Many women start to tremble when the time for their period to come down approaches. If you are from the group that the drop in menstruation does not disturb daily life at all, congratulations! Although this fact should be normal, the reality is that many women suffer excruciating pain during their period. If it is unbearable pain, do not be afraid and tell your family doctor or your gynecologist, because the period does not have to hurt.
What is usually normal is that the days before our period comes down, and especially during the first days, our back area hurts. And more specifically, the area of the kidneys. But, what relationship does this area of the body have with our uterus? Why do the kidneys hurt during the period? Peaceful! In this article we are going to solve this question and we are going to see how you can eliminate the inconvenience. Of course, we remind you that if you have any doubts, the ideal is to go to your doctor and let him/her help you.
The reason why the kidneys hurt when you are on your period
- Menstrual pain, according to the Spanish Society of Gynecology and Obstetrics, “consists of intense pain in the lower abdomen or pelvic area… And it can radiate to the lumbar region or to the legs.”
- That load or pain in the back of your body is called ‘referred pain’, that is, you have a condition in a different part of the body than the one it originates from. In this case, the pain originates in the uterus but is reflected in the kidneys or in the lower back. Why is that? The answer is simple and you should not worry because it is not a symptom of anything serious, but something completely normal.
- When our period is about to drop, the uterus dilates, and during menstruation certain contractions occur that can spread and put pressure on the nervous tissues of the abdomen and back, even spreading to the thighs. It is a feeling of tension that is usually relieved with a little heat or a massage in that area.
- Therefore, you should not worry if you have that feeling during menstruation because it is something normal caused by the contraction and dilation of the uterus itself during the period. But if the pain is getting worse and you cannot bear it, it is advisable to see a doctor. It could be something more serious, such as endometriosis among other things.
How can you eliminate kidney pain during your period?
- The first days are usually the worst when our menstruation goes down. Therefore, there are some tips that we can follow if we want to cope with it in the best possible way.
- Give yourself a hot shower, focused on the area that hurts your back and kidneys and relax for a few minutes.
- If it is already advisable to drink a lot of water, take the opportunity to do so in the form of infusions that can help you with uterine pain, such as cinnamon, ginger or chamomile, which help reduce inflammation naturally.
- If you have an electric blanket, a hot water bottle, a sack of seeds or a massage cushion, take advantage of its heat to put it on the area of discomfort, as long as they are caused by your period and you do not have other types of ailments that can be affected by this fact.
- It may seem incredible but exercise helps a lot with menstrual pain. We are not talking about beating yourself up running but doing exercises that help to favor that area, to stretch, so that our backs do not strain and feel less swollen.
- In this sense and in relation to the previous point, yoga, meditation and relaxation can help a lot to alleviate this type of pain.
- Both at work and at home, place a cushion or pad in the kidney area, so that it favors the natural posture of our back, with the characteristic curvature. This, although at first it may seem that you are somewhat tense, will help you to sit correctly and will also alleviate pain due to poor posture.