Menstruation is a consequence of rather complex processes occurring in the female body. Critical days are accompanied by various symptoms, namely bloody discharge, nausea, discomfort in the lower abdomen, etc. The fairer sex is most concerned about pain in the lumbar region, and more often than not, those who have not yet given birth. Experts consider this a pathology and recommend contacting a medical facility to find out the cause.
Symptoms
Pain that occurs in the lower back during menstruation is an alarm bell that indicates a problem in the body.
In addition to this symptom, menstruation is accompanied by other symptoms:
- a slight increase in temperature indicators (up to 37.2 °C);
- intestinal disorder;
- dizziness;
- weakness;
- nervousness;
- soreness in the genital area;
- nausea and vomiting (in rare cases).
It should be understood that many inflammatory processes have similar symptoms, therefore it is important to be able to distinguish normal from pathological conditions.
What causes lumbar pain during menstruation
So, why does it hurt in the lumbar region, and what is the connection with menstruation?
The lower back hurts on critical days:
- With intense and (or) prolonged tension in the muscles of the pelvic girdle;
- In the presence of inflammation and (or) swelling in the organs of the genitourinary system;
- If there is a hormonal imbalance in the body;
- With pathology or infantilism (underdevelopment) of the reproductive organs.
The causes of pain in the lower abdomen and lower back associated with menstruation can also be caused by pathology of the location of the uterus.
If it is located closer to the back wall of the abdomen, that is, to the spine, a situation is possible when the natural processes occurring during menstruation irritate the nerve endings of the ridge in the sacrum and lower abdomen, which causes the appearance of pain symptoms.
Possible causes of discomfort
Many women believe that pain in the lumbar region during the menstrual cycle is normal. However, most often this is a pathology. This symptom can occur 2-3 days before the onset of menstruation, persist throughout the entire period and often after it. The main reason for the appearance of this symptom is considered to be hormonal imbalance .
Menstruation is accompanied by active contractions of the uterus and muscles located in the pelvis. All this provokes irritation of nerve receptors, which leads to the occurrence of painful sensations in the lumbar region. However, this sign is not always associated with physiology. The symptom may occur due to other reasons:
- Increased levels of the hormone estrogen. This phenomenon is often observed in women over 35 years of age. In this case, even a slight change in hormonal levels becomes a consequence of the appearance of pain in the lower back, abdomen or lower extremities.
- Abnormal location of the uterus. The female organ is located too close to the back. During menstruation, it increases in size, affecting nerve receptors, which provokes pain in the lumbar region.
- Ectopic pregnancy. The pathology is considered a severe and dangerous complication, during which the fertilized egg attaches to the ectopic cavity. In this case, bleeding is observed, which is often confused with menstruation and pain in the lumbar region.
- Inflammatory pathologies. If a woman has been diagnosed with an infectious disease, then menstruation will be more painful.
- Incorrect selection or installation of the intrauterine device. You should know that this method of contraception is not suitable for all representatives of the fair sex. If you experience discomfort in your lower back after installation, it is recommended to consult a doctor. Only he will be able to choose another method of preventing unwanted pregnancy.
- Carrying heavy things. Experts say that frequent lifting of bags affects a woman’s well-being over time. Excessive stress provokes prolapse of the uterus, which causes a painful sign.
- Water metabolism disorders. During menstruation, fluid stops in a woman’s body, which contributes to the occurrence of this symptom.
Pain in the lumbar region can also occur for other reasons, namely as a result of various diseases of the genitourinary system, kidneys, spine and neurological pathologies.
When you need to see a doctor urgently
If lower back pain during menstruation is accompanied by a fever, you should immediately consult a doctor. This may indicate a local inflammatory process that needs to be eliminated as quickly as possible.
Heavy bleeding, prolonged pain and fever in women during menstruation can be symptoms of pathology of the genitourinary system. Any disease is easier to treat at the initial stage, so do not put off visiting a doctor.
What ailments cause discomfort?
Often, pain in the lower back is caused by severe and serious illnesses. These include:
- Venereal pathologies. As a rule, in addition to discomfort, discharge of various shades with a very specific odor is observed.
