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Attention women: any relief for pms cramps?

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Posted 6/2/2014 6:59 PM (GMT 0)
Ever since I was 12, which is when I started my period, I've had extremely painful cramps. Throughout my life, my mom always recommended I start taking vitamins to help with it but I never could learn how to swallow pills even after many attempts. Well fast forward to last year and I got a really bad toothache (as described in other posts) so out of desperation, I forced myself to learn how to swallow pills. So for the past year I've taken calcium and a multivitamin every day but during every cycle, my cramps don't seem to get any better, in fact they seem worse now. I've tried everything: exercise, hot baths, heating pads, OTC meds, herbs, even prescription painkillers (when I had them) but NOTHING works even when combined. I've talked to some of my female friends about this and some of them don't have cramps whatsoever. I don't understand this. Another issue I'm having is that during my cycle, I have gum/random teeth pain that doesn't seem to get relief either. It's a nightmare. Does anyone have any suggestions? I'm at work now writing this and my legs are shaking because my pain level is so bad. I've read that endometriosis could be the problem but I don't know how doctors could test for that. I had a physical by an OB/GYN several years ago so if I actually had that, you'd think he could've determined it then.
Posted 6/2/2014 7:12 PM (GMT 0)
No they necessarily couldn't find endometriosis on a general GYN exam and yes extreme cramping and pain could be just that. If you are doing all those things and getting no relief I would definitely get in to the gyn and get a thorough work up.
Posted 6/2/2014 7:25 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the response. I am planning to see a general doctor soon since the severe toothache forced me to have to take so many pain meds (OTC and prescriptions) this past year and no telling what that did to my liver so I want to get that tested. While I'm there, I can ask the doctor about these cramps and see what he/she says. I'll probably just be referred to an OB/GYN though ugh
Posted 6/2/2014 8:21 PM (GMT 0)
Have you seen a dentist for the tooth pain, is the tooth sensitive to cold or heat as well, then could be you have a tooth going bad, side effects of pain meds is bad teeth.

Find a good ob/gyn and you might need an ultra sound done and other testing...

Don't just read up on these things it could be ovarian cysts, by reading up on so much you could scare yourself silly with worry, go and seek out help with a good ob/gyn doctor. Let the doctor try to figure out what the cause is. and I hope your going to a good primary (pcp).
Posted 6/2/2014 10:42 PM (GMT 0)
I agree with Char....

I'd get current visits/exams/diagnostics with my dentist, my PCP, as well as my GYN. Get everyone on board, start making appointments now since they tend to book out quickly, and get professionals to address your concerns.

I also concur,....we often remind each other to stay away from google. Oftentimes it can just add anxiety and worry as we start matching up random symptoms... Let the docs worry about this one!







M.
Posted 6/3/2014 7:28 PM (GMT 0)
There are tests (ultrasounds) they can do to see if there is any endometriosis visable. I have endometriosis and in my case, the ultrasounds only showed cysts on my ovaries. The dr's did not know I had endo until they went in to remove the cysts from my ovaries. My ovaries ended up being covered in cysts and endo. I had to have both ovaries after having my uterus and cervix removed 10 years earlier due to prolapse. Now, 3 years after having no female organ, the endo continues to grow in my pelvic tissue. The dr said that the endo can grow under the tissue for a long while before it is visable so even though they cannot see it all the time, I know the pain endo can cause do I know when it is growing back.

I personally did not experience any problems with my teeth or gum pain. It is definitely worth getting some updated tests and trying to figure out what is causing you so much pain. It was a long road for me to get the endo diagnosis because it is not common for endo to continue to grow after hysterectomy. Don't get discouraged and just keep pushing through for some answers!
Posted 6/4/2014 1:32 PM (GMT 0)
Raidergirl, what was your PMS like? I too think I might have endo/cysts based on cramps that have gotten excessively worse over the last four years (I'm 35 and my mother had both).
Posted 6/4/2014 1:56 PM (GMT 0)
Jayne75, have you tried taking motrin or another NSAID when you get your period? These meds are really helpful in reducing cramps. The cramps are probably due to prostaglandins released in the pelvis when your period starts. Prostaglandins are really irritating to the organs in your pelvis, especially your bowel, and the cramps are the result of this irritation. Motrin and other NSAIDs act against prostaglandins.

