Dealing with bad cramps?

Nicole Baker · 2003-03-23T21:24:13+00:00

So, here I am again, hunched over my computer and twisting around trying to find some relief from this pain... this damn menstrual cycle is relentless... 😢 The…

Sophia Martinez65 Member

45 messages
joined Jan 2006

#161 · Jan 21, 2006

Just one simple piece of advice—and honestly, I had to figure this out the hard way during my third year of med school while sitting through pharmacology lectures. It was incredibly frustrating, dealing with years of agonizing pain without knowing better.
You need to take an NSAID *before* the pain actually hits its stride. Seriously, even taking one the night before or at the very first hint of discomfort makes a difference. Personally, I stick to 400mg of ibuprofen—one pill every four hours. Some days I need two, maybe three, but on day one, I can actually function like a normal human being.
Before I learned this? It was brutal. A lot of time has passed since then, so the intensity of the pain is a bit blurry now, but I know it was hell. My mistake was trying to be "healthy" and minimize medication—I’d wait until the pain was unbearable before taking anything. By then, the prostaglandins were already synthesized, so the meds wouldn't even touch it. Then the nausea would kick in, I couldn't keep anything down, and everything just went south.
Doesn't matter which one you use—ibuprofen, Aleve, Voltaren, Advil, Motrin... whatever works for you. The only thing that matters is timing. Good luck—I really hope you guys get through this.

Christian Sanchez44 Active Member

67 messages
joined Jul 2005

#162 · Jan 21, 2006

Sophia Martinez65 said:It doesn't really matter what you take—ibuprofen, Advil, Aleve, Motrin, Tylenol—the key is just starting early enough. Good luck, I really hope you can get through this!

True, but is there actually a way to deal with this without leaning on painkillers? I mean, they’re incredibly harsh on the system if you use them long-term, right? I've already realized that pills are the easiest fix, but... is there an alternative? Or, to put it more bluntly: should I be genuinely concerned about swallowing this much medication twelve times a year, multiplied by however many years I have left until menopause? 😁

Thanks, redgardener17, but honestly, I wouldn't wish this on my worst enemy. 😬

mistybison Regular

495 messages
joined Aug 2008

#163 · Jan 21, 2006

Sophia Martinez65 said:It is best to take a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug BEFORE the pain actually sets in. In fact, taking one the night before or at the very first sign of discomfort is quite effective.

I tried that approach, but it didn't work for me.

The specific brand doesn't matter—whether it's Advil, Aleve, Tylenol, or Motrin—the key is simply starting early enough.

That timing is absolutely critical. You really shouldn't let the pain reach its full strength.

Sophia Martinez65 Member

45 messages
joined Jan 2006

#164 · Jan 21, 2006

Christian Sanchez44 said:Yeah, but is there any way to deal with this without popping painkillers? They’re really bad for you long-term, right? I’ve figured out the pill is the best fix for now, but... is there anything else? Or, let me rephrase: should I be worried about taking this much medication twelve times a year multiplied by however many years I have left until menopause?😁

NSAIDs aren't actually that harmful—especially not at these tiny doses. People with rheumatoid arthritis take way more than this for years on end and they handle it just fine. Look, if you're taking ibuprofen, the max daily dose is 3200mg—and that's every single day. If you take three pills in one day, that's only 1200mg total. You're nowhere near the limit. It’s not nearly as scary as people make it out to be. Honestly, before I started my degree, I used to freak out about meds too—but that was just because I didn't know any better.
Once you have kids, those pains usually taper off (or so I've heard, anyway), so you'll probably just have to stick with the meds until menopause hits.

mistybison Regular

495 messages
joined Aug 2008

#165 · Jan 21, 2006

Christian Sanchez44 said:They can be quite harmful in the long run, right?

My doctors have always maintained that taking a few caffeine pills or Advil a month isn't a major concern. In fact, they suggest that enduring physical pain is actually much more taxing on the body than simply taking a couple of these analgesics.

Megan Reed Active Member

170 messages
joined Sep 2005

#166 · Jan 22, 2006

Sophia Martinez65 said:You really ought to take an NSAID BEFORE the pain actually kicks in; honestly, grabbing one the night before or at the very first hint of discomfort is the way to go. I personally stick to 400mg of ibuprofen, taking one pill every four hours.

