November 14th, 2009 
admin The Mayo Clinic estimates that three out of four women experience PMS symptoms. PMS, or premenstrual syndrome, is most known for the following symptoms: cramps, bloating, emotional sensitivity, breast swelling and tenderness, headache and back pain.
Although PMS is a long-standing and highly common phenomenon, it is shrouded in medical mystery. Its symptoms have no proven cause. There are probable theories, however. Hormone levels change in a woman before and during menstruation. It is thought that this alteration may instigate PMS symptoms. Bloating is caused by water retention, and this added pressure in the abdomen can effect the lower back as well.
Women should know that back pain is not a common sign of early pregnancy. It is a natural and common sign of menstruation to come. The pain may range from mild to severe. Just because it is natural, however, doesn’t mean that we have to settle for it.
How to Alleviate PMS Back Pain
A highly informative article found at Quality Health sheds further light on what may cause PMS and how back pain during this time can be relieved.
The article highlights the dietary changes we can make to limit back pain and other unpleasant symptoms. The liver uses calcium, magnesium and B-complex vitamins to process estrogen, for example. Balancing hormones appears to play a key role in PMS control. Taking supplements of these vitamins and minerals may help you feel better naturally.
Since water retention is a factor in PMS, it is a good idea to limit your intake of salt.
Aside from nutritional aides, yoga and heat are the friends of those with PMS. Both loosen tensed muscles in the back. Try a hot bath or use of a heating pad followed by a good stretch.
For some women, the pain associated with PMS is not natural. If a woman has a subluxation, or a vertebra that has come out of alignment and presses on nerves around the spine, then pain before a period may be unbearable due to the added pressure around the spine. For such women, chiropractic care may be of assistance. Chiropractors are trained to realign the spine in an attempt to restore proper nerve function.
What is Normal?
When it comes to periods, irregular is often the regular. Most women don’t have totally regulated cycles, and PMS symptoms can change over time, even month-to-month. In the face of this disparity, however, it is rare to encounter a cycle that does not have some pattern to it. If you get back pain every month, but it changes in intensity now and then, this is a sort of pattern, for example.
If your PMS symptoms change drastically, however, it is wise to schedule a medical examination. Sudden changes or strange timing of symptoms may indicate something more than PMS.
PMS and Sex
Menstruation time can be difficult for couples. Some women don’t feel comfortable talking with their partners about their cycles. Whatever your comfort zone, however, it is necessary to inform your partner of what feels good and what doesn’t.
If back pain is an obstacle to your sex life, consider trying new positions, like the ones discussed here: Sex And Back Pain. If you’re simply not “in the mood” due to pain, explaining the cause of your disinterest to your partner can go a long way to avoid hurt feelings.
If you fear that back pain before your period is abnormal or think it is a sign of pregnancy, think again. Only you know what is normal for you. If pain is severe and subsists after your period has ended, you may suspect another cause. Listen to your body and pay attention to its unique patterns. Lastly, don’t give in to pain. There are ways to feel better.
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