how to help period back pain

Full Answer

What causes back pain before a period?

What Causes Back Pain Before a Period?

• Painful Period. Mild pain around the time of a period is common. ...
• Premenstrual Syndrome. PMS is a set of symptoms that occurs before the start of a menstrual period. ...
• Endometriosis. Endometriosis is a condition in which tissue from the inner lining of the uterus -- called the endometrium -- grows in another location.
• Seeking Medical Attention. ...

How to treat severe lower back pain during your period?

Tips to reduce painful cramping and low back pain:

• Some women benefit from starting over-the-counter acetaminophen or anti-inflammatories, such as ibuprofen or naproxen, a couple of days prior to menstruation.
• Exercise regularly. ...
• Maintain a healthy diet and take nutritional supplements with vitamin B and magnesium
• Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated.
• Apply heat or take warm baths.

More items...

Can your period cause back pain?

Menstruating can cause you to have lower back pain, which can be exacerbated if there’s an underlying condition causing the pain. Lower back pain is one of the symptoms of dysmenorrhea, a term...

Why does my back hurt during menstruation?

What causes lower back pain during your period?

• Cramps. Prostaglandins, which are similar to hormones, let your uterus know when it’s time to shed its lining.
• PMS. Premenstrual syndrome (aka PMS) is a condition that affects about 75 percent of people who menstruate.
• Endometriosis. ...
• Fibroids. ...
• Adenomyosis. ...
• Certain cancers. ...
• Your IUD. ...
• A strained muscle. ...

How to stop lower back pain?

Try resting in a position that eases lower back pain. Acupuncture. The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke has found that acupuncture can be moderately effective at treating lower back pain. Avoiding alcohol, caffeine, and smoking. These can worsen painful periods.

What is the best treatment for lower back pain?

Treatments. Depending on the exact cause of your lower back pain, your doctor might prescribe certain treatments. These include: Birth control pills, particularly those that contain estrogen and progestin, can reduce pain. These include the pill, the patch, and the vaginal ring. Progesterone, which also reduces pain.

Why does my uterus contract during my period?

Usually people with primary dysmenorrhea experience pain when they first start menstruating. During menstruation, the uterus contracts in order to detach the tissue in the uterus lining.

What is the most common menstrual disorder?

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists notes that dysmenorrhea is the most commonly reported menstrual disorder. Roughly half of people who menstruate experience pain for at least one or two days per menstrual cycle. There are two kinds of period pain: primary dysmenorrhea and secondary dysmenorrhea.

How do you know if you have endometriosis?

In addition to those listed above, symptoms of endometriosis include: extreme pain during your period. pain during sex. heavy bleeding during your period. infertility. fainting. difficulty with bowel movements. It’s important to remember that endometriosis can also have very few or no noticeable symptoms.

What is the best medicine for back pain?

Progesterone, which also reduces pain. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen and aspirin, soothe pain by reducing the amount of prostaglandins made by the body. If lower back pain is caused by endometriosis, medication might be an option. Gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists can help reduce the pain.

Why does my lower back hurt?

This lower back pain might be particularly severe if you have a health condition such as endometriosis, pelvic inflammatory disease, or uterine fibroids. If your symptoms are severe, it’s best to talk to a doctor. They can help you figure out the cause and treat your pain. Last medically reviewed on March 25, 2019.

What are some tricks I can use at home for period back pain?

In many cases, you can treat your typical monthly period back pain with home remedies. Here are some expert-recommended tips to soothe your back aches during that time of the month.

How to reduce pain from period?

Make dietary adjustments, and consider a supp. Eating a balanced, anti-inflammatory diet is good for you anyway, but a high-protein, low-sugar diet can also reduce the inflammation that contributes to period-related pelvic and back pain. It’s also a good idea to reduce your alcohol intake, since that can worsen inflammation. Dr. Masterson advises adding vitamin supplements like folic acid, Vitamin B, Vitamin E, and calcium to help support healthy blood flow and decrease pain.

Why do some people get back pain around their period?

