Dealing with unbearable menstrual cramps and need period pain relief?
UNBEARABLE PERIOD PAIN MIGHT BE SOMETHING MORE SERIOUS
Before we get into some ideas for period pain relief, I want to call out of couple of things that you should be aware of.
If your pain is truly unbearable and your quality of life is tremendously impacted, there might be something else going on.
Health issues that could cause painful period cramps:
- Fibroids – noncancerous tumors in the uterus
- Endometriosis – tissue that is like what is inside the uterus grows outside the uterus
- Pelvic inflammatory disease – an infection of the female reproductive organs
- Adenomyosis – tissue that normally lines the uterus grows into the muscular walls
Your menstrual cycle shouldn’t stop you from living. If it does, do not wait to talk to your primary care physician or gynecologist. Oh, and if your daughter tells you she’s dealing with bad cramps, listen to her.
WHAT TO DO FOR PERIOD PAIN RELIEF
Unless you have one of the serious health issues that make your menstrual cycle unbearable, at least one of these remedies should work for you.
Don’t be afraid to mix and match these remedies, either.
A hot shower, plus medication, plus a nice long nap with a heating pad on your belly might be the one, two, three punch you need to knock those period cramps right out.
- Medication
- Heating pad
- Hot shower / bath
- Essential oils
- Massage
- Hot tea
- Movement
- Supplements
- Switch to a menstrual cup or disc
- MEDICATION
Midol is the go-to period cramp medication and has been for menstruating folks for years and years. If you get Midol, make sure to get the kind that is caffeine free, so you won’t be wired up.
- HEATING PAD
Heating pads were my go-to for period pain relief. Now there are so many more options that are travel-friendly and affordable. You gotta always have a heating pad on hand.
- HOT SHOWER / BATH
There is nothing better than letting hot water from a shower or bath run over your stomach when you’re experiencing period cramps. Add a shower steamer with essential oils to aid even more in your healing.
- ESSENTIAL OILS
Lavender essential oils can help ease your period cramps, too. Take a little bit of it and rub it into your lower belly or place a few drops in your bath water.
- MASSAGE
You can do a traditional massage with essential oils, a self-massage, or reflexology, although some folks try to steer clear of massages when they’re on their cycle.
Stimulating my muscles eases the cramps, and I feel a lot better almost instantly.
- HOT TEA
Ginger has anti-inflammatory properties, so it makes sense that drinking ginger tea would ease menstrual cramps.
- MOVEMENT
I know the last thing you might want to do when you’re having period cramps is move, but trust me, it helps. You don’t have to run a marathon or anything, but doing some stretches, taking a (brisk) walk, or having a dance party will help relieve cramps and make you feel a lot better.
- SUPPLEMENTS
Taking supplements can help decrease muscle pain. For some taking magnesium a few days before her cycle starts works. Other supplements that could help include thiamin and niacin, or vitamin B1 and B3.
- SWITCH TO MENSTRUAL CUP OR A DISC
For some switching to a menstrual cup may make them feel that their periods have gotten lighter, and cramps have decreased. Using a menstrual cup or disc might provide period pain relief!
