You don’t need a doctor to explain how bad menstrual back pain can be . When your back hurts so much that you feel like you can hardly walk, you know the pain all too well. Back pain or pelvic pain is a common symptom of your period.

Different women experience pain, especially period pain, in varying ways. But hopefully your back period pain is not severe enough to interfere greatly with your life. How do you know what pain is normal, and when you should call the doctor?

Read on to learn more about the causes of back pain during menstruation and what you can do to relieve your symptoms.

Causes & Why         

Back pain with period is a form of primary dysmenorrhea, which is the medical name for cramps. Typically, women first experience primary dysmenorrhea cramping two to three years after their first period. This is because this is the time when ovulation is first established. Cramping is caused by uterine contractions. Certain chemicals, called prostaglandins, are produced as a natural part of the female reproductive cycle.

These chemicals are produced in your uterine lining. As part of your monthly cycle, the uterine muscles contract and spasm. This leads to the shedding of the uterine walls, and that all too familiar cramping pain.  

Women usually start experiencing cramps about two days before their period.

Cramps typically last from one to three days. These cramps can come in the form of pressure or aches in the abdomen. The pain can also spread to the hips, lower back, and inner thighs. For many women, this pain can be severe at times.

If the pain is severe enough, some women can experience nausea or even vomiting. Period lower back pain can even affect your bowel movements. For an unlucky percentage of women, the back pain is debilitating. Sleep becomes a difficulty because women can’t seem to find a position that brings relief to their aching backs.   

What is Extreme Pain?

For many women, period back pain is not incapacitating. While the pain can certainly be bothersome, it is not so intense that they need to miss work or make large changes in their lives during their periods. But how do you know if your pain is abnormal? Is there a scale that women can use to gauge their own period pain?            

There are certainly some signs that a woman’s pain may not be related to “average” period cramping.

Does your back hurt so much that you can hardly walk?

Are you unable to move or bend over?

If you make any sudden movements, do you feel like you might pass out because of your pain?

Different women certainly have varying pain thresholds, but your back pain shouldn’t feel like more than you can bear.

There are many over the counter medications that combat cramping. If you find that none of these aids help your cramps, it might be time to consult your physician.

You should absolutely talk with your doctor if your pain is so intense that you have to miss work or other activities because you have to stay in bed, for fear of moving. 

Some women have differently shaped cervixes and uteruses and experience pain differently. A number of diseases can be attributed to severe cramping and back pain, so you should be aware of these threats to your reproductive system. Endometriosis is a condition associated with extreme pms back pain and cramping.

This is a progressive disease where women experience incapacitating cramping, heavy and irregular periods, and even ovarian cysts. This disease progressively gets worse, so if you find that your back pain from period increases each month, it is important to see your doctor.

You should also be aware of pelvic inflammatory disease, which is when a bacterial infection starts in your uterus before spreading throughout your other reproductive organs. Tumors or other growths might also be present on your uterine wall. Finally, stenosis, the narrowing if the cervix, can also lead to extreme period lower back pain and cramping.

Home Remedies

There are a number of remedies passed down through the years that absolutely work to combat back pain and painful cramping. Your mother was right about these remedies!  

Heat provides comfort to many women. Try taking a warm bath. Use the quiet time for meditation and truly let your muscles relax. You can purchase heat pads from the drugstore that you can stick to the clothing above your lower back. For a quick fix, you can even roll a bottle of warm water along your lower back.

Herbal teas, like chamomile, will help you relax. Of course, many over the counter pain killers are a good way to combat cramping pain. You can even make your period a much easier experience by taking anti-inflammatory drugs a day or two prior to your period.        

Though it might hurt to move, some light exercise is a great way to ease some of your painful cramping. Women who exercise regularly tend to experience less cramping. But even women who hate going to the gym can benefit greatly from exercise, including light walks and stretching.       

Diet and Supplements    

You can give yourself a gentle lower back massage to help ease your pain. Apply even pressure with your fingers, moving outwards away from your spine. Diet also has a huge impact on back period pain. It’s best to stay away from fried foods, salty foods, and caffeine. Avoid cigarettes, alcohol, and drink lots of water so that you will stay hydrated.

Menstruation back pain is a fact of life, but you shouldn’t dread it weeks before your period.

If you want to finally end this vicious pain cycle, it time to look into proven period pain relief. Period Vitamin is a potent blend of natural herbs, vitamins, and minerals.

Period Vitamin is the key to period back pain relief for so many women. Plus, it helps combat other period woes like irritability, weight gain, and bloating. Period Vitamin lets you live your life on your terms once again.