How to Relieve Menstrual Pain

Severe menstrual cramps (dysmenorrhea) are common among menstruating women and can be very debilitating for some of us, interfering with our everyday lives. Here are some measures to help cope with the pain associated with that time of the month.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• heating pads
• painkillers
• chocolate
• BC
• tennis ball or partner
• comfy clothes
• movies

1. 
    

   Use heat for menstrual pain relief. Using heating pads can help relieve the discomfort of your cramps. A combo of using two heating pads is ideal. Place one on your back and one on your front. If you have to be somewhere, use self adhesive heating pads you can buy at the drug store.

2. Use pain relieving medication to get through a painful menstruation. Take a pain reliever such as Motrin, Advil, Excedrine or a combo of Ibuprofen (3 tablets of regular) and Acetaminophen (2 tablets of regular). Take medication before your menstrual cramps get very painful for the best results. (always consult your doctor before using pain medication).

3. 
    

   Treat yourself to chocolate. Let yourself indulge in what you want more than anything. It will help you feel better.

4. 
    

   Stop bad menstrual cramps before they start by getting on birth control pills. Even if you are not sexually active, some birth control pills can help regulate your period and are also prescribed to help reduce the symptoms of dysmenorrhea. Talk to your doctor about which kind would be best for you.

5. 
    
   Stop menstrual bloating!

   Avoid salt to prevent and or lessen painful cramps. Avoiding salt around the time of your period can help reduce menstrual bloating, which will keep you from having such painful cramps. You can also take a diuretic before your period to help reduce bloating. Just be sure to drink plenty of water when taking a diuretic.

6. 
    

   Massage is a great tool for menstrual pain relief. Rub your abdomen or have someone rub your back to help ease your discomfort. If your cramps are in your lower back, have someone apply pressure or lie on a tennis ball.

7. 
    

   Stretch to relieve menstrual pain. stretching and gentle exercise increases blood flow to your pelvis, relieving that heavy bloated feeling. Lie on your back and stretch your legs up in the air.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep a PMS emergency kit that contains self adhesive heating pads from the drug store, Peanut M&Ms, Pain reliever, and pads/tampons. Take this with you when you go on vacation and you might get your period. Or keep this at home so you don't have to ask someone to go to the store for you as you lie in bed unable to move!
• Get into your comfiest clothes, take it easy and watch your favorite movies.

Resources

• How to Relieve Back Pain Cheap
• How to Make a Heating Pad

[DrNancyMalik]

on 8/2/2008 Viburnum opulus: The menses are late and scanty and last a few hours only. The cramps begin in the lower back, travel around the pelvis or waist and go into the thighs. The pain is relieved once the bleeding begins.

[showpup]

on 5/4/2008 My husband massages in some icyhot on my lower back for me. It's a lifesaver. Love the heating pads, too! And for the record, chocolate is scientifically proven to help alleviate PMS symptoms. Gotta love those scientists!!

[TheHabe]

on 12/30/2007 Great article! Curling in a ball on the bed one way to feel better. That, and extra sleep. Thanks.