I am a 45-year-old female and pre-menopause. My sciatica is caused by a herniated disc. The pain gets a LOT worse when I have my period. My nurse practitioner wants to put me on the birth control pill for a 3 month trial to see if there is a hormonal connection (to the pain). Has anyone here experienced higher pain when they have their period, and if so, have they tried the pill to make it less painful?

Thanks, luv ~*ShErrIE*~

sherri,
welcome to the boards!
I am also a lumbie http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif and oh boy can I relate to the pain during my period!
some months it is killer I am 41 so in your age group, hot baths are the only thing that helps a bit, for a little while.
I have not tried the pill as I am a smoker and cant go on it. maybe someone else will be able to answer your question.
Welcome again to the board, there are alot of very informative, friendly folks here. so kick off your shoes and enjoy!

look forward to getting to know you.
bee

hope for pain free moments

Hello Sherrie,
Welcome!
I have herniated discs and tears in my lumbar and YES I have WORSE pain at that time!
I am on the pill and I'm pretty sure it does nothing!
Hope you feel better!

Christina http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/clown.gif

Hi Sherrie.
Wow! yes i can relate especially a couple a days before, It feels like my back will give way..

Welcome aboard bean..

Love pebbles xx http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/wave.gif

I also had a herniated disk lumbar area, but before finding this out, I started getting excruciating back pain along with the stomache cramps , at the same time as my period. This all went away after I had surgery for the herniation. It is doubtfull that this hormonal and seems to be a problem with women with lumbar herniations.

The post before this is from Kamden, me, and i am using by daughters computer, but this will not let me sign in under my own name.

Oh! Yeah Kamden.
I wish mine would have vanished after my fusion..

I find it really painfull..

Love pebbles xxx

Sherrie,
Me TOO!!! http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/frown.gif I've noticed more pain and 'instability' around that time o' month. Unfortunately, I've not found anything that helps. Welcome aboard, glad to have you here. http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/bouncing.gif
Oh~


L4-5 herniation/annulus tear, L3-4 herniation
Post op IDET 7-12-2002

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Positive energy and thoughts to you and yours. OMAB

Sherrie,

Me too! I'm usually out of commission for two days each month. My period pain got much worse after I had a tubal ligation. For me, I think that I am in so much daily pain that I can't handle one more thing. Even a hangnail sends me over the deep end. (I'm exagerating but you get what I mean.) The only thing that helps me is a lot of Motrin (800mg 3x a day ) and my trusty old heating pad. I lay in bed with it and snarl at anyone who comes close! lol

Missy http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

I am a 25 year old with a recent herniation & I noticed this immediately. Pain meds help me somewhat.

Hi all, I just wanted to add that I'm told that my discs are bulging not herniated, yet I have the same problem. Your dr's nuts to blame it on hormones! Why is it when women complain, it's their hormones! PLEASE!

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Hi - I'm 27, and had a slipped disc and slipped vertebrae at L5/S1. Pain got noticeably worse when I was menstrating, and I did go on the pill for that reason... and it did help. Now I am post-fusion, and don't know what's up yet, my body is generally unhappy. But, if you are comfortable with the idea of the pill, I found it better than the pain.

Hi, I have had back pain for 7 years and suffer at period time, I take panadol if it gets bad. I dont generally take pain relief for my back except the odd alchoholic beverage if its bad.

I went to the doctor originally for lower back pain- I had an ovarian cyst- it went undiagnosed until it imploded during an MRI, I was told the pain was in my head and probably related to the change of life...I checked myself into a mental ward if the pain was in my head somebody better get it out-The MRI showed I had a herniated disc C6-C7, I had 3 months of tests on the cyst to get rid of the infection the implosion caused and then surgery on my neck- lower back pain remains- I had a D&C and hormonal treatment I am 44 and have suffered during my period- I am currently being sedated on antidepressants and take vicodin for the pain. I wish I did not have to fill my body with chemicals instead of being diagnosed...