Crimp On Cramps?

Women's issues image.

A lot of women experience them - those painful once-a-month cramps that leave them doubled over in pain and calling in sick to work. In fact, it is estimated that over 100 million employee work hours are lost each year in the US due to menstrual cramps (primary dysmenorrhea); that translates to a loss of more that one billion dollars annually to employers and affects businesses around the world.

Many chiropractors believe that women who experience painful menstrual cramps are likely to suffer from spinal problems, such as back pain, as well. They suggest a causal relationship between subluxations (nerve interferences) in the spine and lower back, and menstrual problems such as cramps. While more research is needed, this may explain why many women who see their chiropractor for their lower back pain report a subsequent lessening of their menstrual cramps.

Although standard over-the-counter drug treatments (analgesics) are effective in relieving the symptoms associated with menstrual cramps, side effects, such as stomach ulcers and abdominal pain, pose potential health hazards that are far worse than the pain of menstrual cramps.

Dr. Mike Asks some important questions of interest to Hillside residents - Chiropractor Hillside Dr. Mike Asks...

Why is a "slipped disc" unlikely?
Separating each spinal vertebra is a disc. Its fibrous outer ring holds in a jelly-like material. Because of the way a disc attaches to the spinal bones above and below it, it can't actually "slip." However, a disc can bulge, tear, herniate, thin and collapse. But it can't slip.
Are aches and pains good or bad?
While aches or pains may be unpleasant, they're merely warning signs. As a Hillside chiropractor, I see this all the time. The pain is not the problem! It just means a limitation has been reached and something needs to change. That's when we get to work correcting the underlying cause.