You Have Celiac Disease
Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder where eating gluten causes serious damage to the small intestine.
Many health care practitioners dont realize that the symptoms of celiac disease can vary, so many people go undiagnosed. In fact, less than half of people with celiac disease have the classic symptoms of GI pain and diarrhea.
Skin rashes, neurological symptoms, fatigue, painful sex and menstrual pain can all be clues that you have celiac disease or gluten sensitivity. Remember, anything that causes inflammation in the gut will cause inflammation in the rest of your body!
Your Gut Isnt Healthy
Okay, this is a BIG one. The health of your GI tract is so intricately linked to the rest of your body . Practically every patient who comes to me with chronic health issues has some degree of imbalance in their digestive system.
When our guts are healthy, good things happen for us. We absorb our nutrients. Our friendly gut bacteria help us detoxify estrogen and reduce inflammation. Our hormonal systems are balanced. All good things!
But when our guts are not healthy, it sets the stage for all of the things that we dont want. Our metabolism doesnt work right. We become full of inflammation. Our immune system is imbalanced and we can develop autoimmunity. It can ruin our thyroid function. We cant get rid of excess estrogen. We cant absorb the nutrients we need. And the list goes on.
More specifically, when the bacteria and other microbes in our gut are out of balance, there are some key factors that directly contribute to period pain. Unfriendly bacteria have something called lipopolysaccharide on their outer surface. LPS is, by far, one of the most toxic and irritating substances known to the human body. And when the gut isnt healthy, LPS can move across the gut barrier and get into the bloodstream.
This creates a cascade of inflammation, revs up the immune system, blocks detoxification, and can specifically cause pelvic pain. In my practice, Ive been able to link LPS with headaches, acne, and a host of other chronic conditions.
Dont get me wrong!
What Helps With Cramps During The Day
Do you have from time to time acute back pain? Along with annoying Abdominal cramps?
A small consolation: you are not alone in this! A lots of women complain Muscle spasms and I dont know the cause. That these Pain often period related and they are completely natural, only very few know.
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Standing With An Unhealthy Posture
Maintaining a healthy posture is vital for staying pain-free, whether you are sitting, standing, or moving around.
This is because you need to keep your body balanced to relieve the pressures of gravity that it’s constantly exposed to.
As when your body is aligned and balanced it can spread out the pressure evenly.
However, when you stand or sit with a bad posture your body becomes unbalanced.
Which leads to it having to compensate and some muscles having to work much harder than others.
And this extra strain results in greater pressure and strain on your lower back, muscles, and joints.
Which will only ever lead to more muscle tightness and more pain!
And unfortunately many people stand with an awkward and unbalanced posture without even realising it.
Which is making standing far more painful than it should be for them.
Common mistakes include standing with your bottom sticking out, your stomach sticking out, your neck hanging forward or having a flat back and hunched shoulders.
However, you can retrain your body to improve your posture which will be a massive help.
When To See A Doctor
If your lower back pain is so severe that youre unable to perform daily activities, its time to see your doctor. They might perform a variety of tests to see whether you have endometriosis or another condition causing your severe pain.
Even if theres no underlying condition, you and your doctor can discuss both medical and at-home treatment methods to reduce the pain.
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What Causes Menstrual Pain And Cramps
There are two types of dysmenorrhea the fancy medical term for painful periods primary and secondary.
Primary dysmenorrhea is the more common of the two, and is caused by contractions of the uterus brought on by prostaglandin, a “hormone-like substance” released during that time of the month.
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On the positive side, these contractions help flush last month’s uterine lining from your body. On the negative side, they can also cause menstrual pain and cramps.
Secondary dysmenorrhea is less common and is caused by diseases or medical conditions affecting the reproductive organs, such as endometriosis, pelvic inflammatory disease, and fibroids on the inner wall of the uterus, among others.
Endometriosis occurs when endometrial tissue grows on your ovaries, bowel, and tissues lining your pelvis.
There is a common myth out there that painful periods are a sign of good fertility. This, however, is the opposite.
