Can Low Testosterone Cause Joint Pain?

When your hormones and joint pain collide, the greatest burden is not just the physical discomfort, but the practical limitations it creates as tasks become difficult. In some cases, it might mean that you have to give up activities you love altogether, seriously impacting both your functionality and your overall wellbeing. But don’t assume that these aches and limitations are inevitable or untreatable.

How Does The Body Maintain Healthy Bones?

The body maintains bones through a complex process. Bones provide a structure for the body to function and hold organs. Healthy bones are constantly in flux, with osteoclasts breaking down old bone cells and the body’s stem cells creating new ones to replace them. The body requires calcium, which can be acquired from food and supplements.

These vitals minerals and nutrients for bone health:

Vitamin D
Vitamin K
Vitamin C & B12
Phosphorous
Magnesium

This can lead to trouble when something interferes with this dynamic system. It can be compared to farming, planting resources to replace the ones that are harvested.

What Happens When The Body Starts To Deteriorate?

With age comes wisdom…and several gradual changes in the body. As more and more of the body’s cells become damaged, eventually there can be serious damage to our endocrine system; can lead them to produce too little or none at all for example, which can cause hormonal imbalances.

Some studies have shown that men can reduce their testosterone levels with age after they reach 30 years old. As you get older, the amount of hormones produced gradually starts to decline. This is why proper health maintenance and regular checkups are key to long-term health.

Other important factors can also have an impact on your hormone levels such as heredity factor, weight loss/gain, drug use, etc. It can even depend on things like what you eat so it can be hard to pinpoint why hormone levels are fluctuating when in general they just might not be right for you or your age group.

What Is Chronic Pain? What Are The Different Types Of Chronic Pain?

Lately, you’ve noticed it’s harder to kneel to pick things. An ache travels deep from within. Pain is often an indication that something is wrong. Chronic pain is any pain that lasts more than 3 months. Pain signals from chronic pain can fire for weeks, months, or years. Certain individuals can experience chronic pain without any injuries or apparent body damage.

Acute pain is quick and usually fades away like a burn or childbirth. Acute pain is sharp in quality and usually doesn’t last longer than 6 months.

Chronic pain can present physical conditions such as:

Tense muscles
Limited mobility
Reduced energy levels
Changes in appetite
Depression
Anger
Anxiety
Fear of reinjury

Cartilage And Testosterone

It’s no secret that testosterone can have a profound effect on the body. Testosterone aids in the production of androgen. Joints are made up of cartilage which protects bones at joints where two different bones meet allowing for bones to move relatively freely with muscle contractions. Cartilage is not only yet flexible but highly vascular with a better blood flow than other areas of the body and can quickly repair itself.

Stress And Cartilage Degeneration

Cartilage degeneration can produce painful sensations. The destruction of the cartilage can cause micro-tears and can affect other tissues in the body. To compensate for these tears, other parts of the body can react to heal that area. Low testosterone levels can lead to a decreased production of androgen which can harm bone density.

In some cases where the degeneration has occurred, problems can arise surrounding joints as pressure is applied at adjacent areas due to movement during daily activities or sports participation. The bones will begin rubbing against one another, resulting in a loss of flexibility from arthritis.

This can be extremely painful for those living with low testosterone who may have already been experiencing joint pain before this discovery was made. Degeneration can also happen from a lack of physical activity over time.

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) And Testosterone

Rheumatoid Arthritis is a chronic disease. This means it can last for years or can be lifelong. It can damage almost any joint in your body but usually occurs in the same joints on both sides of your body. This is when both hands are equally affected.

Although not all medical professionals agree with its connection, many people believe that low testosterone does cause arthritis. This is suggested because medical tests have shown that men who are diagnosed with low testosterone also have lower levels of healthy cartilage in their knees and hips when compared to men who do not have low levels of the hormone.

Arthritis can also develop if a person has already been diagnosed with osteoporosis, which can happen as we age and we lose bone mass and bone density decreases due to medication and medication side effects.

Estrogen, Bone Health, And Testosterone

Estrogen plays a magnificent role in the development of women. Estrogen can be viewed as an anti-androgen. It can act to reduce or block androgen action at all levels, including suppression of gonadotropin secretion, inhibition of testicular steroidogenesis, direct inhibition of androgen receptor binding, and nuclear translocation. Progesterone receptors can also inhibit the transcriptional activity of the androgen receptor.

Testosterone can be converted to estrogen by the enzyme aromatase, which can affect bone health. And increased estrogen can increase calcium loss through the kidneys and bowels.

People who produce less testosterone should develop osteoporosis over time if their diet is deficient in calcium and vitamin D intake.

Vitamin D helps you absorb calcium so supplementation can help with low levels of vitamin D because it causes low absorption rates. As well, studies have found that osteoarthritis can cause bone spur growth.

Men who are diagnosed with joint pain may improve after treatment for their horm, one deficiency. For example, one study shows that people with joint pains improved after taking supplements for their low testosterone/hypogonadism condition.

What Is Low Testosterone Or Low-T?

Low testosterone affects 45% of men aged 45 or older. There are no known ways to prevent low testosterone that is caused by genetics or damage. Aging men with low testosterone are more likely to break a bone. Testosterone levels may vary due to the following: shifting levels throughout the day, BMI, age, excessive alcohol consumption, certain medications, and obesity.

