Normally, when you think about chiropractic care you may think it’s mainly for someone who just got injured in a car accident, or someone with severe back problems, right? You probably don’t think it’s for someone who wants relief from severe menstrual cramps. Well, we have news for you. Chiropractic care can help relieve painful period cramps. Let’s find out how.
What Are Menstrual Cramps And What Causes Them?
Menstrual cramps happen when the uterus contracts to expel it’s lining. A group of substances derived from fatty acids called prostaglandins causes muscle contractions. When there are higher levels of these substances there is a more severe menstrual cramp. When the contractions are severe they have the potential of constricting the blood vessels that feed the uterus.
Menstrual Cycle Symptoms
A woman can experience so many different symptoms during her menstruation. These are only a few examples:
- Cramping
- Stomach pain
- Low back pain
- Nausea
- Moodiness
- Headaches
Unfortunately, all women are different and some women experience more pain during their menstrual cycle than others. Some have more symptoms than others. When a woman experiences physical pain as well as cramping during her cycle is called dysmenorrhea.
If there is a combination of physical pain, cramps as well as emotional symptoms then it is called premenstrual syndrome, or most commonly called PMS. Very similar to PMS, PMDD (premenstrual dysphoric disorder) is much more severe. It causes severe depression and irritability, as well as physical pains and cramping.
How Chiropractic Can Help With Menstrual Cramps
To be able to understand how chiropractic can help reduce menstrual cramps it is key to know the four principles of chiropractic health care:
- The body is a self-regulating organism that is designed to heal itself
- The nervous system is the one responsible for all body functions
- Any interference with the function of the nervous system will affect the way the body works
- A chiropractor’s mission is to restore the nervous system function, therefore, restoring overall health
Menstrual cramps are just a body signal that lets you know something is not right. There are other signals like low back pain, tingling in the legs, and bowel problems. It is important to know the root of the problem otherwise is like placing a bucket under a leak without repairing it.
Treatment With a Medical Doctor VS a Chiropractor
If you suffer from dysmenorrhea, PMS, or PMDD it is likely that a conventional medical doctor will prescribe you a drug or an over the counter medicine. The most popular ones have anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties that may help ease the pain caused by these conditions. You may be prescribed naproxen and ibuprofen. This is in the hope of treating the symptoms, not the cause.
Chiropractors on the other hand will try to stop your pain naturally by using traditional chiropractic techniques on your spine.
How A Chiropractor Can Help With Menstrual Cramps
As we mentioned before, having severe pain during a menstrual cycle is a sign that something is amiss in the body. The central nervous system is essential in making sure all parts of the body are working properly. When menstrual cycles are irregular and very painful it is highly likely that spinal misalignment is causing interference with the nerve and is blocking communication between the spine and the reproductive or endocrine system, which is responsible for controlling hormones.
A spinal misalignment can cause a lot of symptoms like dysmenorrhea and amenorrhea (lack of a normal period). Our chiropractors at Mauricio Chiropractic can remove spinal misalignments, restore nerve communication and improve the function of the hormonal systems. This will effectively reduce painful cramps and other premenstrual symptoms. It may even increase fertility during the reproductive years.
Chiropractic For Menstrual Cramps Near You
Visit Mauricio Chiropractic to find out more about how chiropractic can improve not just menstrual health, but holistic body health as well! Schedule an appointment in any of our 9 Orlando Area locations here.
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We provide advanced spinal correction utilizing “state of the art” chiropractic techniques. Never in the history of chiropractic have we been able to provide the level of help and expertise that now exists. These newer correction methods are even safer, more comfortable and more effective than ever before. As Doctors of Chiropractic,Our Team has years of training and experience in spinal adjustment.