I do the exact same thing—hit it at the slightest sign of trouble. I’ve got a hell of a storm brewing and I'll be heading straight for the ibuprofen or Advil soon just to stay ahead of it. That usually does the trick. 👍

Steven Grant8 Newcomer

2 messages
joined Jan 2006

#167 · Jan 22, 2006

Christian Sanchez44 said:I’m losing my mind.
I’ve dealt with awful menstrual cramps—nauseating, terrible, unbearable... for years now.
I’ve tried everything, and honestly, the only thing keeping me from throwing up in the bathroom sink is taking Ketonal or Advil, which isn't exactly a great long-term plan.

Anyone else? Has anyone dealt with this? How did you (not) handle it?

😢

I’d probably suggest herbal teas instead of pills. They might be convenient, but hormones are such a huge deal for women. Take care of your health and your body for the future; you’ll need it later. Just try to relax—it’s mostly mental.🙂
Once you have kids, I don't know if you've experienced it yet, but it just kind of disappears on its own. Best,

John Hill Member

24 messages
joined Jul 2006

#168 · Jan 23, 2006

Look, I’m one of those miserable people who deals with intense pain on the first day—sometimes even vomiting—until everything finally starts flowing properly. It’s not like I have heavy bleeding or anything, just that initial struggle. Luckily, any standard painkiller does the trick, though Advil is my absolute go-to. Before that, I used to rely on things like Buscopan or Excedrin. There’s actually this one little trick I use to try and head off the cramps before they get bad. As soon as I realize it’s starting, I have a little bit of alcohol. Some people swear by sipping brandy, but I can’t stand the stuff, so I’ll just have a beer or maybe a liqueur. It seems to get things moving faster, so I’ve managed to dodge the worst of the pain quite a few times.

silvermason16 Member

37 messages
joined Aug 2004

#169 · Jan 23, 2006

John Hill said:.............................There is one way I reduce the chance of pain. As soon as I feel it coming on, I have a little alcohol (some say brandy is best, but since I can't stand hard liquor, I'll go with beer or some liqueur). It gets things moving faster, so I've managed to stave off the pain quite a few times.

I'll give that a shot next time 😁 I'll grab myself a 'beercan' and just wait 🙂
gotta try everything 👍

Keith Doyle18 Member

11 messages
joined Aug 2006

#170 · Jan 23, 2006

Gary Jones said:I was literally retching. And don't even get me started on the time a cramp hit so hard I actually tore the bedsheet right under me with my bare hands.

With the kind of cramps I deal with—it’s not every day, but maybe two or three times a year—my mother looked at me once and said that’s exactly how she felt during childbirth.

To put it bluntly: we're talking about 20 seconds that feel like an absolute eternity—the kind of pain that makes you want to leap off a ten-story building just to make it stop. Then, you get 30 seconds of peace. It can go on like that for up to three hours. Over time, though, the ratio shifts—the painful bursts get shorter and the calm periods get longer. After half a state, the cramps come every two minutes, then every ten, until they finally vanish into thin air.

Thank heavens someone finally described this exactly the way I experience it. Honestly, I’m just relieved to be nine weeks pregnant right now—at least I won't have to deal with my period for a while. Otherwise, the last 16 or 17 years have been a total gauntlet of pain-induced disasters: collapsing onto the floor of a crowded city bus, passing out in the middle of a busy line at a bank, dropping in front of my colleagues at the office, or having a total meltdown in a restaurant where the owner had to rush me to the ER in a panic... you name it. But the absolute worst? Collapsing right inside the hospital while I was visiting my late father. They couldn't even help me because there wasn't a doctor on the floor, so the nurses just left me lying there on that cold, plasticized hospital bed to "die" for hours. The only brief window of relief I ever had was when I was on birth control.

silvermason16 Member

37 messages
joined Aug 2004

#171 · Jan 24, 2006

There isn't really a magic fix for this—not that I know if "fix" is even the right word.
There are so many of us out there. Nausea🙂, intense pain, passing out, things like that.
I’ve dealt with agonizing periods for nearly two decades now.🙄
For one stretch, I had to take a Baralgin injection every single month for twelve months straight.
(Luckily, my mom works in healthcare, so she could just give them to me at home instead of me having to head to the ER.)
I've cycled through Ibuprofen, Baralgin, Nalgesin, Cafetin... you name it.
The pain wasn't limited to when I was on birth control, either, though I do get the occasional "lucky month" where I can make it through without pills.
Personally, I think regular physical activity—which, unfortunately, isn't my strong suit—and relaxation exercises might help. R e g u l a r l y, of course.

