Pain, Hormones, and Aging: What Every 40+ Woman Should Know

This one’s especially personal.

I’m not bothered by aging. I don’t fear the next year, or even the next decade. But I’d be lying if I said I didn’t have a few moments—a whole year of them, actually—where I felt like I was falling apart.

I remember saying it out loud to several people (anyone who would listen and offer sympathy actually). “45 has been hard. I can’t seem to get right. I’d like to just get out of 45 and on to the next year. It’s got to be better.”

I share this moment of vulnerability easily. And I want to say this to you, loud and clear:

You’re not falling apart.

You’re just in a new chapter—and your body is asking for a different kind of care. Or maybe it’s just asking to be noticed at all. Not ignored. Not pushed through. Not taken for granted. That is a way to take back control and regain some balance.

When Pain Shows Up in New Ways

As hormones shift in your 40s and 50s, pain starts showing up differently.

Some things I’ve heard (and said)

• I have to roll out of bed in the morning. Like, actual, fetal-position-roll.
• It takes me 10 minutes to feel like I’m standing up straight.
• My warm-ups are now 30 minutes long—minimum.
• I used to bounce back after workouts. Now I need two days—and I’m not even talking about leg day.
• Is this back pain? Or is it my hips? Either way, it won’t go away. And it shifts.
• Maybe it’s time to ditch the heels…

Sound familiar?

Tight hips. Achy joints. Stiff back. Sleepless nights. Slower recovery.

Yeah. This is perimenopause.

What’s Actually Happening in Your Body

Perimenopause has become a buzzword—and while I’m glad it’s finally getting attention, I’m also seeing a ton of noise, misinformation, and marketing that preys on our desire to “fix” ourselves.

Let’s stick to the facts:

During perimenopause, your estrogen and progesterone levels begin to fluctuate. That impacts:

• Collagen production → joint pain, stiffness, slower recovery
• Inflammation → puffiness, water retention, pain sensitivity
• Nervous system regulation → you may feel emotionally and physically off balance

So if your body feels stiffer, slower, or just off—it’s not you being lazy or “getting old.” It’s your hormones shifting. And it means your care needs to shift too.

Aging is inevitable. Aging is the What.

But the How? How we age – that part is in our hands.

That’s one of our core values at BodyTech: We can’t control the “what,” but we can choose the “how.”

What Helps?

You don’t have to “power through.” You just need tools that meet your body where it is now:

• Lymphatic massage to move fluid and ease that heavy, puffy feeling
• Mobility-focused bodywork to restore joint movement and reduce stiffness
• Targeted recovery sessions to release tension and help you feel grounded again

This isn’t about going backwards. It’s about learning how to move forward with more support, less pain, and a whole lot more grace.

You’re Not Alone

Perimenopause is finally being studied more deeply—and we’re learning how to support this phase better every day.

You are not alone.

You are not falling apart.

And you absolutely have resources to help you move through this.

Use The Pain Playbook as your community space—to share stories, bounce ideas, and connect with other women navigating the same changes.

At BodyTech, we help women 40+ move through this transition with less pain and a hell of a lot more self-trust.

• Ready to feel stronger and more supported in your changing body? Book your session today.
• Want to keep learning? Join the email list for real talk on pain, hormones, and recovery.