How do you get rid of cramps?

[EmilyBronte]

Hello!

I was just wondering if anyone has any secrets for fighting off cramps. I was on the pill for a long time and didn't have cramps as a result. Now that I've had a baby I'm not going back on the pill, and I've started having terrible cramps.

Any suggestions?

Thanks!

[tlew12778]

My very first period off BCP was a killer! So I don't know if this is your first period after your DS/DD was born but it could just be a temporary thing. Have you read Fertility, Cycles and Nutrition by M. Shannon? You can get it out of the library and just photocopy the section on PMS and cramping. It tells you what vitamins you can try to alleviate the symptoms.

[EmilyBronte]

I do have that book! I used it before getting PG but it's on a bookshelf somewhere and I've forgotten all about it. Thanks for reminding me.

This isn't my period since my DS was born, but the cramps seem to have been getting progressively worse. Thanks for the info.

[shopaholic]

I have always suffered from severe cramps. I just recently got on BC and they have "tamed" down a bit.

Here is what I always did and still do:

heating pad....couldn't stress this enough
some type of menstural OTC med (Midol Menstural)
Heating sticky pad that goes on the inside of your undies

Also, I just read in a mag. that there is a pressure point on the inside of your ankle that you should rub to ease cramps. I cut the article out (its at home so I don't know specific details) and I have yet to try it.

Also, I notice that laying in a non-flat back position w. a heating pad works too. Either lay on your side with your knees slightly bent up towards your chest.

They do say exercise works, but when I have cramps...the last thing I want to do is exercise.

[mrstim]

Hi!

I too had horrible cramps - so bad that I was sent home from work actually ;) I was put on BCP and they've let up, but the only way I could get relief before was to take some midol or tylenol and get a Thermacare heat wrap. I use either the menstrual care or the lower back one since most of my cramps are in my lower back. This helps SO much!! Especially since you have a little one - you can't just collapse when these things happen!! Good Luck, Congrats on the DS! Here's the product:

http://www.thermacare.com/img/products/ou_menstrual.jpghttp://www.thermacare.com/img/products/ou_lower-back.jpg

[Kristy]

Love those Thermacare heat patches. They're wonderful for cramps. I also like to drink/eat something warm, like hot chocolate or soup.

If they're really bad, I'd ask your doctor to prescribe a painkiller. Before I started taking BCP, I had killer cramps, to the point that I was going to the hospital every month. The BCP helped immensely, but my doc also gave me prescription strength ibuprofen for the really bad days. One of those and I'm fine in about 20 minutes.

[shopaholic]

^^ I was prescribed Naproxin but I think my body got used to it because it did NOTHING :(

[Sevilla]

1. Start taking Advile BEFORE the cramps start--that heads them off and doesn't allow them to get as bad. When you wait to take advil/ibuprofen once they've gotten painful it's much harder to make the pain go away.

2. Orgasm can temporarily ease the pain of cramps. So get your DH to supply you with some good stimulation :).

3. Using a vibrating massager on your lower abdomen also helps.

4. Sometimes lying on my side of stomach feels better than on my back.

[carrie9142]

1.) Tons of ibuprofen!!
2.) Exercise. It sucks when you first start, but eventually I feel much better. Or maybe just everything else hurts.

Cramps are evil :mad: I have been fighting them this week too!

[lawyerlee]

The heating pad really helps me. If I take some pain meds and lie down with the heating pad, I can usually tolerate the bad ones better.

[Aletheia]

Celica's info about the pressure point is right. It is 3 or 4 finger widths up from the inside ankle bone- push in as though you were trying to reach the back of your shin bone. It should hurt a bit, and probably will if you have bad cramps. But massaging it (they say in a clockwise direction) and/or holding some pressure on it firmly (with your finger tips or a small object, like a bouncy ball or a thimble tip) should help. Do it on both sides.

There are more acupressure tips in a chapter on PMS in the cool book by Michael Reed Gach.

I also agree with Sevilla about taking ibueprofen before the cramps start. I chart, and so have a dropped temperature before AF arrives. I take the drugs then if it's not a day that I can lol about with DH taking care of me (in every respect.) (Sorry- was that lewd?)

I find that the cycles wherein I've exercised more my cramping is substantially less. That is to say, I go from cursing and crying to a muted wimpering.

I feel your pain. :o

[Kimberland30]

^^ I was prescribed Naproxin but I think my body got used to it because it did NOTHING :(

Ohhh, I love mine! It's Anaprox, and I swear by it. I don't need to use it each month though, and only for a couple days when I do. I have bad "girly problems" so being OTR and ovulating really hurts. My Dr. also gave me Tylox for when the pain is extreme.

If you don't want to go the medication route, I agree with other posters that a heating pad works wonders. I like Pamprin Max Strength for OTC meds also.

[sublime311]

This is what I do once they start:

1. Advil (4 OTC pills = 1 RX strength pill).
2. Avoid cold drinks.
3. Drink caffeine-free hot tea.
4. If really bad, I'll use a heating pad.

[jeepgirl]

I take calcium throughout the month, and extra during my cycle, along with supplemental Vitamin E. It REALLY helps. If your body does not have enough calcium the cramps (spasms, etc) will be worse than if you have enough. Potassium is also good. I recently found a product, I think its call Estraval or something like that - it has vitamins and herbs that support you through menses. Along with that, if you exercise regularly, you will find that your time of the month is a lot better, but it takes a few months for that to kick in. Along with everyone else, I second the use of a heating pad when it gets really bad. I have one with rice that wraps around my abdomen (velcro keeps it closed). I just pop it in the microwave for about 3 minutes and then wrap it around me (when my back aches I turn it around and put the rice pack on my lower back).

I know it sucks... just hang in there and find what works for you. A really hot bath also can be very helpful, although somewhat temporary. I could be wrong, and I'm not trying to contradict what a previous poster wrote, but I think I would stay away from the caffeine, from what I've read that can actually make the situation worse.

[bookworm]

Ugh, I used to get cramps that were so bad they'd make me throw up.

The best things were to avoid caffeine, use a heating pad, and take advil (I took double the recommended dose, but I wouldn't want to advise another person to do that ;) ).

In the evening, wine is good :).

[Kristy]

The best things were to avoid caffeine, use a heating pad, and take advil (I took double the recommended dose, but I wouldn't want to advise another person to do that ;) )

You actually can take quite a bit of Advil, Aleve, or any other ibuprofen. On one of my really bad times before I started BCP, my doctor had me taking something like 6 pills every 3 hours, as long as it was with milk or food. At that point even that many didn't do it for me though :(

[Ilovemygeek]

I second the advice of taking calcium, as well as a good multivitamin, daily. That has really helped me over the years.

[julietchicago]

Midol has always worked wonders for me. There are times I am in bed for an entire day due to cramps. UGH, the joys of being a woman! :-)

[Sazoo]

I also agree with Sevilla about taking ibueprofen before the cramps start.I'll third this suggestion! Advil is my best friend when I get bad cramps, & I always start popping the pills at the first tiny little twinge of discomfort.

Back before I started taking BCP I got REALLY awful horrible cramps. I used to set 3-4 Advil tablets on my nightstand with a glass of water when I would go to bed at night, & then when I'd first start to wake up in the morning I'd reach out to grab them, swallow them, & then try to fall back asleep before I woke up fully & realized I was in pain. By the time I woke up a little bit later they were usually gone because the drugs had taken effect. ;)