If your periods are accompanied by debilitating pain, it can be your body’s way of waving a red flag and trying to warn you that something is up. It may not be your period exactly, but an underlying medical condition causing the severe pain.
For example, extreme menstrual and pelvic pain is one of the symptoms of endometriosis, which can have an impact on fertility. If you have regular “normal” periods, that’s a good sign of fertility.
Zits Before Periods Could Be Pcos
Many women break out before their period, but PCOS or Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome could be at work. The syndrome is a hormonal imbalance which leads to acne, hair growth on the face and hair loss on the head. Not a good combination for a woman. Talk with Capital Womens Care if you notice these changes.
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Severe Mood Changes Can Be More Than Normal Pms
If your mood changes before your period are extreme, and you become depressed easily, this could be a more severe form of PMS known as PMDD or Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder.
These symptoms include difficulty sleeping and eating, and not being productive at work. With this disorder, normal PMS symptoms and anxiety become much worse prior to your period, but they will usually diminish during the cycle. If these symptoms interfere with your life, discuss with your doctor.
If they become the norm, it could be depression.
Dont suffer in silence with severe symptoms of what you think is PMS. Contact Capital Womens Care at or request an appointment online to discuss the symptoms you are experiencing.
A Womans Menstrual Cycle Consists Of Various Stages Including:
Pre Menstrual: A timeframe of about 2-3 weeks prior to the shedding of the uterine lining.
Stage 1: Follicular stage the stage in which excessive amounts of estrogen are produced and the uterine lining thickens.
Stage 2: Luteal stage the stage in which the production of estrogen drops off and progesterone takes off. This is the stage in which ovulation occurs.
Period: Shedding of uterine lining, blood and excess tissue.
Post Menstrual: A timeframe of about 1-2 weeks after bleeding stops.
Symptoms During Menstrual Cycle
In addition to this back pain due to the menstrual cycle there are several other symptoms that may appear at the same time. These might include the abdominal cramps we mentioned previously, headaches, bloating, fatigue, nausea, mood swings and digestive issues. All of these other symptoms might be present along with period back pain.
Causes of Menstrual Back Pain
There could be three reasons for back pain during the womans menstrual cycle. This includes:
Dysmenorrhea: When the uterus contracts sharply the result is cramping whether it be in the abdomen, upper thighs or back. This is one of the leading causes of back pain during the menstrual cycle. Stress, lack of exercise, and anxiety can cause dysmenorrhea. There is even a chance that you can have back pain but no period if taking birth control pills that prevent ovulation. This back pain starts low and can move to any other part of the back and can even cause Sciatica if it is really severe.
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How Is The Cause Of Severe Period Pain Diagnosed
To diagnose severe period pain, your health care provider will ask you about your medical history and do a pelvic exam. You may also have an ultrasound or other imaging test. If your health care provider thinks you have secondary dysmenorrhea, you might have laparoscopy. It is a surgery that that lets your health care provider look inside your body.
What Are Treatments For Severe Period Pain
If your period pain is primary dysmenorrhea and you need medical treatment, your health care provider might suggest using hormonal birth control, such as the pill, patch, ring, or IUD. Another treatment option might be prescription pain relievers.
If you have secondary dysmenorrhea, your treatment depends upon the condition that is causing the problem. In some cases, you may need surgery.
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Is It Normal To Get Cramps During Your Period
It’s “normal” to experience some pain and menstrual cramping during your period, but it is not normal for that pain or cramping to last more than two or three days.
Period pain may be more intense when you’re younger, and mellow as you age. Whether this is because we get used to it or because of changing hormone levels is still debated.
Personally, I’m 33 now, and I’ve gotten my period since I was 9 years old. That’s 24 years of me dropping to my knees each month and crying out, “The curse is upon me!” before vomiting dramatically onto the floor and taking to my bed, also with as much drama as I can muster post-vomit.
What’s more common than getting leg pain during your period? Not talking to your doctor about it which you should definitely do.
Endometriosis: A Common Cause Of Severe Period Pain
Endometriosis is a gynecological condition in which endometrium-like tissue is found outside the uterus on other structures throughout the pelvis, including the ovaries, fallopian tubes, bladder, pelvic floor, and in more severe cases, the bowel, diaphragm, liver, lungs, and even the brain.
