Low Back Pain During Your Period Is Not Normal, Says Tokyo Chiropractor

Is Low Back Pain Part of Premenstrual Syndrome?

You may have heard of premenstrual syndrome, but what is it? Anything referred to as a syndrome is just a collection of symptoms. What symptoms are part of premenstrual syndrome?

• pain

• cramping

• heavy bleeding

• mood swings

Are My PMS Symptoms Normal?

Important point: "common" does not mean "normal." Normal bodily function does not have to mean having pain. Symptoms are the way our bodies communicate to us. Think of pain or other symptoms as your body saying, "STOP! Pay attention to this part of you! Something needs to change!" They are an indication that something is not working correctly and that we need to make a change. PMS symptoms are no exception.

Can A Chiropractor Help With Period Pain?

When people go to a chiropractor, they expect the chiropractor to look for joint misalignments, soft tissue damage, inflammation, muscle spasms, and poor posture. These may indicate a spinal subluxation, which may lead to subpar function of a spinal joint. If the bones of your spine aren't moving correctly, the nerves in that area can have problems communicating to their end organ or muscle or tissue. If the input and output of the central nervous system (your brain and spinal cord) isn't getting good communication you can end up with problems like back pain, pelvic pain, and cramping. So, what do these subluxations have to do with PMS symptoms?

Chiropractors Can Help You With Your Back

Think of the position of the bones in your low back and pelvis. The soft tissues (muscles, tendons, and ligaments) that connect the low back to the pelvis can pull more on one side versus the other, causing the bones to be slightly misaligned from their most balanced positions. That joint misalignment can cause pain. There can be scar tissue built up over time, too. This soft tissue damage can affect the nerves and blood vessels in the area. The bloating and heaviness that you may feel with premenstrual syndrome is a sign of a build up of molecules called prostaglandins in the lower torso, which create inflammation.

Prostaglandins are a necessary part of menstruation, as they help us shed the uterine lining. They are also the reason for diarrhea that can come with menstruation, as these chemicals affect multiple tissues and organs in the lower torso when released.

Additionally, the cramping sensation can be due to muscle contractions in the pelvis around the uterus. Again, it is a necessary component of menstruation, as contractions are needed to get the uterus moving and the tissue to shed. However, a muscle contraction need not be excessively painful. We contract and relax our muscles all day long just to go about regular daily activities. This should be the same when we are bleeding during our periods.

What Does Chiropractic Have To Do With PMS?

These symptoms of the subluxation and premenstrual syndrome look strikingly similar, right? If you're feeling these symptoms together, it could be a good idea to get checked by a chiropractor for subluxations. My recommendation to clients is often to get checked leading up to their period to help mitigate these PMS symptoms.

If you're not sure if chiropractic can help with your menstrual symptoms, book a free consultation with Dr. Ariel at Electra Chiropractic in Tokyo.