Back Pain During Your Period? These Treatments Can Help

Does your lower back become sore, tight, or achy when you have your period? You're not alone. This is a common problem among women. It often stems from hormonal changes that leave you feeling stressed and that cause muscles in the entire area around your uterus to tighten. Luckily, there are a few things you can do to help alleviate this discomfort.

See a Chiropractor

At first glance, this might not seem like the kind of back pain you would see a chiropractor for. However, the underlying problem could be that your back is out of alignment. When you have your period, your abdomen becomes a bit bloated and your uterus starts contracting to expel its lining — and these changes put extra stress on the muscles in your back, making spinal misalignments that are otherwise minor more bothersome.

Your chiropractor can gently manipulate your vertebrae back into place, reducing the strain on your back muscles. In re-aligning your spine, he or she may also remove pressure on nerves related to your pain response. This, too, can reduce cramping and discomfort not only in your back, but also throughout your entire abdomen and core.

Soak In Epsom Salts

Epsom salts are salts of magnesium and sulfate. When you dissolve them in water and soak in them, the magnesium permeates into your muscles, where it helps them to relax. Soaking in Epsom salts will help relax the sore muscles in your back, and it may also relax the muscles in your abdomen so those tummy cramps don't keep radiating into your back. Just toss a few handfuls of Epsom salts into a tub of warm water and sink into it to enjoy.

Get a Massage

While a professional massage is nice, you can even just have a partner or friend massage your back to help ease the pain. Make sure they start with soft, gentle motions to slowly warm up the muscles. Then, they can slowly start increasing the pressure. There should be no need to knead the muscles deeply, since you're not dealing with serious muscle knots — just some cramping and general soreness. Using massage oil can help keep the touches light and smooth.

If you make a habit of practicing these three treatments each month, you'll have an easier time keeping your period-related back pain under control. In fact, with regular chiropractic adjustments, you might find that your discomfort disappears entirely.