Typically, if you’re going to experience period back pain, it’s within the first six days of your cycle, Dr. Missmer says. The back discomfort is usually associated with primary dysmenorrhea, a medical term to describe cramps or pelvic pain that come along with your period each month. Over 80 percent of people who menstruate likely have some kind of primary dysmenorrhea during their periods. (FYI, secondary dysmenorrhea is when cramps and pain are related to an underlying reproductive disorder—but more on that in a minute.)

What are the symptoms of PMS?

Symptoms of premenstrual dypshoric disorder (or PMDD, an extreme form of PMS) can include physical pain like cramps and back aches. But PMDD more often impacts mental health, causing crippling depression, mood swings, and brain fog.

What is the best treatment for low back pain?

There are other medical interventions for moderate low back pain; physical or chiropractic therapy, massage, and acupuncture may provide relief, Dr. Missmer says. If the pain is chronic and severe, meaning it's interfering with your ability to attend, work, school, or your regular activities, it’s important to consult a gynecologic pelvic pain specialist to work through the pain, she says.

What percentage of menstrual cycles have dysmenorrhea?

Over 80 percent of people who menstruate likely have some kind of primary dysmenorrhea during their periods. (FYI, secondary dysmenorrhea is when cramps and pain are related to an underlying reproductive disorder—but more on that in a minute.) Period back pain (and primary dysmenorrhea in general) likely has to do with changes in prostaglandins, ...

How to get rid of a period pain?

Try hot and cold therapy. Hot baths and heating pads on your back can help relieve pain, as can alternating between heat and ice to relax the muscles. Get sweating. Dr. Missmer recommends yoga and Pilates for stabilizing the core muscles, which may make regular period pain more manageable.

How to stop back pain during period?

Heat — Applying a warm water bottle or heating pad on the lower back may help reduce back pain during your period.

Why does my back hurt after my period?

Cramping and lower back pain may occur after your period for a few different reasons: Ovulation — Lower back pain and cra mping after your period may occur during ovulation, when the ovary releases an egg. Ovulation happens around the middle of the menstrual cycle. Ovulation pain may occur suddenly.

What are the chemicals that cause pain during menstruation?

Prostaglandins may also play a role. Prostaglandins are chemicals that cause many of the symptoms associated with menstrual discomfort. They are synthesized by many tissues in the body, including the endometrium (the tissue that lines the uterus). They stimulate contraction of the uterine muscles to shed the uterine lining during menstruation. Prostaglandins also cause cramps. Heavy contractions can lead to low-back pain, as the pain can radiate from the lower abdomen into the lower back.

What causes a loose ligament in the lower back?

Researchers found that hormonal changes may influence collagen production, which can lead to ligament laxity, or loose ligaments. Loose ligaments can cause spinal instability and are sometimes accompanied by pain in the lower back. Prostaglandins may also play a role.

Why does my period hurt?

Many people experience bloating, headaches, and abdominal pain during their period. Another common symptom that people experience during their period is lower back pain. This pain often occurs as part of premenstrual syndrome (PMS). Less commonly, it can occur as a result of diseases such as endometriosis. Back pain caused by your period may range ...

How to treat cervical stenosis?

A health care provider may be able to treat cervical stenosis by dilating the cervix. Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) — PID is an infection of the reproductive organs and is usually caused by bacteria. Apart from lower back pain after your period, other symptoms include: Pain in the low abdomen.

How long does back pain last during pregnancy?

Back pain may continue for weeks or months during pregnancy. Pregnancy may also come with other symptoms, such as light vaginal spotting or bleeding 10 to 14 days after conception (called implantation bleeding), nausea, and breast tenderness.

Why does my lower back hurt during my period?

Low back pain during menstruation is typically muscular in nature and thought to be caused by hormone changes . Prostaglandins (hormones released during a menstrual cycle to promote uterine contraction to shed the uterine lining) can affect the lower back muscles. An excess of prostaglandins causes dysmenorrheal or painful menstruation.

How to reduce back pain and cramps?

TIPS TO REDUCE PAINFUL CRAMPING AND LOW BACK PAIN: Some women benefit from starting over the counter acetaminophen or anti-inflammatories, such as ibuprofen or naproxen, a couple days prior to menstruation. Exercise regularly.

