything that can help it, just things that make it worse, so I try to avoid them as much as possible. Many of my joints are affected but my knee and my wrist are the most swollen and painful.

Please can you advise and help at all?

Kindest regards, Tamsin

Comments for Can progesterone help arthritis?

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Jan 29, 2009
 Can progesterone help arthritis?
by: Wray

Hi Tamsin. I believe progesterone can help you, it's always low in RA. Especially as you mention the flare up is before your period. But there are many other things you could do which would help. But it's too complex to answer via the contribution page, please would you contact me via the following link. Just copy and paste what you have written here, and I'll reply with suggestions.

https://www.progesteronetherapy.com/progesterone-faq.html

Take care Wray
Aug 18, 2010
 Arthritis and natural progesterone
by: Anonymous

I have been using Serenity cream for over two weeks now. Initially it was for hot flushes-I am post menopausal ie no period for nearly 2 years. I have had no improvement and in fact my fingers are sore and one joint seems to be pronounced and I assume it is arthritis. They have never been this painful before. Sometimes I just don't feel right. From reading some of your posts I may not be using enough. Should I switch to a different cream? It is all quite frustrating. I only write this because I have had no reply back from Serenity and have come across your site. I also read that by using natural progesterone cream it can build up in your system and magnify the very problems that you are trying to get rid of - Dr Mercola. Please help as I am becoming weary of it all.
Aug 21, 2010
 Arthritis and natural progesterone
by: Wray

Hi there It's such a pity, but very few people are warned about the initial stimulatory affect progesterone has on oestrogen. Oestrogen is a known initiator of inflammation, and is high in all inflammatory diseases. So the soreness you are experiencing is but one symptom of this affect. Fro more info please see our page on Oestrogen Dominance. For info on arthritis please see these papers here and here. It's quite possible you are not using enough, I generally recommend between 100-200mg/day. I've found for most women anything less merely exacerbates the problems they are trying to sort out. Please try increasing the amount, rubbing some of the cream directly on your sore fingers. I've found a very high amount, 400mg/day for 4-5 days, is needed to stop or dramatically reduce hot flushes. If you should consider this, the Serenity would last only 3 days, with our progesterone cream it'll last 5 days. I've not found progesterone builds up, besides the body knows how to metabolise it. If it's needed it will be used up, ie if pregnant, if a woman has post natal psychosis, if heavy bleeding occurs, inflammation, depression, migraines and more. Above all, if excess oestrogen is present. As most of us have this I believe progesterone is a necessary part of modern life. There are now over 90 oestrogen mimics, in our food, air, water and the skin care we all use. No animal or human escapes it, from the Arctic to the Antarctic, for more info please see the website Our Stolen Future. Take care Wray

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