Um.... cramps?

Question

When I'm on my period, I get really bad cramps. Nothing I do seems to help. I only get them the first two days and its really terrible. I can't do anythign for those two days and sometimes I have to miss school. What are some suggestions to help the pain?

Answer 1

Talk to your doctor. Try a warm bath.

Answer 2

I used to have the same problem when I was in high school. Every month for sure I had to miss because I couldn't even walk. One thing that seemed to help was chamomile tea and star anise both mixed together. Hardly nothing worked but that. Also, if you do that in combo with a heating pad in that lower pelvic stomach area should ease it some too. One other suggestion is a tablespoon full of olive oil - I know it sounds gross but it doesn't taste so bad and that helps too. If all the home remedies don't work for you and you prefer pills (herbal stuff), one to try is Lydia Pinkham but I think you have to start taking those about 2 weeks or so before your period. Then there's my miracle pill (Feldene) and that small little thing worked wonders for me -it's the best ever. I buy it in Tijuana Baja California Mexico (I live in San Diego only 10 minutes from the border) but if you can't get a hold of it like I do, talk to your doctor about it, maybe she/he can perscribe it to you. Good luck!

Answer 3

I get terrible pains too, and no medications help even a little It feels like my legs are on fire, which isn't fun. I try to drink as much water as I possibly can and to keep moving. It works, if you're in motion your muscles dont have time to cramp up (at least thats what I think lol)

If that doesnt help theres always the sit on the couch eating ice cream and watching chick flicks while crying your eyes out. If all else fails, that seems to work =)

Answer 4

I had the same problem and my doctor put me on the pill. It lightened my period, lightened the cramping and cut a few days of the length of time I usually had my period.
Other ways to help ease the cramping are eating foods high in iron, using a heat pad (or hot water bottle) when you get the chance, exercising, and taking a higher dose if ibuprofen. (I was told by my doctor I could take up to three at a time as directed).

Answer 5

Take some Ibuprofen (like advil, motrin), not aspirin. A hot water bottle helps a lot ('cause the heat relaxes your uterus muscles, so less pain)...One trick that my doctor told me about is to start taking advil a day before my periods (while still following indications)...I have found these of great help during my moments of torture...If nothing works, go see your gynecologist and he'll probably prescribe something stronger.

Answer 6

You know I get the same things...its almost worse than just cramps its like gassy type pain with it....and I find that walking around does me more good than actually just laying there...
It hurts and it sucks, but really getting up and exercising even if its just walking and doing stuff, really will help.

Answer 7

try taking a pain releiver pill like tylenol or iboprufen or motrin one of those will probably help .try putting a warm water bottle on your lower tummy in an air-conditioned room. or try a very warm bubble bath. it works trust me.

Answer 8

Derived from the Greek words dys, meaning “difficult,” meno, meaning monthly, and rrhea, meaning “flow,” dysmenorrhea is the term used to describe painful menstrual cramping.

Almost all menstruating women experience some cramping during their periods, referred to as either primary dysmenorrhea, which refers to "normal" menstrual pain, or secondary dysmenorrhea, which arises as a result of an underlying disease or disorder. The condition is among the leading complaint in women who present to their physicians for gynecologic pain. More than half of all menstruating women have pain associated with menses, and studies have shown that dysmenorrhea is one of the most common reasons women miss work and/or school. Nearly 10% of women with the condition are incapacitated for up to three days each month[1].

"Normal" menstrual cramps occur in almost all women due to the release of hormones known as prostaglandins. These are hormones produced by the endometrium (the lining of the uterus), which cause the uterus to contract, sometimes quite painfully, in order to expel the menstrual debris. Some women produce higher levels of prostaglandins than others, so they may hurt more. Increased prostaglandin production can also cause the distressing gastrointestinal symptoms some women may experience. Primary dysmenorrhea most commonly occurs within a few years of menarche (a woman’s first period), while secondary dysmenorrhea can occur years after the onset of menarche.

Pain with primary dysmenorrhea usually begins on or about the first day of a woman’s period and can last up to 72 hours. In a woman with secondary dysmenorrhea, she may have painful symptoms occurring a week or more prior to her period and lasting even after her flow has stopped. In the case of a woman who has secondary dysmenorrhea, there are other reasons for her pain, including diseases or conditions like Endometriosis, Adenomyosis, Pelvic Inflammatory Disease, cervical stenosis, structural abnormalities in the vagina or uterus itself, fibroids, or similar concern.

Dysmenorrhea can be diagnosed based on symptoms, patient history, physical findings, and when appropriate, diagnostic tests such as vaginal or pelvic ultrasound, hysteroscopy (an examination of the inside of the uterus) and/or hysterosalpingogram (an evaluation of the uterus and fallopian tubes). In cases of secondary dysmenorrhea, laparoscopic surgery can be very beneficial at affording a diagnosis and treatment of the underlying cause. Symptoms often include painful pelvic or abdominal cramping, headache, suprapubic cramping (an area of the pelvis overlying the bladder), backache, pain radiating down into the thigh area, nausea/vomiting/diarrhea and even syncope (a temporary of consciousness). Upon physical exam, those with primary dysmenorrhea exhibit normal vital signs and a tender uterus, but no cervical or ovarian abnormalities. Patients with secondary dysmenorrhea may exhibit varied vital signs depending on the underlying cause and may be found to have tenderness, nodules, and/or enlargement of the uterosacral ligaments, the rectovaginal septum or other adnexa (the region of the pelvis that encompasses the ovary, fallopian tube and surrounding broad ligament).

Treatment options are based on the underlying cause of the pain (primary v. secondary dysmenorrhea) and range from medical to alternative therapies. Commonly, Non-Steroidal Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) like aspirin or ibuprofen may be recommended to help with cramping, and more recently, COX-2 inhibitors have also been approved for treatment of dysmenorrhea. Prescription painkillers may also be recommended where appropriate. Combination (ethynylestradiol and progestin) oral contraceptives can also help reduce prostaglandin production, thereby alleviating the cramps. Heating pads can also offer temporary resolve of the pain. Avoidance of smoking (which has been shown increase cramps) and reduced intake or total avoidance of salt, sugar, high fat and dairy products, alcohol and caffeine can also afford relief, as can increasing the intake of fiber, calcium and complex carbohydrates. Recent studies also indicate that Vitamin B6 complex, calcium and magnesium supplements, and Omega III fatty acids (fish oil supplements) also may help relieve cramping. Pelvic massage, exercise (which releases endorphins, the body’s own natural painkillers), Yoga (the cat stretch and the pelvic tilt), visualization techniques, aromatherapy, acupuncture and herbs like Dong Quai, Ginseng, Stragalus root, Ligusticum root and White Peony root are also said to be helpful alternative techniques for managing the pain.

If Endometriosis or another disorder is the underlying or secondary cause for dysmenorrhea, you will benefit most from having the disease diagnosed and effectively removed. It is important to determine if the cramps are "normal," or if they could be due to another cause. Pain that is crippling or incapacitating is never normal and should be investigated as soon as possible so that appropriate diagnosis and subsequent treatment can be rendered.

Reference:
[1] Jamieson DJ, Steege JF. The prevalence of dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, pelvic pain, and irritable bowel syndrome in primary care practices. Obstet Gynecol. 1996;87(1):55-58.

Answer 9

exercise alot before hand, not only will it help with cramps but it also makes your period go faster.

Answer 10

a worm, bath hot pad
good luck hope u fell better