Frank Cooper3 Member

36 messages
joined Dec 2005

#172 · Jan 24, 2006

Quit smoking, stay away from booze, and cut out white flour and refined sugar—basically, ditch the heavy carbs. Stick to a vegetarian diet, maybe have some meat once or twice a week at most. Stop the daily coffee and tea habit, too. Just move more and get some actual exercise in your life...
It’ll help you out quite a bit if you actually stick to it. It's much healthier. If all that sounds too complicated for you, then there's no saving you—you'll just be stuck popping pills or switching to birth control. I wouldn't recommend the latter if you're only dealing with period cramps; it makes zero sense to poison your whole system with hormones just for those two days when you're on your cycle, rather than just managing the pain.

Keith Doyle18 Member

11 messages
joined Aug 2006

#173 · Jan 24, 2006

silvermason16 said:I think some regular, consistent physical activity might help.

Personally, I don't think there's much of a connection there—at least not in my case. I’ve been incredibly active for years, and I mean *really* active—sometimes hitting up to seven hours of intense exercise a day—and even then, it didn't do a single thing to stop those monthly aches and pains. It just wasn't my saving grace.

mistybison Regular

495 messages
joined Aug 2008

#174 · Jan 24, 2006

John Hill said:There is a method I use to lessen the chance of pain. As soon as I sense it coming, I have a small amount of alcohol. Some suggest brandy is best, but since I can't stand hard spirits, I opt for beer or a liqueur instead. It helps things flow more quickly, and I have successfully managed to prevent the pain several times this way.

I might try that next time. Perhaps something warm, like mulled wine? My concern is if it fails and I still need painkillers later; I wouldn't want to mix alcohol with medication.🤔

mistybison Regular

495 messages
joined Aug 2008

#175 · Jan 24, 2006

Keith Doyle18 said:I don't think there's any connection to physical activity. I’ve been an extremely active athlete for years—sometimes training up to seven hours a day—and even that didn't prevent my regular monthly cramps and discomfort.

It's the same for me; exercise doesn't make a difference, as I still deal with pain even when I'm active. Staying warm helps too, which is something I always prioritize. I don't smoke and rarely drink alcohol, perhaps just a glass of wine socially... and yet, nothing changes.

Megan Reed Active Member

170 messages
joined Sep 2005

#176 · Jan 24, 2006

Nymph said:Maybe something warm, like mulled wine?

I heard people talking about alcohol, but it needs to be something "quick."😬 Like a shot of bourbon, just like John Hill suggested.

Walter Myers4 Regular

355 messages
joined May 2004

#177 · Jan 24, 2006

honestly, it helps me out when I'm watching porn😉

silvermason16 Member

37 messages
joined Aug 2004

#178 · Jan 25, 2006

Keith Doyle18 said:I don't think this has anything to do with pain. I’ve been incredibly active in sports for years—sometimes up to seven hours of physical activity a day—and even that didn't save me from my regular monthly cramps and pains.

I actually felt like it helped me.😉
By that, I meant regular, non-professional exercise.
Seven hours a day 😲 (maybe a lighter approach suits you better; the Italians call it
'ginnastica dolce'—you know, something easygoing rather than 'killing yourself').

Sophia Evans76 Member

43 messages
joined Dec 2003

#179 · Jan 25, 2006

I honestly don't get why everyone is freaking out so much about the pill... I've been on them for 10 years now—with a few breaks here and there—but it doesn't really matter if I was in a relationship or not, I took them regardless. Back then, the only way I could actually handle the pain was by basically getting high on Ibuprofen... which, yeah, meant I was completely useless at everything else. I’d spend the entire day just glued to my bed, totally incapacitated.
I mean, let's be real: I don't think the pills can do any more damage than those painkillers ever did...

Walter Myers4 Regular

355 messages
joined May 2004

#180 · Jan 25, 2006

Sophia Evans76 said:I honestly don't get why everyone is so terrified of the pill... I've been on them for 10 years now, with a few breaks here and there. And look, it doesn't matter if I was in a relationship or not, I took them anyway... the only way I could actually handle the pain was by basically overdosing on Ibuprofen... but then I was useless at everything... just drugged up, spending the entire day stuck in bed.
I mean, the pill can't possibly be worse than living on painkillers...

Technically, they shouldn't be. But on a few threads here, girls have posted about getting cysts while on birth control, which ended up landing them in surgery...

Dealing with bad cramps?

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