Women are familiar with abdominal cramps, Pre Menstrual Syndrome, and headaches that accompany their menstrual cycle. However not as many are aware of backache to throbbing back pain sometimes before and/or after a monthly cycle. Many women go to over-the-counter pain medication like ibuprofen. In a study, the regular use of NSAIDs found that it can lead to:

  • Stomach problems
  • Bleeding ulcers
  • Fluid retention
  • High blood pressure
  • Kidney
  • Heart problems

11860 Vista Del Sol, Ste. 128 Gaining Relief From Back Pain During Menstrual Cycle

Why Back Pain Presents During Menstrual Cycle

When the uterus is in a contracting state, the nerves around the pelvis feel the sensations. The uterus only contracts for a few seconds, but repeatedly for hours. Sometimes, the uterus compresses blood vessels in the region. This can limit or completely block the blood vessels supplying the muscles around the pelvis. This is a major contributor to back pain during a period. This is known as referred pain, which means the body feels the pain in one area, in this case, the lower back. But the pain is caused by another area of the body, the uterus. This can cause cramping and low back pain before, during, and after a period. If cramps and back pain become debilitating or worsen over time, it could indicate:

  • Fibroids
  • Endometriosis
  • Infection
  • Pelvic inflammatory disease
  • If fever is present along with back pain seek professional help as soon as possible.

Here are a few ways that can help bring relief from back pain during the monthly cycle.

Heat Therapy

Heat generates increased blood circulation, specifically where it is applied. Therefore any blood vessels that are blocked by the uterus will have improved circulation to the muscles surrounding the uterus, allowing them to relax. This could be the use of:

  • Heating pads
  • Hot water bottle
  • Warm bath or shower

If at work, many pharmacy stores and regular stores sell heat patches that are applied with adhesive tape. These can be used on the lower abdomen or lower back, providing soothing heat.

Light Exercises

Most doctors refer to exercise throughout the month, just not during the period. As staying in shape will maintain the body’s proper circulation and keep the muscles strong. However, some women can perform light exercises like yoga or swimming. This helps decrease back pain even on the first or second day of a menstrual cycle which for many women is the heaviest and most painful.

Meditate

Meditation can help gain control and insight from feelings about life situations. It takes practice, but once an individual gets the hang of it they are amazed at how much pain can be reduced with a 15-minute meditation session.

Supplemental Support

Taking omega 3’s and magnesium supplements can help with the pain. Omega 3s reduce blood clotting and improve circulation. They are natural anti-inflammatories that decrease prostaglandin, which is associated with backaches and cramps. Magnesium supplements, especially those that contain vitamin B6, can help relieve back pain before and after a period. Magnesium can also be found in:

  • Beans
  • Beets
  • Salmon
  • Shrimp

Chiropractic Care

The uterus, like every organ in the body, sends and receives nerve signals, from the brain to the uterus. The menstrual cycle has a close relationship with the spine because of its location. Regular chiropractic adjustments can maintain proper communication between the brain and uterus. Chiropractic realigns the entire spine back to its proper position. This relieves the pressure on the nerves of the reproductive organs. Seeing a chiropractor is the right step towards stopping the pain and healing the body naturally.


Body Composition


Weight and Strength Training For Women

Key points to remember include:

  • Women can gain as much muscle as men
  • Protein helps with body composition but there should be a balance of carbohydrates and dietary fat.
  • Positive body composition changes can be seen with higher load volume and less explosive tempo that is combined with shorter rest periods when weight or strength training.
  • When lifting weights or resistance training, it could be difficult to gain muscle mass if on birth control, near the perimenopausal stage, or officially on menopause.

One of the benefits of weight and strength training is that it can help an individual feel better about themselves. Weight training is associated with significant improvements in:

  • Body image
  • Quality of life
  • Physical activity behaviors
  • Overall satisfaction
  • Well  being

Disclaimer

The information herein is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional, licensed physician, and is not medical advice. We encourage you to make your own health care decisions based on your research and partnership with a qualified health care professional. Our information scope is limited to chiropractic, musculoskeletal, physical medicines, wellness, sensitive health issues, functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions. We provide and present clinical collaboration with specialists from a wide array of disciplines. Each specialist is governed by their professional scope of practice and their jurisdiction of licensure. We use functional health & wellness protocols to treat and support care for the musculoskeletal system’s injuries or disorders. Our videos, posts, topics, subjects, and insights cover clinical matters, issues, and topics that relate to and support, directly or indirectly, our clinical scope of practice.* Our office has made a reasonable attempt to provide supportive citations and has identified the relevant research study or studies supporting our posts. We provide copies of supporting research studies available to regulatory boards and the public upon request. We understand that we cover matters that require an additional explanation of how it may assist in a particular care plan or treatment protocol; therefore, to further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900.

Dr. Alex Jimenez DC, MSACP, CCST, IFMCP*, CIFM*, CTG*
email: coach@elpasofunctionalmedicine.com
phone: 915-850-0900
Licensed in Texas & New Mexico

References

Brynhildsen, J O et al. “Does the menstrual cycle and use of oral contraceptives influence the risk of low back pain? A prospective study among female soccer players.” Scandinavian journal of medicine & science in sports vol. 7,6 (1997): 348-53. doi:10.1111/j.1600-0838.1997.tb00165.x

Forozeshfard, Mohammad et al. “Short term effects of Kinesio taping on pain and functional disability in young females with menstrual low back pain: A randomized control trial study.” Journal of back and musculoskeletal rehabilitation vol. 29,4 (2016): 709-715. doi:10.3233/BMR-160673

Seguin, Rebecca A et al. “Strength Training Improves Body Image and Physical Activity Behaviors Among Midlife and Older Rural Women.” Journal of extension vol. 51,4 (2013): 4FEA2.

Professional Scope of Practice *

The information herein on "Gaining Relief From Back Pain During Menstrual Cycle" is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional or licensed physician and is not medical advice. We encourage you to make healthcare decisions based on your research and partnership with a qualified healthcare professional.

Blog Information & Scope Discussions

Our information scope is limited to Chiropractic, musculoskeletal, physical medicines, wellness, contributing etiological viscerosomatic disturbances within clinical presentations, associated somatovisceral reflex clinical dynamics, subluxation complexes, sensitive health issues, and/or functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions.

We provide and present clinical collaboration with specialists from various disciplines. Each specialist is governed by their professional scope of practice and their jurisdiction of licensure. We use functional health & wellness protocols to treat and support care for the injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system.

Our videos, posts, topics, subjects, and insights cover clinical matters, issues, and topics that relate to and directly or indirectly support our clinical scope of practice.*

Our office has reasonably attempted to provide supportive citations and has identified the relevant research study or studies supporting our posts. We provide copies of supporting research studies available to regulatory boards and the public upon request.

We understand that we cover matters that require an additional explanation of how it may assist in a particular care plan or treatment protocol; therefore, to further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez, DC, or contact us at 915-850-0900.

We are here to help you and your family.

Blessings

Dr. Alex Jimenez DC, MSACP, RN*, CCST, IFMCP*, CIFM*, ATN*

email: coach@elpasofunctionalmedicine.com

Licensed as a Doctor of Chiropractic (DC) in Texas & New Mexico*
Texas DC License # TX5807, New Mexico DC License # NM-DC2182

Licensed as a Registered Nurse (RN*) in Florida
Florida License RN License # RN9617241 (Control No. 3558029)
Compact Status: Multi-State License: Authorized to Practice in 40 States*

Presently Matriculated: ICHS: MSN* FNP (Family Nurse Practitioner Program)

Dr. Alex Jimenez DC, MSACP, RN* CIFM*, IFMCP*, ATN*, CCST
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Dr. Alex Jimenez
Specialties: Stopping the PAIN! We Specialize in Treating Severe Sciatica, Neck-Back Pain, Whiplash, Headaches, Knee Injuries, Sports Injuries, Dizziness, Poor Sleep, Arthritis. We use advanced proven therapies focused on optimal Mobility, Posture Control, Deep Health Instruction, Integrative & Functional Medicine, Functional Fitness, Chronic Degenerative Disorder Treatment Protocols, and Structural Conditioning. We also integrate Wellness Nutrition, Wellness Detoxification Protocols and Functional Medicine for chronic musculoskeletal disorders. We use effective "Patient Focused Diet Plans", Specialized Chiropractic Techniques, Mobility-Agility Training, Cross-Fit Protocols, and the Premier "PUSH Functional Fitness System" to treat patients suffering from various injuries and health problems. Ultimately, I am here to serve my patients and community as a Chiropractor passionately restoring functional life and facilitating living through increased mobility. Purpose & Passions: I am a Doctor of Chiropractic specializing in progressive cutting-edge therapies and functional rehabilitation procedures focused on clinical physiology, total health, functional strength training, functional medicine, and complete conditioning. We focus on restoring normal body functions after neck, back, spinal and soft tissue injuries. We use Specialized Chiropractic Protocols, Wellness Programs, Functional & Integrative Nutrition, Agility & Mobility Fitness Training and Cross-Fit Rehabilitation Systems for all ages. As an extension to dynamic rehabilitation, we too offer our patients, disabled veterans, athletes, young and elder a diverse portfolio of strength equipment, high-performance exercises and advanced agility treatment options. We have teamed up with the cities' premier doctors, therapist and trainers in order to provide high-level competitive athletes the options to push themselves to their highest abilities within our facilities. We've been blessed to use our methods with thousands of El Pasoans over the last 3 decades allowing us to restore our patients' health and fitness while implementing researched non-surgical methods and functional wellness programs. Our programs are natural and use the body's ability to achieve specific measured goals, rather than introducing harmful chemicals, controversial hormone replacement, un-wanted surgeries, or addictive drugs. We want you to live a functional life that is fulfilled with more energy, a positive attitude, better sleep, and less pain. Our goal is to ultimately empower our patients to maintain the healthiest way of living. With a bit of work, we can achieve optimal health together, no matter the age, ability or disability.