Managing Severe Lower Back Pain During Menstruation
By Fizkes |Adobe stock
If you're a woman who gets period cramps, you probably know about having lower back pain when you menstruate. Lower back pain is a typical sign of PMS, which most women have during their period.
But if you have really bad lower back pain, it could be a sign of other conditions like PMDD (a severe form of PMS) or dysmenorrhea (painful periods). It might even be a sign of a more serious condition called endometriosis.
Causes
Severe lower back pain during your period can happen due to a few reasons, mainly linked to issues with your reproductive system.
- Premenstrual syndrome
PMS (premenstrual syndrome) is something that affects many people who have periods. It happens in the week leading up to your period and usually stops when your period begins.
Typical PMS symptoms include:
- Feeling bloated
- Having stomach cramps
- Sore breasts
- Dealing with constipation or diarrhea
- Getting headaches
- Feeling moody or emotional
For some people, bad lower back pain is a big issue. This could be because of more inflammation during menstruation.
In a study, researchers found that women with higher inflammation during their periods were more likely to have stomach cramps and back pain.
- PMDD
PMDD (premenstrual dysphoric disorder) is a more intense form of PMS (premenstrual syndrome). It brings on severe symptoms that can really disrupt your life, like at work or with friends.
With PMDD, you might experience:
- Strong emotional changes, like feeling very sad or anxious and having extreme mood swings
- Physical issues, such as allergies, acne, or other problems that cause inflammation
- Stomach problems like vomiting or diarrhea
- Neurological symptoms like feeling dizzy or having heart palpitations
Like PMS, PMDD can make your lower back hurt more because of inflammation. This pain might also come from symptoms like diarrhea, vomiting, or pelvic pressure.
- Endometriosis
During your period, some lower back pain is normal, but if you have intense and constant lower back pain, it could be a sign of a more serious issue like endometriosis.
Endometriosis is when tissue similar to the lining of your uterus grows outside of it, usually in the pelvis. This can lead to:
- Severe pain
- Scarring
- Problems with organs
Common signs of endometriosis are:
- Persistent pelvic pain, especially during or after sex
- Pelvic pain not related to your period
- Heavy and longer periods
- Intense period pain, including lower back pain
The back pain from endometriosis can feel different from normal period-related back pain. When the uterine lining grows in other places, it causes a deep pain that usual remedies like massage or chiropractic care might not help.
Endometriosis is a serious condition that needs a proper diagnosis for the right treatment.
By Vachagan Malkhasyan |Pixabay
Is There a Problem with Using Pills for Menstrual Pain?
If you read the information that comes with any medication, you'll see it talks about things like when not to use it and possible side effects. The truth is, no pill is completely risk-free. Common medicines like aspirin, NSAIDs, and birth control pills, often used for period pain, can cause problems over time. These can range from stomach issues and ulcers to blood clots and heart risks. Using these pills a lot for period pain isn't advised.
So, what can women do if they suffer from bad period cramps? We suggest trying chiropractic care for period pain. This therapy focuses on two things: fixing any spine issues that might add to the pain and offering different ways to manage the pain.
The Impact of Spine Misalignments on Menstrual Pain
Your brain communicates with all parts of your body, including sexual organs, through nerves. For instance, nerves connect the ovaries and uterus to the brain via the spine.
Now, imagine if your posture is bad, you injure yourself, or your spine gets misaligned. This misalignment can squeeze the nerves that manage your sexual organs and menstrual cycle. When this happens, the messages from your brain can't get through properly. That's why some women experience intense pain just before or during their period.
Upper cervical chiropractor Dr. Brett illustrating spinal adjustment to a patient
How Upper Cervical Chiropractic for Menstrual Pain Works
So, how can seeing a chiropractor help reduce this severe pain? What exactly does chiropractic care do to relieve menstrual cramps?
Chiropractic care for menstrual pain focuses on finding and fixing spine misalignments. The chiropractor targets the lower back where nerves linked to reproductive organs run through. They use a gentle method called the orthospinology technique to encourage vertebrae to move back into place, easing pressure on nerves. This approach is effective but less forceful than traditional spinal adjustments.
The Upper Cervical Spinal Correction is a groundbreaking new procedure that fixes misalignment in your head and neck. This realignment helps restore proper communication between your brain and body, which may have been disrupted by spine misalignment over many years. By correcting this, it also improves blood flow, aiding in the healing process. Additionally, it reduces muscle stress caused by long-term poor positioning, allowing them to relax more effectively. Ultimately, this correction can alleviate the pain and discomfort you've been experiencing for so long.
Alternative Solutions for Menstrual Pain
Your upper cervical chiropractor has ways to ease menstrual pain beyond adjustments. Chiropractic massage is great for cramps due to tight muscles and stress. It's focused and deep, improving blood flow and helping muscles relax.
Upper Cervical Chiropractors might also recommend acupuncture. This old Chinese practice uses tiny needles to stimulate nerves gently. Many people use acupuncture to relieve pain and nerve-related issues effectively.
Lifestyle Tips
Certain habits like smoking and drinking alcohol can increase inflammation in your body. Similarly, consuming too much caffeine, salty foods, or fatty foods can worsen period symptoms.
Drinking plenty of water and eating a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and foods that fight inflammation may help reduce inflammation and ease PMS symptoms like lower back pain.
Regular exercise triggers the release of natural feel-good chemicals called endorphins, which can help alleviate pain. If exercising feels challenging due to lower back pain, consider gentler activities like yoga or swimming.
If you're feeling up to it, having sex—whether with a partner or on your own—can relieve period cramps and potentially reduce lower back pain by triggering orgasms.
Disclaimer:
Dr. Berner does not diagnose, treat, or prevent any medical diseases or conditions; instead, he analyzes and corrects the structure of his patients with Foundational Corrections to improve their overall quality of life. He works with their physicians, who regulate their medications. This blog post is not designed to provide medical advice, professional diagnosis, opinion, treatment, or services to you or any other individual. The information provided in this post or through linkages to other sites is not a substitute for medical or professional care. You should not use the information in place of a visit, consultation, or the advice of your physician or another healthcare provider. Foundation Chiropractic and Dr. Brett Berner are not liable or responsible for any advice, the course of treatment, diagnosis, or any other information, services, or products you obtain through this article or others.
