Periods and back pain
Lately I have been getting a lot of questions about pain related to periods with the most common questions being:
Why are periods painful?
What can be done about the pain?
Are there any drug-free alternatives to pain relief?
Why are periods painful?
During menstruation, the body release a hormone called prostaglandin which triggers uterine contractions. These contractions are necessary to help shed the uterine lining however these contractions can press on nearby blood vessels in the pelvic area which reduces blood flow and therefore oxygen supply, causing pain. Pain caused by periods is referred to as dysmenorrhea and can be felt in the abdomen, back and even in the legs. For some people, periods cause's their low back pain and for others it exacerbates a back problem that may have already been there.
What can I do to to ease the pain?
The most common methods for treating painful periods is over the counter medication such as ibuprofen, aspirin and paracetamol.
A good drug free alternative that most women use is heat such as hot water bottles or hot baths. TENS machines are also growing in popularity; this involves using a gentle electric current to block pain signals from reaching the brain. Massage is also a great drug-free alternative and spinal manipulation can be used to treat any underlying back problems.
Other methods of treating dysmenorrhea include lifestyle changes such as quitting smoking and exercising more. Exercise such as swimming, cycling, walking as well as yoga and pilates are good forms of exercise to try.
If you are experiencing particularly painful periods it is important to seek medical advice to rule out other diagnoses such as endometriosis, fibroids and pelvic inflammatory disease.