Tips to banish lower back pain before and during menstruation

If you want to cut down on your pain, then remedy its source. So, let us first understand why women suffer from back pain during periods and then discuss possible treatments suggested by the health experts to keep the period pain at bay. It is believed that menstrual pain is very common among all women, although the intensity of pain differs. Generally, women who smoke, consume alcohol during their period, have never been pregnant, are overweight or have low physical activity suffer through menstrual pain.

Basically, in menstrual pain, you can feel cramps in the lower abdomen or back. Some feel pain in their hips and inner thighs as well. When cramps are severe, women may suffer from stomach upsets with vomiting and loose stools as well. Doctors say that, with age, menstrual pain becomes less painful and may even stop entirely after having your first baby. Here, we have discussed some remedies to lower back pain.

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Why does lower back pain occur during periods?

During the menstrual cycle, the uterus contracts to shed the uterine lining, the contractions can radiate through nerves to your pelvic region, thus causing lower back pain. The contractions lead to abdominal cramps and the referral pain causes back pain. Scientifically, women suffer from cramps because of abnormal contractions of the uterus due to a chemical imbalance in the body (Source: John Hopkins).

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How to stop?

• Exercise regularly: Women who are physically active have been observed to have less menstrual pain. So, make sure you make exercise a part of your daily routine.
• Diet supplements: Maintain your diet and ensure that you consume the recommended levels of Vitamin E, omega-3 fatty acids, Vitamin B-1, Vitamin B-6, and Magnesium supplements on a daily basis. 

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• For mild cramps and back pain, most over-the-counter anti-inflammatory drugs and pain relievers work well. 
• Consume hot water or chamomile/green tea three-four times a day, as it relieves period pain a lot.
• Ensure you drink water in surplus during periods.
• Some alternative treatment: Take 30 mg of fennel extract four times a day for three days (Source: PubMed) and it will help a lot with your period pain. Carom seeds can also be used in the same way.
• A hot shower/bath always helps, use a heating pad on your back or belly to ease the period pain.
• Massaging your lower back and abdomen will calm the back pain during periods. 
• Avoid tobacco and alcohol consumption during your periods.
• Avoid foods containing caffeine, excessive sugar, and excessive salt as increases period pain (Source: John Hopkins).

Note: If you have severe and unbearable periods, pain, or cramps that last more than two or three days, it is advisable to visit a doctor.

Sources: All the information provided is sourced from WebMD, John Hopkins, Mayoclinic, and PubMed.

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