A problematic period should never be deemed “normal”, it is in fact a quality-of-life issue that deserves attention and solutions. At PRM, we know that pain is not normal and your pain should never be normalized.
While every woman’s menstrual cycle is different, some women may experience painful periods which include severe cramping in the belly, back and/or abdominal pain, diarrhea or constipation, and pain that spreads down the legs. Period pain should not keep you from sleeping well, functioning your best at work, going to school, playing sports, or attending social events.
While it’s normal to experience some degree of discomfort during menstruation, painful periods and heavy menstrual bleeding are often the result of underlying conditions that should be diagnosed and treated by a pelvic pain specialist. It’s important for women to be aware of the symptoms they experience during their menstrual cycles.
Heavy bleeding and painful periods do not always go hand in hand, but it is common that a heavy flow is also painful. While some uterine cramping, bloating, or other discomforts may be considered normal, there are also guidelines one should follow to determine if the pain associated with their menstrual cycle requires the attention of a healthcare provider.
Pain that is unrelieved by medication like Advil or Ibuprofen
Pain that causes you to be absent from school, work, or social activities
Pain that leads to nausea or vomiting, chills, and shakes
Pain or discomfort that inhibits your sleep
Bleeding that is heavy enough to saturate more than 1 pad in 1-2 hours
Leaking through a heavy flow/ultra-tampon
Sleeping with extra padding/towels to protect your bedding from leaking; or using the same for the seats in your car during commutes
Passing blood clots
Feeling fatigued or weak during your heavy flow days
Once a proper diagnosis has been given, we offer a proprietary office-based procedure to treat your period pain. This treatment consists of a series of pelvic nerve and muscle treatments to directly target the spastic pelvic floor muscles, inflammation in the pelvis, and nerve pain. Depending on the symptoms or condition causing your pain, other modalities may be needed in addition to our treatment. We will work closely with a gynecologist if needed for a comprehensive approach to your period pain.
Experiencing painful periods can be difficult, but our team of pelvic pain specialists will listen to you, validate your experiences and symptoms, and partner with you on your rehabilitation journey.
Here are some guidelines to follow that will help you know when to report heavy bleeding or painful periods to your healthcare provider:
Bleeding that is heavy enough to saturate more than 1 pad in 1-2 hours
Leaking through a heavy flow/ultra-tampon
Sleeping with extra padding/towels to protect your bedding from leaking; or using the same for the seats in your car during commutes
Passing blood clots
Feeling fatigued or weak during your heavy flow days
Unfortunately, the symptoms that accompany periods are often misunderstood and can be misdiagnosed as “normal” period pain. This lack of awareness can delay the diagnosis and treatment of any underlying conditions you may have, which could potentially become more severe.
When monthly menstrual cycles are heavy and painful, the muscles and nerves of the pelvis are also impacted and can become tense and inflamed. This often leads to pelvic pain becoming chronic or constant, even when it’s not time for a period.
First, our providers will ask questions about your medical history and listen to your symptoms to get a full picture of what is going on with you.
Next, an external exam of your hips, abdomen, and posterior sacrum.
Next, your pelvic nerves are evaluated externally with a soft cotton tip.
Next, with your consent, gel is placed on a gloved finger and an internal exam is performed to allow us to evaluate the nerves and muscles within the pelvis.
There is no speculum required as we are evaluating the pelvic floor muscles and nerves, not the organs.
Sometimes patients will need Imaging to help us understand if there is an associated cause of the pelvic nerve and muscle pain and dysfunction found on the exam.
Oftentimes, treatment can be started the same day as there is no downtime. Our patients have been suffering with pelvic pain symptoms for 6+ months. We like to get them on the road to feeling better as soon as we can as the longer the symptoms are present the harder it is for us to resolve them.
Our pelvic pain specialists are experts in recognizing the symptoms of and diagnosing pelvic pain conditions. With The PRM Protocol, we go further than addressing the symptoms on the surface – we treat the underlying causes of pelvic pain.