- Endometriosis. The disease is characterized by the appearance of the endometrium (inner layer of the uterus) in atypical places. In this case, there is pain and intense discharge during menstruation.
- Various adhesive processes in the uterus. Appear due to surgical interventions on the organ, gynecological ailments, prolonged use of the intrauterine device, etc.
- Inflammation of the ovaries. The pathological condition is caused by pathogenic microorganisms. As a rule, it is observed more often in girls who are sexually active and do not use barrier contraception.
- An ovarian cyst is a benign neoplasm that often degenerates into a malignant form.
- Salpingitis or inflammation in the fallopian tubes. In this case, pain is noted in the lower abdomen or back.
- Vaginitis or colpitis is a pathological process accompanied by inflammation of the mucous membranes of the vagina. The disease is characterized by itching, pain and changes in the amount of discharge.
Diagnostics
Diagnosis during menstrual pain should be comprehensive. At the initial examination, it is important to tell the doctor in detail what is bothering you. Based on complaints, symptoms, and a description of lifestyle, the gynecologist will be able to exclude acute abdominal syndrome (for example, appendicitis). After an oral interview, the doctor examines the patient and prescribes a series of tests. These include:
- gynecological smear (including flora, sexually transmitted diseases, hormonal function of the epithelium, cytology);
- clinical blood and urine analysis;
- biochemical blood test to determine the level of hormones in the blood;
- Ultrasound of the pelvic organs;
- vulvoscopy;
- colposcopy.
How to eliminate discomfort
Most women wonder how to get rid of pain during their period. If its cause is considered to be a non-pathological process, then it can be managed without the use of medications .
Severe pain may require both symptomatic and specific treatment. At the end of the course, discomfort in the lumbar region is eliminated. In each specific case, therapy is selected individually. Below we will consider in detail the methods that can be taken to eliminate discomfort.
Analgesics
If pain is felt in the lower back, it is necessary to use painkillers or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
Among them are the following medications:
- Ketanov.
- Analgin.
- Ibuprofen.
- Diclofenac.
- Nurofen.
- Phenacetin.
- Aspirin, etc.
As a rule, such drugs quickly have an analgesic effect. Most of these medications are not harmful to health. However, before using the medication to relieve pain, it is recommended to carefully study the instructions in order to avoid unpleasant consequences.
Folk remedies
Alternative medicine also offers its own recipes for getting rid of lumbar pain during menstruation. Often these are various decoctions or infusions prepared from medicinal herbs.
Below are the most effective means:
- You need to take 20 g of dry plantain leaves and pour a glass of hot water. The composition is infused in a closed container for two hours. The contents must be strained before use. It is recommended to consume the infusion 15 ml three times a day 30 minutes before the intended meal.
- To prepare the infusion, you need to take 2 tbsp. l. chopped hop cones and pour 600 ml of hot water. Next, the composition is infused in a closed container for 1.5-2 hours. Then the product must be cooled and strained. Take 100 ml for a week before bedtime.
- Strawberry infusion. Pour half a glass of berries with a liter of boiling water, put on fire and boil for one hour. After this, the container with the contents should be wrapped in a blanket. Thus, the product is infused for another 60 minutes. After time, the composition must be filtered and diluted with water to a volume of two liters. It is recommended to consume the decoction 200 ml once.
What to do if your lower back hurts during menstruation
Self-medication does not bring any benefit. If the sacrum or lower back hurts before menstruation, consultation with a specialist is necessary. To identify the cause of the pathology, you should donate blood for hormones, test for infections, and undergo an ultrasound of the reproductive organs. Additionally, you may need the help of a therapist, neurologist, or endocrinologist.
Physical exercises and breathing exercises will help you cope with physiological pain. In more complex cases, medication is indicated. If there are adhesions or endometriotic lesions in the pelvis, laparoscopic surgery is required. In cases where the stomach and lower back hurt, but there are no periods, taking measures on your own is strictly prohibited.
Treatment
Your doctor will tell you what to do if your lower back hurts during menstruation. The treatment method depends on the cause that caused the syndrome. Diseases of the urinary system and inflammatory processes in the pelvis are treated with anti-inflammatory and antibacterial agents. The effect is secured with immunomodulators. Endometriosis is treated with combined contraceptives.
