Cramping And Lower Back Pain

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Cramping and lower back pain are common ailments frequently described by women and which usually occur as part of a set of premenstrual syndrome symptoms. Generally, a woman who experiences menstrual cycle related cramping and lower back pain will first experience it within a couple of years of her first menstrual cycle. The levels of pain associated with cramping vary from woman to woman and can range from mild to agonizing and debilitating, although the pain does tend to decrease overall as a woman ages; sometimes menstrual cramps cease completely and permanently after a woman has given birth. Typically, menstrual cramps and the lower back pain associated with them only last about one to three days, and are most commonly experienced by women right before the beginning of her period or at its onset. Cramping and lower back pain in women can also be caused by reproductive disorders; often these symptoms are felt significantly earlier during the menstrual cycle and will cause intense pain, usually for longer than three days.

Cramping and lower back pain typically are experienced similarly by women. Aching or severe abdominal ...
... pain, abdominal pressure, and pain which radiates from the back to the hips and thighs are the way most women commonly describe menstrual related lower back pain and cramps. Other symptoms also often accompany more severe cramping, and those symptoms include a general upset stomach which may manifest itself as either vomiting or loose stools.

Causes and Treatment
Menstrual cramps and lower back pain are most often caused by uterine muscle contractions. The pear shaped uterus regularly contracts throughout the menstrual cycle, but directly before the start of the period it can contract more strongly, putting pressure on surrounding blood vessels, which in turn causes a painful reduction of the uterus oxygen supplies. Treatment of cramps and lower back pain is usually simple and requires only over the counter medications such as acetaminophen, ibuprofen, or naproxen; for best results, meds should always be started directly at the first signs of pain, as the medications can feel less effective if pain is first allowed to become severe. Rest is also recommended, as well as brief applications of heat through heating pads or heated water bottles. When and if they can, women who experience lower back pain and cramping should avoid caffeine, smoking, and alcohol; these substances can slow blood flow by constricting blood vessels, which can somewhat increase the pain from cramping. Some studies have also shown regular exercise to play a role in reducing menstrual pains; the commonly recommended amount of exercise for good health is sustained activity for thirty minutes, at least three times per week.

Cramping and Lower Back Pain During Pregnancy
Cramping and lower back pain are also often experienced by women during pregnancy, and can be early signifiers of the onset of labor. If you are pregnancy and experience lower back pain and cramping, uterine contractions are a likely cause; contact your obstetrician immediately if you think you may be in labor.