Today, I am delighted to connect with Dr. Joycelyn Wittstein, a board-certified orthopedic surgeon and associate professor of Orthopedic Surgery at Duke who conducts NIH-funded research into post-traumatic knee arthritis. She has shared presentations at many prestigious medical conferences, and her work has appeared in peer-reviewed journals.
In our discussion, we dive into many of the joint pain symptoms Dr. Wittstein sees in her perimenopausal and menopausal patients, and we look at the impact of specific, targeted supplementations, including curcumin, collagen peptides, and creatine monohydrate. We explore effusions, the effects of osteoarthritic risk factors like prior injuries, obesity, the perimenopause to menopause transition, and the impact of GLP-1s on joint symptoms and bone physiology. We discuss REDS (Relative Energy Deficiency Syndrome) and the causes of osteoporosis, and Dr. Wittstein also shares what she does to protect her bones and why she believes DEXA scans must get done early in the aging trajectory, why fractures can be problematic, and the significance of exercise and bone-building foods.
You will not want to miss today’s valuable and super action-oriented conversation with Dr. Jocelyn Wittstein.
IN THIS EPISODE, YOU WILL LEARN:
How women in their mid-40s and 50s often experience an acute increase in joint pain
How hormone therapy can help women improve their bone health, prevent osteoporosis, and overcome joint pain
Dr. Wittstein recommends supplements for reducing joint inflammation
Various foods that can drive inflammation and cause joint health problems
How the inflammatory state of obesity impacts joint health
The benefits of GLP-1s for those with joint pain from inflammation
Why early bone density screening is essential for women in their 40s
How creatine monohydrate improves cognitive function and muscle mass
The value of strength training and balance exercises for improving joint health
The best foods and beverages for bone-building
Bio: Dr. Jocelyn Wittstein
I am an associate professor of orthopaedic surgery at Duke University Medical Center. I completed residency in 2009 and a fellowship in sports medicine in 2010 at Duke. Prior to medical school, I studied nutritional science at Cornell University. My practice focuses on sports medicine, with a particular interest in treating female athletes across the lifespan. I am currently president of the Forum: Women in Sports Medicine. I am part of the core leadership of the Duke Female Athlete Program. I am also a clinician researcher with NIH-funded studies of ACL and meniscus injuries and post-traumatic arthritis in knees. I am a co-author of the Complete Bone and Joint Health Plan, which was released on May 6, 2025. On a personal note, I am a former collegiate gymnast, lifelong athlete, and mom of five. I live in Raleigh, NC, with my husband, Tal Lassiter, who is also an orthopedic surgeon.
Connect with Cynthia Thurlow
Follow on Twitter, Instagram & LinkedIn
Check out Cynthia’s website
Submit your questions to support@cynthiathurlow.com
Connect with Dr. Jocelyn Wittstein
On the Duke Health website
Instagram
The Complete Bone and Joint Health Plan, co-authored by Jocelyn Wittstein, MD, and Sydney Nitzkorski, MS, RD, is available on Amazon or Barnes and Noble, and from most bookstores.