How to Get Rid of Lower Back Pain During the Period

As if cramps, emotional outbursts, and bloating aren’t enough, lower back pain before and during your period (primary dysmenorrhea) comes and joins the PMS party every single month.

Why do you suffer from uncomfortable pain in your lower back every month?

Should you get checked by a doctor and how can you stop the pain – without medicating yourself every month?

The answers are all here. But first, let’s see why this happens in the first place, o.k?

What Causes Lower Back Pain Before and During Period?

Your pelvic region is a network of nerves. It’s like a nest where the twigs are all intertwined.
If you feel irritation on one side (like the abdomen) you may feel it on the other side too – your lower back – just as easily.

Here are the possible causes of lower back pain during menstruation:

1. Contractions in the Uterus

Every month your body builds up a thick uterine lining (endometrium) to prepare for a fertilized egg.

If you don’t become pregnant, estrogen and progesterone levels decrease and hormones called prostaglandins cue your body to get rid of the endometrium – through contracting.

If you have a high level of prostaglandins, you’ll have more intense contractions of your uterus and more pain.

Unfortunately, prostaglandins also cause inflammation in our body, which is why taking anti-inflammation medication brings relief to most people.

Prostaglandins may also be responsible for vomiting, diarrhea, and headaches that accompany painful periods (Source)

Here’s what happens:

When your contractions are strong enough, they can apply pressure on nearby blood vessels, reducing the oxygen supply to nearby muscles, and causing abdominal pain radiating to your lower back (and sometimes the thighs too).

2. Magnesium Deficiency

Magnesium acts as a muscle relaxer (among many other things) in your body.

These muscles include the uterus, the abdomen muscles, and the back muscles of course.

These days most of us unknowingly lack Magnesium (due to modern farming, diet choices, caffeine, and more).

For example, one of the most common signs of Magnesium deficiency is ongoing muscle cramps.

Sounds familiar?

What if Your Pain is Excruciating and Unbearable?

The good news is:

Low back pain during menstruation is usually not serious. But, if your back pain is excruciating and debilitating and you find yourself incapacitated for a few days, the possible causes below require you to seek medical care:

1. Endometriosis – Uterine tissue that appears outside the uterus.

2. Fibroids and adenomyosis — noncancerous (benign) growths in the uterus.

3. Ectopic pregnancy (pregnancy outside of the uterus)

4. Ovarian cyst

Generally, if you’ve always had the same pain levels then it’s nothing to worry about. But if you see a sudden change in your symptoms, get checked by a doctor, please.

How to Get Rid of Lumbar Pain Before & During Period

I know, I know. You probably want to reach out to your monthly little helper – Ibuprofen.

But if you’re still here with me, I hope you want to stop your dependence on these possible life-threatening medications and switch to a natural treatment for your menstrual back pain.

Trust me; there are more than a few natural home remedies that are just as effective, or more, than drugs.

We can use heat (check out the best heating pads for menstrual pain), natural anti-inflammation foods and supplements, and avoid a few problematic pain aggravators – to dramatically relieve menstrual back pain.

And here are the best options:

1. Magnesium Bath 

Through my research (and personal experience) I’ve found that heat is the most effective and fast way to relieve cramps and back pain.

Heat promotes blood circulation, which elevates pain-relieving and anti-inflammation components in our blood.

A hot bath is the easiest solution, preferably with Magnesium flakes in it.

The heat can immediately relieve the pain, and the added Transdermal Magnesium flakes will quickly be absorbed in your body, elevating your Magnesium levels.

2. Infrared Heating Pad

If you don’t have time for a hot bath and your pain “catches” you in the middle of work for instance, a small and portable infrared heating pad is all you’ll need to quickly relieve the pain in your lower back.

Why infrared and not just a regular heating pad?

Well, infrared heat, which is completely natural and safe, penetrates deeper than electric heat, plus it emits much less EMF radiation.

It can relieve your pain for 6 hours without medication.

I think every home should have an infrared heating pad, which has about a million uses and is practically a home doctor for me and my family.

3. Magnesium Oil

Magnesium oil, which is basically Magnesium Chloride flakes in water, is one of the best muscle pain relievers of all time (In my experience).

You simply rub it on your lower back and let it stay there for 20 minutes for quick back pain relief – then wash it off.

Transdermal Magnesium is the most absorbed type of Magnesium. It can get in your blood through your skin and absorbs better than oral Magnesium supplements.

If it’s the first time you hear about Magnesium oil, you’ll be glad you did.

Here’s more about Magnesium oil and its many great uses.

4. Herbs & Spices

All anti-inflammation foods and herbs, taken regularly, can reduce inflammation in your pelvic area and relieve your pain.

The best anti-inflammation herbs are:

1. Devil’s Claw – used for decades to reduce inflammation and muscle spasms. A series of studies completed in Germany found that the main ingredient in Devil’s Claw was indistinguishable from Vioxx in the treatment of chronic low back pain.

However, don’t use it if you take any kind of blood thinners.

Here’s my favorite brand.

2. Chamomile Tea –  helps to calm muscle spasms. You can have as many as 3 cups per day or 3 capsules per day.

3. Turmeric – there are more than 1500 studies about the proven benefits of this super anti-inflammation food.

A recent study done at the prestigious Sloan-Kettering Cancer Research Center in New York found that Turmeric was safer and more precise than aspirin in eliminating inflammation (without the well-known side effect of aspirin, such as stomach irritation).

The simplest way to add it to your diet is to spice your food with Turmeric powder, but if you don’t like the taste – Here’s one of the best supplements.

4. Pineapple – Bromelain, a natural compound found in Pineapples, contain several proteolytic enzymes, which basically “short-circuit” multiple pain pathways in the body.

This is a good Bromelain supplement (combined with Papain, another natural pain buster).

5. Ginger – you probably already know about the strong anti-inflammation abilities of Ginger, which can reduce the amount of those earlier-mentioned prostaglandins.

The result? Weaker contractions – less pain.

You can buy the actual ginger root and add it to your green juice, or you can take ginger root capsules.

What to Avoid Before & During Your Period

Certain foods and beverages are well known to increase inflammation and pain throughout your body.

Coffee and all other caffeinated drinks (tea, energy drinks, etc.) reduce Magnesium (the “muscle relaxer”) levels in your body plus increase inflammation.

Actually, the best liquids to have during your menstrual cycle are homemade broth, chicken soup, and hot water with lemon.
As always, try to avoid inflammatory foods – processed foods, meat, and dairy.

Add as many vegetables and fruits as you possibly can.

Conclusion

Lower back pain during your period is not a life sentence and you don’t have to depend on health-destroying medication to relieve it effectively and fast.

Use heat, warm liquids, and inflammation-busting herbs and spices and you’ll quickly reap the pain relief that you’ve waited for while boosting your health and well-being at the same time.

To your health and happiness,

Meital