What does it feel like to have a low back?

This low back pain can range from a subtle annoyance to debilitating pain during those days of the month.

How to get rid of cramps in back?

Studies show that women who exercise on a regular basis have less painful menstrual cramps and low back pain. Maintain a healthy diet and take nutritional supplements with vitamin B and magnesium. Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated. Apply heat or take warm baths.

Where is the pain located during menstruation?

The pain experienced is typically located along the center portion of the low back. Back pain for most women will begin a few days prior to a menstrual cycle and usually subside after. The good news is that low back pain during menstruation is usually not serious and will subside for the most part. If this type of pain interferes with activities ...

Why do women need birth control pills?

Some women may require birth control pills to help with menstrual pain.

How to get rid of period pain?

And it’s a proven period pain fighter. Try applying a heating pad for 15 to 20 minutes, or better yet, soak it out in a long, hot bath.

What is the best medication for period pain?

Any method containing hormones like estrogen and progestin (or just progestin alone) can be used to manage period pain. That includes the pill, the patch, IUDs, vaginal rings, birth control plants, and injections.

How to get rid of pain in your body?

Exercise can actually help clear those pain-causing prostaglandins out of your system faster. Plus, it helps boost the production of feel-good endorphins and lowers stress, which can go a long way toward helping you feel better overall.

How to make your back feel better?

Take a chill pill. If it helps you relax and unwind, it’ll likely make your back feel a little better. Deep-breathing exercises, yoga, and mindfulness meditation have all been shown to improve pain (or at least, the perception of pain, which is what really counts here), so take your pick.

How long does it take for a period to drag on?

You have to change your tampon or pad in the middle of the night. Your period drags on for more than 7 days. You pass clots that are bigger than a quarter.

Which pain relievers block prostaglandins?

These pain relievers (which include ibuprofen and naproxen) are anti-inflammatories that actually block prostaglandins, so they’ll definitely make you more comfortable.

Does alcohol make your period worse?

Alcohol tends to make period pain worse, so steer clear until your back is back to its regular self. Fancy one of these booze-free options?

How to stop cramps from getting worse?

Stress may make cramps worse. Use stress relief techniques like meditation, deep breathing, yoga or your own favorite way to relieve stress. If you’re not sure how to relieve stress, try guided imagery. Simply close your eyes, take a deep breath and imagine a calm, safe place that’s significant to you. Stay focused on this space for at least a few minutes while you take slow, deep breaths.

How does birth control help with cramps?

Birth control can stop period pain if cramps are caused by a hormone imbalance. Balancing your levels of estrogen and progesterone helps thin the uterine lining so it sheds more easily. Hormonal birth control also regulates the length and frequency of your period. Some forms of birth control can completely alleviate period cramps by stopping your period altogether. Talk to your OB-GYN about birth control options, including the pill, birth control shot or hormonal IUD. Then, you’ll be able to choose the type of birth control that works best for you.

How does acupressure help you relax?

Some people find relief with alternative medicine practices like acupuncture and acupressure. Acupuncture is a practice that stimulates the body by placing needles in the skin. Acupressure stimulates the body without needles by putting pressure on certain points of the body. These practices can help you relax, release muscle tension and improve blood flow throughout your body.

What is the cause of PMS?

Doctors think PMS is caused by estrogen and progesterone levels dipping before the beginning of each period. PMS has many symptoms including fatigue, irritability and menstrual cramps.

What is the best tea for cramps?

Drinking chamomile, fennel or ginger tea is an easy, natural way to relieve menstrual cramps. Plus, herbal teas can have other benefits like stress relief and helping with insomnia.

Why does coffee make my period worse?

Caffeine causes your blood vessels to narrow. This can constrict your uterus, making cramps more painful. If you need your coffee fix, switch to decaf during your period. If you rely on caffeine to beat the afternoon slump, eat a snack high in protein or take a quick 10-minute walk to boost your energy.

How to relax muscles?

A little heat can help your muscles relax, improve blood flow and relieve tension. Try sitting with a heating pad, taking a hot shower or relaxing in a hot bath.