The agonizing pain that accompanies menstruation is neither normal nor healthy and you don't have to accept it. Stop believing the myth that , ”this is your beauty". It's not true! Menstruation is a natural process that accompanies most women from around the age of twelve until menopause. Nevertheless, this period does not have to be associated with intense pain and physical discomfort. Do you know how to effectively deal with menstrual pain that impedes daily functioning? Do you realize that physiotherapy can help?
Impact of menstrual pain on women's lives
You've probably experienced intractable menstrual pain many times that seemed unbearable. For those who have never experienced it, it may be difficult to imagine how annoying it is. Bosses, colleagues, teachers, fathers or even partners will never understand how severe the pain is and the consequences that come with it. In addition to the physical discomfort, there are also intense emotions, such as anger and frustration, additionally mentally taxing.
Menstrual pains often force changes in plans, even the important ones.
You've probably had to repeatedly cancel important appointments due to severe discomfort that makes even the simplest daily activities, such as getting out of bed or going to work, difficult. What's more, menstrual pains interfere with restful sleep, leading to increased fatigue, exhaustion and irritability. As a result, coping with menstrual pains, you have to face the harsh reality of not being able to function normally for two, three or even four days a month and enjoy the peace.
It is worthwhile to understand what causes severe menstrual pain and learn how it can be effectively counteracted. Modern methods offer solutions that allow to change this painful experience!
Menstrual disorders and their causes
In physiotherapy practice, following therapy, we meet with different opinions of women. Some of them are skeptical and say, „I thought it was normal... They told me that after the baby is born it will pass on its own.” If you have encountered such opinions, it is important to know that Severe menstrual pain is not the norm and are usually associated with menstrual cycle disorders.
Unfortunately, not all women are aware of this. There are effective methods that can help alleviate these discomforts.
Menstrual disorders usually manifest themselves through:
1. irregular menstrual cycles, lasting less than 24 days or more than 28 days.
2. very painful periods.
3. heavy or scanty bleeding.
4. Excessively frequent bleeding, including between periods.
Other symptoms include bothersome uterine cramps during menstruation and other discomforts, such as migraine, constipation, diarrhea, abdominal pain, vomiting whether general malaise. It is easy to see that this condition often leads to short-term absence from school or work, affecting the social life of both young girls and adult women [1]. Menstrual disorders are not only a health problem, but they also affect social life!
Causes of menstrual disorders
Menstrual disorders can be divided into two main categories:
1. Primary painful menstruation związane jest z bólem występującym w cyklu menstruacyjnym. Mogą być to m.in. wady postawy, stare injuries lub upadki na pośladki w dzieciństwie. Ból ma zatem fizjologiczne podłoże, wynikające z napięć w tkankach ciała. Najczęściej występuje u młodzieży i młodych dorosłych [2].
2. Secondary painful menstruation is associated with menstrual pain resulting from specific diseases (e.g., endometriosis, myomas, adenomyosis, pelvic adhesions, endometrial polyps) [1], [3].
Distinguishing between the two is one of the steps during the physiotherapy consultation, aimed at alleviating the ailment.
How to effectively treat painful menstruation?
Menstruation is a topic that rarely appears in popular science articles. It is still a socially taboo subject, which is little discussed in public, for example, on the Internet. Therefore, few women know how to effectively deal with severe menstrual pain.
Data shows that the problem mainly affects the young population, as the The incidence of painful menstruation is highest in the 16-25 age group.
However, this value is likely underestimated, as many women consider pain a normal part of the menstrual cycle and do not report it, despite experiencing significant discomfort [4], [5]. This underscores the importance of education and awareness On issues related to women's health.
There are many methods pain relief Menstrual. Drug therapy is often used non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (e.g., ibuprofen) and hormonal drugs. However, such therapy can lead to side effects associated with prolonged use of medications. So it's worth realizing that there are other approaches to treatment that not only relieve pain, but eliminate the source of the pain in the first place. One such approach is physiotherapy [6].
Manual therapy and laser therapy for menstrual pain management
A simple pain pill usually does not eliminate the source of the problem. The discomfort recurs every menstrual cycle, and women risk the side effects associated with prolonged use of painkillers. However, there is an alternative: more effective, healthier, safer and with lasting results.
An example of an effective treatment for painful menstruation may be the following nasz gabinet Profizjoclinic Wrocław.
- Specialists begin with a physiotherapy consultation. After a detailed interview with the patient, they decide which form of therapy will be most appropriate.
- If secondary painful menstruation is suspected, they recommend consulting a gynecologist to rule out any contraindications to the therapy.
- After consultation and ruling out contraindications, they conduct an examination, which includes assessing abdominal tension, muscles and ligaments of the lumbosacral spine, pelvic mobility and its musculoskeletal tensions.
- The findings help determine which form of therapy will most effective. For primary painful menstruation, manual therapy [7] can bring long-lasting relief Without side effects. Another effective approach to combat menstrual pain is the following. laser therapy, which helps relax the relevant structures in the body, alleviating pain and discomfort [8], [9].
In order to make the therapy as effective, the first visit before menstruation is recommended, and the second during.
Changes in body tension during the menstrual cycle justify this approach. It is also useful to provide the physiotherapist with previous imaging studies, if performed, as they can provide additional information useful in therapy planning. Learn more about urogynecological physiotherapy at Profizjoclinic!
Physiotherapy as an effective and preventive method
A visit to a physiotherapist is designed to improve comfort and quality of life. You don't need to prepare for it specially, or feel embarrassed or anxious. Qualified physiotherapists are there to help with pain management Menstrual, which makes it difficult to function normally for a few days each month. With the support of specialists, you can get rid of ailments and remind yourself what it's like to go through a full menstrual cycle without pain, anger or frustration.