Period cramps :(

[Jenna.]

As the title suggests...I'm experiencing really painful menstrual cramps in my lower back and stomach areas.
Is there anything I can do besides the typical "take Motrin" deal? I found that getting massaged there helps, which I was making my poor boyfriend do earlier but since he obviously had to go home at some point, I'm suffering again & am not sure what to do.
We don't have any motrin left so are there any more natural things I can do to help it? (Can't exercise...it's dark here. I already thought about that. :/) Thanks!

[AutumnDae]

I've found that a heating pad helps me. I put it under me, lay on my back for a while, then roll over to get the front, being my stomach. I usually do that in the winter...when it's cold out, but hopefully it would work now.

Sit ups, oddly, have worked for me. Which you can do in the dark. :)

[emily_smallfry]

i agree about the heating pad, or a hot water bottle helps and usually i just try to sleep as much as i can

[enjoying_my_insanity]

anything with potassium in it (bananas work well) eat them often they should help cramps...and defiantly a heating pad or a rice sock

[justalovestruckteen]

anything with potassium in it (bananas work well) eat them often they should help cramps...and defiantly a heating pad or a rice sock

Potassium can explode in water!

(yeah I had to add that, but don't worry it only explodes when its plain potassium)

[tommym]

As the title suggests...I\'m experiencing really painful menstrual cramps in my lower back and stomach areas.
Is there anything I can do besides the typical \"take Motrin\" deal? I found that getting massaged there helps, which I was making my poor boyfriend do earlier but since he obviously had to go home at some point, I\'m suffering again & am not sure what to do.
We don\'t have any motrin left so are there any more natural things I can do to help it? (Can\'t exercise...it\'s dark here. I already thought about that. :/) Thanks!

The best over-the-counter pain killer is Naproxen. It\'s the most powerful you can get without a prescription. You can get a generic version of it at just about any pharmacy or grocery store. But be careful, because you can overdose and it\'s been known to cause ulcers and damage the liver.

As others have said, you can put a heating pad on your abdomen or lower back.

You an also give yourself massages, by laying on your back and pushing down against your abdomen, or putting a rubber ball under your back and rolling around bit (like an exercise ball).

If you have REALLY bad cramps, to the point that they make you ill or unable to function, you may want to talk to your doctor about birth control. Many women take it ONLY to control their cramps and regulate their cycle - even teens. But you would only want to go this route if you can\'t control it with pain killers and other remedies - and only after talking with your Gynecologist.

[Jenna.]

Thanks guys, as dorky as this may sound I actually tried just about everything you all suggested and it helped a lot. (: