Today is World Menopause Day.  This year's theme, set by the International Menopause Society, is chronic pain.  If you've been living with aches that don't make sense, you're not imagining it, and you deserve to be heard.  

The IMS says chronic pain affects a significant proportion of women during and after the menopause transition, yet it's still underestimated in research and care.  The most common types include joint and muscle pain, migraine and pelvic pain.

As IMS President Rossella Nappi puts it:  "Women's pain has too often been dismissed through gendered stereotypes, and labelled 'emotional' rather than properly investigated and treated."

You can download the IMS World Menopause Day 2026 factsheet here https://www.imsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/WMD26-Factsheet.pdf for more information. 

My mysterious foot pain

About four years ago, my right foot started aching.  From the outside it looked completely normal, but the pain got so bad I couldn't go walking with my girlfriends anymore.  Sometimes it felt like my foot was broken, and just walking around the house was a struggle.  An ultrasound showed there was a ganglion, and a podiatrist said I needed innersoles, which were unbearable to wear.  Then my right knee flared up too, bad enough for me to pay for an MRI which didn't really show anything was wrong - just usual wear and tear.  Between the two, my gym workouts became restricted, I couldn't do any standing yoga poses and even Pilates was too challenging.  It was really distressing and pushed me further from my fitness goals than ever.

Two years later, fed up, I made some big changes to the way I eat after seeing my GP and a naturopath.  Over the next two years the pain gradually eased, flaring up only now and then, until it disappeared altogether.  These days I'm back at the gym three times a week doing kettlebells, circuit training and even sprinting on the treadmill, all pain-free, and without the innersoles.  The ganglion is probably still there, and my knee probably still has the wear and tear the MRI showed, but neither hurts anymore.  I can only put that down to the inflammation in my body settling down.

Coincidence?  Maybe.  But I don't think so.  During perimenopause I've had to change what I eat quite a lot, and some foods that used to suit me just fine are no longer on my green list.  What we eat can play a big part in inflammation which can be closely linked to pain.  Every body is different, and I'm not saying food is a certain cure.  For me, though, changing the way I ate appeared to make a real difference, and it's one of the reasons I'm so passionate about what I do now.  What challenges and potential goals do you have in mind?

How I can help

I'm Gina, an accredited PREKURE Health Coach in Perth.  At MenoCraft Health Coaching I walk alongside women navigating perimenopause and menopause.  We work through the MC Renewal Map, starting wherever you choose to make lifestyle changes to meet your goals.

Curious about a gentle first step?  Book a free 30-minute discovery call at www.menocraft.com.au  It's a relaxed chat to see if we're a good fit.

#WorldMenopauseDay2026 #ChronicPain #MenoCraft #Perimenopause #MenopauseSupport