Spinal diseases require specific therapy. Treatment is carried out comprehensively using drugs from different groups:
- Hormones - in the form of injections.
- Analgesics – for blockades.
- Non-steroidal - to relieve inflammation.
- Muscle relaxants are blockers of neuromuscular impulses.
- Chondoprotectors – to restore the functions of intervertebral discs.
If there is a lack of calcium in the body, the lower back hurts more during menstruation.
When deciding how to relieve pain, this factor must be taken into account and the diet should be filled with fermented milk products. Among the painkillers and antispasmodics you can take Ketanov, Ibuprofen, No-shpu, Spazgan. If you are not allergic to plants, infusions of elecampane roots, horsetail, and herbal infusions with peppermint, chamomile, and valerian roots will help ease your well-being.
Among the physiotherapeutic methods, acupuncture, acupressure, electrophoresis with novocaine in the solar plexus area will bring relief.
Medicines for severe lower back pain during menstruation
Your health has a direct impact on your mood. When the lower back is pulled a week before menstruation, the woman’s emotional state is depressed. It affects the level of its performance. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and antispasmodics help temporarily relieve pain. The most effective drugs include:
- "Baralgin";
- "No-shpa";
- "Papaverine";
- "Analgin."
Taking oral contraceptives helps eliminate symptoms of the premenstrual period. They contain hormones that block the ovulation process and smooth out the menstrual cycle. Popular birth control pills include:
- "Jess";
- "Tri-regol";
- "Yarina";
- "Silhouette";
- "Klayra";
- "Regulon".
Important! The optimal period for taking oral contraceptives to eliminate discomfort before menstruation is 3-6 months.
Folk remedies for back pain during menstruation
Folk remedies are used in cases where the lower back hurts not due to serious pathologies. Before using them, the risk of an allergic reaction should be eliminated. The following remedies can help minimize back pain:
- plantain decoction;
- ointment containing badger fat;
- hop infusion;
- wearing a wool belt;
- strawberry decoction.
Gymnastics during the menstrual cycle
A certain set of physical exercises will not only help relieve pain in the lumbar region, but will also benefit the entire body:
- You need to lie on your stomach. Clasp your hands and put them under you, resting your forehead on the floor. You need to bring your lower limbs together and be in a compressed position. Then take a deep breath and hold your breath for a few seconds, while keeping your feet off the floor. After 20 s, we return the limbs to their original position. This exercise should be repeated no more than 10 times.
- You need to lie on your back, bend your lower limbs at the knees, and place your arms parallel to your body. Raise your buttocks and hold for five seconds. Next, we return to the horizontal position. We do eight more approaches, while you need to make sure that your breathing is calm and uniform.
- It is recommended to take a horizontal position, face up, with your legs bent at the knees. We place our palms under our backs. The lower limbs rise and alternately swing in different directions. During this exercise, it is important to monitor your breathing: it should be constant and calm. Next, the hands are lowered under the buttocks. The exercise ends, the upper and lower limbs return to their original position. We rest for a few minutes, then do three more approaches.
Where does low back pain come from - diagnosis of pain in the lower back?
Pain in the lower spine during menstruation can be like a nagging pain, shooting pain in the lower back may appear, pain from the lumbar region can radiate to the chest or to the pelvic organs.
Through painful manifestations in any internal organ, the body gives us a signal about detected disorders, be it injury or disease. During menstruation, pain in the lumbar region can vary in nature and can be pulling, shooting, spreading to the chest and genitals. It happens that the back begins to hurt due to neurological disorders that coincide with the beginning of menstruation, but these phenomena have no connection with each other. Pain also occurs due to pleurisy and kidney diseases. The reason for the exacerbation of these pathologies before menstruation is the increased activity of the body on the days when the cycle ends. It changes the intensity of all processes, in particular pathological ones.
Only specialists in the field of urology, traumatology, gynecology, etc. can determine the exact source of discomfort. In the event of a sharp increase in body temperature to 37.5 degrees on critical days, accompanied by severe pain, you must immediately go to the hospital. This clinical picture indicates inflammatory processes that need to be eliminated.
