Why do my legs hurt when I get my period?
Whilst leg pain during your period could be down to a condition such as endometriosis when tissue from your endometrium grows outside the womb, chemicals called prostaglandins which are responsible for regular period pains can also affect the legs, as can dehydration, nutrient deficiencies or underlying hormone imbalances.
Next, I explore the underlying causes of sore legs around the time of your period in more detail, thereby offering some areas to focus on in terms of the management of this symptom.
1. Excess prostaglandins
Prostaglandins are very likely to be ab underlying contributing cause if you experience abdominal pain as a result of period cramps, which can very often crop up around the time that your period is at its heaviest.
Prostaglandins are chemicals that are released from the lining of your womb. These are responsible for causing the lining of your womb to break down which then gives you, what you know as your period.
These prostaglandins work by causing the womb to contract and then restrict, and its this cycle of constriction and dilation that can contribute to pain. Now, these prostaglandins are also quite inflammatory in their nature and this can also give rise to inflammation around the site of the womb; so from there, this pain can spread slightly as well.
Interestingly, for many women who experience diarrhoea around the time that they are also experiencing strong cramps in their womb, then this can also be as a result of prostaglandins travelling through and irritating the large intestine.
Remember, the womb is in very close proximity to the large intestine, but these prostaglandins could also spread a little further afield and women might experience cramps pains in the tops of their thighs and their legs as well.
Interestingly, to help counter this process, there has been research to suggest that certain anti-inflammatory supplements could help. Vitamin D and omega-3, in particular, are amongst these, as they are particularly anti-inflammatory and could actually help with the period pains specifically.
2. Joint pain
It can also help to try and determine the type of pain you might be experiencing, as well as where on your body this is.
Women might also experience joint pain around the time of their period, perhaps around their hips, again considering our hips are again, in quite close proximity to our womb.
However, it's also important to consider any other underlying issues, and how these might flare up as a result of the hormonal changes during this time. So, if anyone is suffering already from osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis, for example, then you may notice symptoms relating to these conditions, flaring up at this point in the month.
See, oestrogen is very good for helping to keep our muscles and our joints nicely lubricated. Therefore, as oestrogen levels drop, this can often cause a flare-up in our symptoms; as our joints dehydrate they can easily become more susceptible to discomfort.
This scenario is also very common during menopause as oestrogen levels fluctuate; but then our monthly period is almost like a mini menopause, so this makes sense! We are experiencing a crash in oestrogen levels, which could ultimately exacerbate underlying conditions or underlying weaknesses.
However, this drop off in oestrogen that we get together with our period, is a natural occurrence and is part of a normal monthly cycle. So, what can you do if you find you suffer as a result of this? Firstly, I would say is to prioritise hydration. Hydration is absolutely key and it can help to just offset the drop of of oestrogen slightly, and therefore maintain some of the protective, hydrating functions instead. I'll talk more about oestrogen balance later too.
3. Muscle pain
If you experience monthly pain or discomfort, you might notice it in your joints or your muscles. Interestingly, these prostaglandins that I've already touched on, are directly affecting your muscles in and around the womb. But, as before, these prostaglandins can easily disperse into surrounding areas. Therefore, it might be muscular pain, perhaps in your thighs that you notice.
In this situation, obviously, hydration is very important, but I would prioritise the nutrient magnesium too. So, if you feel that those muscle pains or muscle cramps are the main source of the pain for you, then I would normally recommend something like our Balance Mineral Drink, as it contains a good dose of magnesium.
I usually recommend between 100 and 400mg of magnesium daily. The Balance Mineral Drink has also got other nutrients, such as vitamin D in there, which is also hugely beneficial for our muscles and joints.
Of course, stand-alone magnesium supplements are also available if you'd like to focus on this nutrient, in particular. Forms of magnesium such as gluconate or citrate, are particularly well absorbed and for that reason, those are the forms that I would look out for.
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4. Low oestrogen levels
As I've explained, the drop off in oestrogen that you experience to give you your period is to be expected, but if you are suspecting that you're also experiencing some other low oestrogen symptoms, either throughout the month or in the lead up to menopause, (longer monthly cycles can also be an indicator), then some extra support in this area my be helpful.
Other tell-tale low oestrogen symptoms can often include low mood, or quite dry or problem skin. Or visit my Vlog on hormone imbalance if you'd like to try and identify more.
So, if you're really wanting to support a low oestrogen state, or you feel that drop in oestrogen is just exacerbating your symptoms too much, then I'm just offering some tips here.
Again, hydration is number one, as we've mentioned. Next, your omegas really, really important. So, when we talk about hydration and the drop in oestrogen, the omegas can help to really hydrate us and nourish us from within. Omega-3, as I mentioned, would be one to consider. But if that dryness is an issue, and it can be quite hard to determine in your joints apart from the achiness, but if you get dry skin, dryness down below, any other dryness, your hair, then omega-7 can be particularly nourishing.
And as I say, this state can often be quite relevant in cases of low oestrogen.
Then, for further oestrogen, more general oestrogen support, a source of fermented soy isoflavones can be really helpful to help support that oestrogen balance on a bigger scale, and more generally throughout the month. So, you wouldn't tend to take something like this at the time of your period, this would be a longer course to help really support those underlying hormones.
Remember, soy isoflavones are quite opposite from Agnus castus. So, the Agnus castus would be supporting oestrogen dominant symptoms usually. Again, if you need more help trying to determine if there is an underlying hormonal balance, we have some blogs available with further information.
5. Underlying conditions such as endometriosis
Although not applicable to everyone, there is also always the potential that there could be some underlying conditions contributing to any pain or discomfort you feel, although we would, of course, always need your doctor to help confirm this.
Particularly if your pain is quite severe around the time that you're having your period, or if this pain frequently is radiating to your legs or other areas, there potentially could be something underlying like endometriosis.
Endometriosis occurs when sections of the lining of your womb (the endometrium) fall outside the uterus, and can irritate the surrounding areas, including nerves, which potentially cause any pain or discomfort to radiate in other directions such as down the legs.
As always, we would always just say that if your symptoms are particularly severe, persistent, or if you're getting a wide variety of symptoms that aren't so typical, then we would always say just to double-check with your doctor.
