03/05/2026
Anyone else feeling this!? I know I am. 💥
Hormones, hormones, hormones! I could go on and on about this topic. It's something not always discussed, but so important in understanding pain as we age!
Talk to your doctors, seek more knowledge, understand your bodies. 🩵🩷
Why Hormones Change How Our Bodies Feel
Have you noticed that aches, pains, and recovery seem to change with age? Hormones play a surprisingly big role in how we experience pain, inflammation, and healing.
Men and women both experience hormonal shifts throughout life, but the timing and effects are a little different.
Women: Hormones and Pain Sensitivity
Estrogen and progesterone influence how the nervous system processes pain, how the body handles inflammation, and how tissues recover.
Many women begin noticing changes during perimenopause, which can start as early as the mid- to late-30s and continue into the 40s.
Common physical changes can include: • Increased muscle and joint aches
• Neck, shoulder, and rib discomfort
• Greater fatigue and slower recovery
• More sensitivity to pain
• Increased inflammation or stiffness
• Changes in sleep that make the body feel more sore
Estrogen actually has protective effects on joints, fascia, and the nervous system, so when it fluctuates, many women suddenly feel like their body is “creakier” or more reactive.
Men: Hormones and Recovery
Men also experience hormonal changes as testosterone slowly declines with age, sometimes called andropause.
This tends to happen more gradually and usually becomes noticeable between ages 40–60.
Lower testosterone can affect:
• Muscle recovery
• Joint stiffness
• Energy levels
• Sleep quality
• Increased soreness after exercise or physical work
Because the decline is slower, many men simply think they’re “getting older” rather than recognizing a hormonal shift.
Why This Matters
Hormones influence:
• pain perception in the brain
• inflammation in tissues
• muscle repair
• nervous system regulation
So when hormones shift, the body can feel more sensitive, slower to recover, and more prone to aches.
The good news: supportive care like bodywork, movement, sleep, hydration, and stress regulation can make a big difference in helping the body adapt to these changes.
Our bodies are constantly adjusting and sometimes those aches are biological.
“The Role of S*x Hormones in Pain-Related Conditions” (2023)
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9915903/