Muscle mass and structure begin to decrease starting at age 30. Muscles may shrink in size by roughly 40% for 1-2 decades. Maintaining balance in nutritious diets, exercise, substance use, and weight management can only improve your functionality

Low testosterone levels can form by:

Klinefelter Syndrome
Noonan Syndrome
Ambiguous Genitalia
Damage to the testicles via accident
Removal of testicles from cancer
Chemotherapy or radiation
Pituitary gland disease
Infection

Low testosterone is measured in blood levels, which may require several measurements to determine if a patient has low levels. Typically, doctors will recommend testing for testosterone levels early in the morning.

Symptoms Of Low Testosterone

Low sex drive
Fatigue
Reduced lean muscle mass
Irritability
Erectile Dysfunction
Depression

How Is Low Testosterone Tested?

If you suspect you’re experiencing symptoms of low testosterone, your doctor may perform blood tests.

Total Testosterone Level – Must be taken two separate times before noon. If you’re ill, your doctor must wait until afterward.
Luteinizing hormone – This is used to find the cause of a low T-level.
Blood Prolactin – Administered if your prolactin levels are high, your doctor could repeat blood tests to evaluate potential errors. This could indicate issues with your pituitary glands such as tumors.
Blood hemoglobin – Used to evaluate specific factors such as climate, sleep apnea, or smoking tobacco.

Can Low Testosterone Cause Muscle Pain?

Testosterone is the hormone that can give you energy and strength. However, if your testosterone levels are too low, this can lead to several health issues such as weight gain and muscle pain.

Low T-levels can reduce your physical capacity and increase the risk of getting injuries. If this occurs, take measures to naturally increase your testosterone levels. This can be done through diet and exercise or taking supplements.

Why Can Low Testosterone Cause Joint Pain?

Severe joint pain can come from low testosterone levels. There is a mechanism that can cause this. Men can have inflammation in their joints due to an autoimmune disease, but many of the time it can be linked with low testosterone levels.

Is Joint Pain Treatable?

Joint pain can be quite uncomfortable, as your body creaks through movements. Joint pain is usually felt in the hands, feet, hips, spine, and knees. Joint pain can be infrequent — feelings of itchiness, aches, or soreness. Burning, throbbing, and grating sensations are not uncommon in individuals with joint pain.

It’s important to be mindful of your activity with joint pain considering that too much can worsen the condition. Joint pain can impair a person’s ability to do tasks. This is particularly harmful to elder individuals.

Glucosamine may help relieve joint pain. Ask your doctor if glucosamine is right for you. Topical ointments can provide relief as well. Steroids can be injected into the joints to provide short-term relief. Walking and swimming can help strengthen joints. High-intensity workouts should be scaled back. Consult with your doctor about how to move forward with exercise regimens.

Why Hormone Balance Matters For Long-Term Health

Hormonal balance is a significant element of our daily lives. From adrenaline to estrogen, these vital chemical messengers transmit information across the body. Keeping the flux of these hormones is what enables the growth processes in our systems.

Overstimulation or depletion of hormones can present adverse effects, some with drastic effects. By maintaining your hormonal balance, specifically for testosterone and arthritis, you can age gracefully with the addition of exercise and proper nutrition.

Finding The Right Treatment For Low Testosterone

Luckily, low testosterone can be treated through testosterone replacement therapy. Regular follows ups with your physician are vital to your progress.

Intramuscular injections
Testosterone patches
Testosterone gels
Testosterone pellets (under the skin)

Testosterone replacement therapy can help reduce issues with delayed puberty. Additionally, testosterone therapy can increase bone density and protection against osteoporosis. Improved mood and sense of well-being are more benefits of TRT. Sexual function, mental sharpness, and muscular strength are key improvements.

Although, there are some potential side effects from testosterone replacement therapy:

Acne/oily skin
Swelling in the ankles (via fluid retention)
Prostate stimulation
Breast tenderness
Increased intensity of sleep apnea
Smaller testicles
Skin Irritation

Is Testosterone Therapy Right For Me?

If you begin to experience symptoms of low testosterone, it would be advised to contact a medical professional. Testosterone therapy is encouraged for individuals with conditions they were born with. The numbers on men with low testosterone are not entirely clear but research has indicated that roughly 2 out of 10 men will experience low testosterone. Low testosterone is more prevalent in men with diabetes or who are overweight.

Individuals with early signs of prostate cancer wouldn’t be suitable for testosterone therapy. Testosterone therapy can cause the prostate to enlarge. Regular prostate screenings are encouraged before any treatments.

Testosterone replacement therapy may not benefit individuals with:

A lump on their prostate that has not been evaluated
A PSA measurement above 4
Breast cancer
An elevated hematocrit level
Severe congestive heart failure
Obstructive sleep apnea

Most men will be treated for both symptoms of low testosterone and low blood levels. It should be noted that testosterone therapy may introduce side effects. All male participants in testosterone therapy should be checked for heart disease and stroke.

Androgenix Provides Testosterone Therapy For Chronic Pain

If you are struggling with low levels of testosterone, then Androgenix Solutions can be a haven for support. The symptoms of low testosterone can have long-term impacts on your health. Our trained staff will provide you with detailed care in a welcoming environment. Androgenix Advanced Health and Wellness Center values the importance of proper hormonal balance therapies. Discover how Androgenix Solutions can help you on this journey towards equilibrium.