How to Ease Cramping During Menopause
As the body gets older, the reproductive system starts to go. This is true for both men and women, but women experience a signature transformation known as menopause. This is when your uterus packs up shop and shuts down the baby-factory part of your life. While you’re probably looking forward to a few decades without periods and the accompanying emotional roller-coaster, menopause doesn’t happen all at once.
Perimenopause can take up to four years and the actual menopause process can take another five on top of that. This is a long time for your body to be going through a transition. But it wouldn’t be so bad if not for the cramps. If you are experiencing cramping due to menopause, we are here to help you ease that discomfort and get back to taking your life by the horns.
Why Cramping During Menopause Happens
Cramping due to menopause is most likely to occur in the perimenopause stage. Cramps occur during this time for the same reason they do when you cramp before a period; a change in hormones. Your abdomen responds to certain shifts in your hormone balance by clenching as if you are sloughing your uterine lining – even if that isn’t happening as much for you anymore. Fortunately, both the hormone balance approach and traditional menstrual cramping tricks work to ease the discomfort of perimenopausal cramps.
Balance Your Estrogen Levels
The first and most medical approach to cramping pain is to balance your estrogen. As a woman entering this phase of her life, you may need to shift your diet to estrogen-boosting foods like soy, green tea, and pomegranates.
Some prescription birth controls may also provide just the hormonal push you need to stay comfortably close to the center on your estrogen and progesterone levels.
Take Regular Walks
When you walk, your hips swivel and piston in a way that actually helps to stretch and massage your insides. While you might want nothing more than to curl up on the couch with a warm blanket, take a short walk. Then start taking longer walks. Regular walking can help reduce the current pain and instance severity in the future.
Take a Hot Epsom Salt Bath
Relaxing your muscles forcibly is also an option. Try drawing yourself a hot bath. If your water heater isn’t up to your temperature requirements, boil a large pot of water (or two) on the stove to heat it more. Add some Epsom salt. This aids in water absorption in your cells and in muscle relaxing when you are immersed.
Let the hot water do what it does and ease not just your cramping abdomen, but also all the muscles you’ve been using to brace against the cramps,
Deep Abdomen Breathing Exercises
Another interestingly helpful technique is deep breathing exercises paying special attention to how your abdomen moves and feels. You can do this exercise standing, sitting, or lying on your back. Straighten your back. Place one hand’s palm over your midsection and begin breathing in. Use the breath to push out space and open it up. In your mind,
Sit With a Hot Water Bottle
Boil just enough water for a rubber hot water bottle if you don’t have time for a bath. Sitting with a hot water bottle in your lab is comforting, but it is also comfortable, as the heat can help relax your cramping muscles and the surrounding tissue.
OTC and Prescription Pain Killers
Lastly, it’s OK to try both over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription pain or muscle relaxers. Your doctor might also prescribe hormone treatment or hormone replacement therapy to reduce the risk of perimenopause cramping.
For help managing your symptoms caused by changing hormones and menopause, contact the team at CleopatraRX for a consultation. Fill out the form below to get started: