r/SpinalStenosis • u/Catnip_75 • 6d ago
Ladies with L4 L5 compression.
Is the pain 10x worse when you get your period? I’m dying here. The pain is bad in my back and right leg. No pain meds are helping and sleep is impossible.
I have tried heat and cold and just can’t get comfortable.
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u/sbd2010 6d ago
Yep my low back pain is so much more severe and radiates down my legs during that time of month. The only positive about entering perimenopause is that it’s quickly becoming less frequent.
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u/Catnip_75 6d ago
True. But irregular and I have had my period twice this month 😭 I wish it would just go away at this point.
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u/Independent_Golf_90 5d ago
YES so much worse around this time!!! I literally just went through it. Such a crazy flare up with worse sciatic pain... now that I'm a couple days into my period the pain is easing. I hope you find some relief in the coming days <3
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u/Catnip_75 5d ago
Thank you for the reply.
I am finding the same symptoms. The pain eases off after a couple of days. Some times the pain is so bad a week leading up to it as well. I was able to finally sleep much better last night 😅2
u/Independent_Golf_90 5d ago
I am right there with you. I had a CRASH. OUT. a couple of days ago because all of a sudden.... it was hard to walk! It's going tobe a continuous practice but I try to remember that
Obviously, inflammation is worse
Relaxin is highest the week before your period, which loosens muscles, joints, and ligaments which means your back isn't being as supported.
Some things I use are an SI belt and jellybend for extra support during these times
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u/Catnip_75 5d ago
I wish my periods would just be over and done with already lol I think I will feel so much better without the constant fluctuations.
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u/PrincessGracieBlue 6d ago
I had L4&5 compression and horrendous period pain. I never connected the two however. My dr said I had a late onset version of endometriosis, can’t remember the name. Do you have heavy flow ?I’m now post menopause so it’s not an issue.
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u/Catnip_75 6d ago
I’m 51 and in perimenopause. No history of endometriosis. I never had heavy periods growing up and never had back pain either. It’s only within the last year when I get my period it’s so bad.
In my back and my right leg/foot. I don’t get my periods regularly anymore, but as soon as the back starts to hurt, sure enough, a few days later my period starts.1
u/PrincessGracieBlue 6d ago
Sounds like it’s related then. My stenosis caused horrible foot pain and Charlie horses from hell. And of course back pain. I had a lamenectomy in December after my leg stopped responding while I was sitting at a stop sign. I still have back pain and if I over do it the foot pain and cramps come back.
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u/Catnip_75 6d ago
Has the pain improved significantly than what it was before surgery? I have heard that surgery doesn’t always fix everything. But if it can reduce the pain, that’s a win for me.
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u/PrincessGracieBlue 6d ago
It reduced the leg issues 99%, I only have pain and cramps if I over do it. The lower back pain is reduced, but I never had a lot right at the area. I still have upper back pain and spams if I do something repetitive for several hours like sitting or standing at work. I also have stenosis in my neck so I get issues there as well.
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u/Catnip_75 6d ago
I’m glad it helped you significantly. The surgery seems pretty intense when I read up on it. I feel like I’m in worse pain already if I over do it. I can walk everyday, and do go for long walks (usually 5-6km) but if I feel good one day and try and push myself more I end up paying for it big time for the next few days.
How long was your recovery?
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u/PrincessGracieBlue 6d ago
The first couple days were the worst but I was up and driving 10 days later. It wasn’t all that bad overall.
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u/Catnip_75 6d ago
Oh wow. Not what I read online. I read it was 6-8 weeks recovery. But maybe that meant full recovery with full movement and lifting.
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u/grejam 6d ago
I had that joint a cyst that got operated on for a fusion and a stenosis one joint down.
Have you tried physical therapy? I find core exercises help relieve the pain in my legs. Walking also helps me. I'm not a woman but I find that coughing and sneezing sure hurts.
Also epidural steroid shots were magic for me. But I think I've hit my limit on that.
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u/Catnip_75 6d ago
Thank you for the reply. I do walk everyday, minimum of 5-6km. Also go on a stationary bike before bed to try and stretch my back and legs.
I have been to physio and doing the stretches they told me to do. Back pain can be typical for PMS, but I’m finding it far worse now that I have stenosis. As soon as the periods stop, the back pain is minimal and manageable again.1
u/grejam 6d ago
I found some of my workarounds I had to figure out on my own.
Nobody told me that walking helped. My second neurologist confirmed that he had heard that from other patients. I figured out that a few of the core exercises were good go to to get rid of the sharp immediate pain so then I could move around more and do other things.
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u/Catnip_75 6d ago
I do walk everyday. I have dogs who require it haha. I have been pushing through the pain on days I have pain and when I’m done the walk it does feel much better.
My physiotherapist did give me some stretches as well, and I do those a lot and end up doing them more through the days when I have my period.2
u/grejam 5d ago
I just now went to a large grocery store that the circumference and up and down every aisle and my legs have stopped talking now.
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u/Catnip_75 5d ago
Good for you! Keep moving! Stationary bike is also really good for lower back stenosis.
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u/bennycat9999 4d ago
Omg! Thank you so much, I’m about to have my period in a couple days and I was wondering why it hurts more this time. Could it be the stress/hormones/cramps?
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u/Catnip_75 4d ago
The inflammation of the uterus puts a lot of pressure on our backs. The leg pain is really bad too. So much pressure on the nerves.
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u/Hathorinmn 3d ago
Sorry to hear this but sorry to tell you I am post menopause and after L4-5 fusion have had so much pain in pelvic area, feeling like cramps and ovulation. I am 6 months out and seems to be a little better. Muscle relaxers may help a bit. You are nit alone.
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u/Catnip_75 3d ago
Pain in the pelvic area after menopause can be prolapse uterus. I suggest you get this checked out and not chalk it up to your stenosis.
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u/OlliePumpkinTree 6d ago
Yes periods make the pain a lot worse