Oh, the horror! It’s that time of month again and you know what that means, time to expect the worse, especially in terms of cramps and pain in your back. It all can start a little before and during your menstrual cycle. It generally begins with a slight discomfort and progressively gets worse. This discomfort is often felt in the lower back and abdomen and can last upward 3 to 4 days if you’re unlucky. During your cycle your body is going through hormonal changes. Back pain, unfortunately, can be a result of these changes in hormones. Not only do these changes cause back pain, they can also cause an aching and cramping sensation in the abdomen, headaches, heavy fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, upset stomach, vomiting, and an aching in the hips and thighs.
Dysmenorrhea is the medical term for the menstrual cramps and discomfort. It is said that as a women ages the likelihood of dysmenorrhea diminishes causing the discomfort of the menstrual cycle to be more bearable and a lot less debilitating. If the muscles in the uterus contract too strongly (which tends to happen during menstrual cramps) it can press against nearby blood vessels. This can cut off the supply of oxygen to the muscle tissue in the uterus resulting in pain.
It is also believed that prostaglandin, a hormone responsible for abdominal cramps during your cycle can be responsible for lower back aches as well. If a woman is suffering from an infection or inflammation in the pelvic region, also known as pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) a noticed lower back pain during her cycle may commence.
Another major cause of lower pain in women during her cycle that may often go overlooked is lack of healthy diet and exercise. It has been proven in many cases that women who eat right and exercise leading up to their cycles tend to experience less discomfort throughout the cycle. Try implementing exercise into your monthly “prepare for cycle” regimen and notice if there is a decrease in back pain.
The good news (if there is any) about menstrual back pain in women is that the pain is short lived and easily curable. When you begin to notice the slightest discomfort, before there is any prevalent pain, try taking an over the counter painkiller to subdue the discomfort. Catching the pain before it really gets started can be very helpful. There are several painkillers targeting your specific symptoms so be sure to find the one that is right for you. If you notice that you need stronger pain killers than what’s offered over the counter, be sure to visit your doctor for a prescription for something that may be more suiting.
Also try cold and hot compresses. These can be applied to the affected area of the back at 20 minute intervals starting with a cold compress then switching to hot immediately after.
Stretch and relax. Stretch and relaxation are underrated when dealing with back pain. Try deep stretches and perhaps even a massage for added relief.
If you would like more information of treatments and remedies for back pain during your cycle feel free to visit losethebackpain.com.
Jesse is the co-founder and visionary CEO of The Healthy Back Institute®, the world-leading source of natural back pain solutions. His mission as a former back pain sufferer is to help others live pain free without surgery and pharmaceuticals.