I have gum swelling with my hormonal cycles too, and it is annoying. I floss and brush carefully during this time to keep my gums and teeth extra clean. You might try gargling with salt water too.

Are you drinking a lot of caffeinated drinks every day? Caffeine is strongly linked to increased problems with PMS. Try reducing or eliminating caffeine for an entire menstrual cycle and see how you feel.

If you do have endometriosis, the only way I know to really diagnose it is to have a laparoscopy so the OB/Gyn can look at your pelvis. If endo is found, the DR can clean it up during the procedure and then you can discuss ways to keep the endo from returning. These include birth control pills and pregnancy (!!).
Posted 6/4/2014 5:21 PM (GMT 0)
I spoke with my dentist yesterday and she said she doesn't know the correlation between the two but she has heard of women experiencing teeth pain during their cycle. I was hoping she would know more about it being a woman herself but I guess not. As for relief, I've literally tried everything including motrin, as kazbern suggests, but nothing works. I will say that before I started taking vitamins, my cramps were a lot worse (a 10 on the pain scale) to the point where I had to leave work just to go home and take a long hot bath until they subsided but the thing about it is I would only cramp on the first day and have no other symptoms. Now when I am on my period, I get headaches, teeth pain, and diarrhea, along with the cramps which have reduced to about a 7 or 8 on the pain scale. Although the cramps are not as severe, they are still bad and along with the other body aches, it leaves me with a rough experience overall. I'm worried it could be an underlying condition that is causing all of these problems because it only happens once a month.
Posted 6/4/2014 5:37 PM (GMT 0)
A friend of mine had severe menstrual cramps & her ob/gyn prescribed a medication called Ponstel which worked like a charm for her. Since it has been quite some time since you have been checked by an gyno this would probably be something to consider doing in the near future. If you have read much an endo it can be debilitating for some women.
Posted 6/5/2014 12:45 AM (GMT 0)
Jayne,

It has been a long time since I have had a period or PMS but I do remember when I did get my period, I was extremely bloated and cramps were terrible. I would ask for a laproscopy like others have mentioned. It is the best option where they can go in see if there are any problems in there. If it is endo, you want to catch it as soon as possible because it grows and can spread all throughout your pelvic area and can be very painful. Have you talked to your gyne about exploring these issues?
Posted 6/5/2014 4:09 AM (GMT 0)
Could be that something you use to comfort yourself during your period is contributing to the tooth/gum pain -- for example, if you tend to eat more sugary foods/drinks, more hot or cold foods (tea, soda, ice cream, soup), etc. Sometimes it can be a combination of things like hot tea with sugar & lemon, so it may require keeping a food/drink log to narrow it down if it is food/drink related. In addition, certain medications can cause oral pain/discomfort so if you are taking something to treat the PMS that might be contributing.

One thing that my dentist finally did since my teeth are stripped of a lot of the protective coating due to my medications & the fact that I have suffered a number of bouts of cyclical vomiting due to the horrific pain, was to make special little trays & prescribe "MI Paste". It helps re-harden the enamel that has been softened & honestly, it makes my teeth (and as a result, my gums, too) feel a whole lot better. If you don't have decay that needs to be removed and don't have some gum infection, that could help. In addition, if your gums have receded quite a bit, the roots become exposed & that almost always makes it easier to experience pain.

While you're waiting, sometimes even just the liquid fluoride rinses can help (make sure they do NOT have alcohol in them -- ACT for Kids is my fav). There are also toothpastes with extra amounts of fluoride that your dentist can prescribe that aren't as strong as the MI paste, but might help, too.

Feel better!
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