According to Ken R. Sinervo, MD, the medical director of the Center for Endometriosis Care in Atlanta, We dont really know why endometriosis causes menstrual pain may have to do with where is located and how it presents.
Untreated endometriosis can lead to adhesions, chronic inflammation, chocolate cysts , and internal bleeding all of which can prompt excruciating pelvic pain. Endometriosis pain isnt limited to period pain that goes on 24/7, says Dr. Sinvero. Many women also experience backache and other bowel symptoms, not to be confused with IBS, he added.
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Tips To Reduce Lower Back Pain During Menstruation
May 4, 2016
Menstruation can consist of abdominal pain, bloating, and headaches for most women. In addition to the typical symptoms associated with the menstrual cycle, some women also suffer from low back pain. This low back pain can range from a subtle annoyance to debilitating pain during those days of the month. 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 of daily living during you menstrual cycle, its important to understand why it happens and how to cope with and manage the pain.
WHAT CAUSES LOW BACK PAIN DURING MENSTRUATION?
Low back pain during menstruation is typically muscular in nature and thought to be caused by hormone changes. Prostaglandins can affect the lower back muscles. An excess of prostaglandins causes dysmenorrheal or painful menstruation. Heavy contractions can lead to low back pain, as the pain can radiate from the lower abdomen into the low back.
Women with endometriosis may also experience low back pain during the menstrual cycle. If this is of concern, you may want to talk to your doctor about this diagnosis and proper treatment options.
TIPS TO REDUCE PAINFUL CRAMPING AND LOW BACK PAIN:
Why Do I Poop So Much On My Period
Having all those prostaglandins or that lack of progesterone in your body doesnt just make you want to poop more at a comfortable, natural rate. One or both can also give you diarrhoea.
If youre a coffee-lover, this can also make you poop more than you normally would, especially during a period. This is because coffee has a laxative effect nothing to do with any of your hormones this time!
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Period Pain And Fertility
Period pain that’s part of your normal menstrual cycle will not affect your fertility. However, if the cause is a medical condition, this may affect your fertility.
For example, endometriosis and pelvic inflammatory disease can cause scarring and a build-up of tissue in your fallopian tubes, making it harder for sperm to reach and fertilise an egg.
Do Gentle Exercise Such As Yoga Stretching Or Walking
A 1997 study examined the relationship between exercise participation and menstrual pain, physical symptoms, and negative mood.
The study made 21 sedentary women and 20 women who participated in regular exercise complete a modified version of the Prospective Record of the Impact and Severity of Menstrual Symptoms calendar for two complete menstrual cycles. Researchers found that the women who exercised regularly experienced less pain during their menstrual cycle.
An older study from 1984 looked at the relationship between exercise and endorphins. This study found that when exercising, the endogenous opioids are released and cause several physiological and physiological changes, including pain perception and quelling of “menstrual disturbances in female athletes.”
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The Question: I Have My Period And My Back Hurts Why Also Ow
We’re just going to say it: periods aren’t fun.
It’s understandable if you just want to crawl into bed and never come out during that time of the month. Especially when body aches — particularly the lower back pain — kick in.
And, really, what’s the deal with that? Why is your back throbbing when your uterus is the one doing all the work?
Let’s break it down.
First of all, nothing’s wrong with you. Lower back pain during your period is totally common. It’s caused by contractions in the uterus, which radiate through the web of nerves within your pelvic region. As your body contracts to rid itself of the uterine lining, it can sometimes press on blood vessels in the area, limiting or cutting off the supply of oxygen to the nearby muscles.
“Many women get back pain during their periods,” Dr. Houman Danesh, director of integrative pain management at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City, told The Huffington Post. “This pain is from the uterus contracting to shed the lining which has built up since the last cycle… The phenomenon is described as ‘referred pain.'”
“Referred pain” is pain felt in a part of the body other than its actual source. If you’re just about to get your period, your uterus might be contracting in preparation for the upcoming activity. This is totally common and normal, and the pain can affect your thighs as well as your lower back.
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