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Are Your Periods Giving You Grief? Acupuncture for Back Pain During Your Periods in Brisbane.

Periods and back pain often go hand-in-hand, creating a monthly ordeal that can be both physically and emotionally draining. While many of us turn to over-the-counter remedies or even hot water bottles for relief, there’s a growing interest in alternative treatments.

If you’ve already explored options like Brisbane remedial massage or cupping therapy Brisbane, you might be intrigued to discover what acupuncture can do for you.

Acupuncture, a time-honoured component of Traditional Chinese Medicine, has been used to treat various types of pain and bodily imbalances for centuries. With an increasing number of acupuncture Brisbane clinics specialising in women’s health issues, including period-related back pain, it’s becoming an alternative for those in search of more holistic treatments.

If you’re one of the many who’ve pondered, “Is there effective acupuncture near me for period pain?”, then this blog is written with you in mind.

In the ensuing article, we will unravel the science and techniques behind Brisbane acupuncture for treating periods and back pain. From explaining the targeted acupuncture points to the physiological mechanisms at play, this blog aims to provide you with all the information you need to decide if acupuncture could be your answer to alleviating monthly discomfort.

How common is it to experience back pain during your period?

According to a study within the age group 18-25, 84% of young females experienced pain during their periods (dysmenorrhoea), 16% of which also experienced lower back pain (1).

Common symptoms of dysmenorrhea include:

· Cramping/pain in the lower abdomen

· Low back pain

· Pain radiating down the legs

· Nausea

· Bloating

· Diarrhoea

· Fatigue

· Weakness

· Headaches

Even though menstrual lower back pain can be distressing, it does not commonly involve a serious medical problem. However, in some cases underlying conditions such as endometriosis or uterine fibroids need to be ruled out by a GP or gynaecologist.

What causes low back pain during menstruation?

While premenstrual symptoms (moodiness, bloating, breast tenderness) commonly occur several days before your period, the low back pain usually begins on the first day of bleeding. Immediately before a period, the endometrial cells in the uterus manufacture many prostaglandins, chemicals which play a key role in uterine contractions and the shedding of the uterine lining. An excess of prostaglandins causes heavy contractions which radiate from the lower abdomen into the low back, causing back pain. As the uterine lining sheds during menstruation, the body releases fewer prostaglandins and the pain subsides.

From a Chinese medicine point of view, localized ‘cold’ and ‘stagnation’ are common causes of menstrual back pain.

What you can do to reduce your menstrual back pain?

· Hit the gym regularly! Studies have shown that women who exercise regularly may experience less menstrual pain and low back pain. (2)

· Apply a heat bag to your lower back and abdomen.

· Avoid drinking coffee or alcohol during that time of the month.

Talk to us to find out if acupuncture and remedial massage can assist you in the treatment of your back pain. Appointments for our Brisbane acupuncture clinic can be made online or contact Ken for any enquiries.

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References

Kural, M., Noor, N., Pandit, D. Joshi, T., & Patil, A. (2015). Menstrual characteristics and prevalence of dysmenorrhea in college going girls. Journal of Family Medicine & Primary Care, 4(3), 426–431. https://www.doi.org/10.4103/2249-4863.161345

Armour, M., Ee, C. C., Naidoo, D., Ayati, Z., Chalmers, K. J., Steel, K. A., … Delshad, E. (2019). Exercise for dysmenorrhoea. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. https://www.doi.org/10.1002/14651858.cd004142.pub4

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