For some women the menstrual cycle can also be a very painful time – both physically and emotionally.  When a woman feels physical pain and cramping during her menstrual cycle, dysmenorrhea is generally the diagnosis.  When a woman feels a combination of physical and emotional symptoms prior to the onset of menses, then she has pre-menstrual syndrome (PMS) is commonly the diagnosis. Approximately  90% of women cope with some form of dysmenorrhea, and another 75% – 85% of women experience various degrees of PMS during their lifetime. Common symptoms are moderate to severe lower abdominal cramping coupled with lower back pain either before or during menstruation. 

Fortunately women who have had to cope with PMS, bladder pain, bowel cramps; sexual dysfunctions, including infertility, have learned of the natural benefits of chiropractic and craniosacral therapy.  The spine protects the nerve system that controls the reproductive system and endocrine system (hormones), which is vital for optimal function. If there is nerve interference or what is called a “subluxation”  affecting the relationship between the spine and nerve system, this can impact on the function of the organs. Through various treatments Chiropractors and Craniosacral Therapists remove the nerve interference which in-turn restores the optimal function to a woman’s reproductive system. 

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) affects women most noticeably in their late 20’s to early 40’s, and 10-20% of women report severe or even disabling pain characterized by sharp pain along with headaches, nausea, lower back pain and digestive complications. PMS is thought to be a side effect from hormonal changes that occur right before and during the monthly menstrual cycle and can be made worse by stress, decreased serotonin levels in the brain, and subluxations (vertebra out of place that is pinching a nerve) in the lower back. Hence a widely-used technique in treating menstrual cramps by trained chiropractors is craniosacral therapy. 

This is the preferred technique for rendering care because it also treats and improves rhythm restrictions (fluid flow through the body) which usually also interferes with your nervous system. Also spinal misalignment and the interference it produces causes a massive reduction in your immune system. By performing hands-on therapy on the body, a trained chiropractor can generally reduce the intensity of pain you are experiencing as a result of potential vertebral sublaxtions. The treatments are most effective given either the day before and the 1st day of menstruation, OR day 1 and day 2 of menstruation and include a gentle, painless spine adjustment coupled with some additional treatments to the tailbone and or lower back.  

Well timed scheduling as mentioned earlier with about 3 to 6 consistent months of treatment has helped many women reduce and in some cases eliminate the intensity of the painful symptoms experienced. This treatment is natural, involves no medications, and thus provides the most natural remedy for painful menstrual cycles.  

It’s important to note the lower back is the outlet for the nerves that control the lower abdomen tissue, such as the uterus. A subluxation can cause interference in the functioning of a nerve, causing a misinterpretation of signals which in turn causes abnormal functioning of certain body parts (and pain). Several studies have shown that chiropractic care can help decrease and lighten many of the symptoms of PMS without harmful and annoying side effects of some prescription drugs.

A research study,  Wittler NA. Chiropractic: The Journal of Chiropractic Research and Clinical Investigation. 1992; (8): 22-29 determined “Within the limitations of the study, the results support the hypothesis that the symptoms associated with PMS can generally be reduced by chiropractic treatment consisting of adjustments and soft-tissue therapy”, such as craniosacral therapy.

Studies done on chiropractic and PMS have been conducted and have found that women diagnosed with PMS have a higher incidence of spinal subluxations as compared with non-PMS women. Also,  this study on 11 women with histories of PMS that had occurred for more than 4 months, giving care through 4 menstrual cycles and averaging 5-7 adjustments per month. The subjects of the study were given questionnaires at the beginning and end of care asking them to evaluate changes in irritability and mood swings, tension, ineffectiveness, lack of motor coordination, mental/cognitive functioning, eating habits, variations in sexual drive and activity, overall physical symptoms, and social impairment. They reported improvement in all ten categories, with the biggest improvement in sexual drive (70.7%), social impairment (64.5%), and mood swings (60.8%). Average improvement in all ten categories was 44.2%. Chiropractic helps the body to heal itself and to regulate itself better.

In closing, as hormones are thrown out of balance, the role of “Stress” in contributing to the pains of Dysmenorrhea and pre-menstrual syndrome (PMS) should not be underestimated.  Stress is the body’s response to everyday life. It is the end result when someone reacts to a situation. The body increases stamina, and heightens alertness, strength, and focus. While this sounds good for a short period of time, constant “heightened” senses can really wear out the body. If you don’t take time to relax (or de-stress), and let these “heightened’ senses actually relax and return to normal levels, you may be running out of juice early in the day, and that’s not good because that can cause more stress creating a vicious cycle.  These days we’re bombarded with information from the internet, news, and being constantly in touch with everyone. Our nervous systems are struggling to recover and stay calm and this is where craniosacral therapy comes in, by helping you get back to parasympathetic mode. A viable solution to de-stressing is a technique called the “Somato Emotional Release”. It is a light hands-on therapeutic touch where the practitioner will locate pressure points and locations in the body where the person may have energy blockages. By utilizing craniosacral therapy in the areas where muscles are tense, stress hormones are released and a patient will experience much relief in their stress related symptoms.   Every woman is different. Reach me if you would like to have a more personalized conversation on your treatment possibilities.  

About Dr. Kaminsky & Craniosacral Therapy

Having a Chiropractic background since the year 2000, Dr. Kaminsky offers many methods of treatment with an emphasis on Craniosacral Therapy in NYC.

Craniosacral Therapy (CST) is a method focusing on the link between the cranium (head) and sacrum (the second to last bone at the base of your spine), scientifically proven to work in unison to pump fluid throughout the body, an unknown disruption of which can cause many health issues.  The craniosacral mechanism pumps vital fluid called cerebro-spinal fluid (CSF) through the body and in a sense energetically lubricates the joints, tissues, organs; basically all cells of the body. It is the driving force of all your body’s systems of function; including maintaining the tone of your muscles.

The Central Nervous System (brain and spinal cord) are surrounded with CSF generating energetic rhythmic impulses of fluid delicately pumping throughout your body’s parts “breathing” the movement of life. This measurable rhythm of moving fluid, like the heart rhythm, pulse rhythm, breathing rhythm is the foundational “blueprint” and primary principle of our real-time state of our health. 

Compromises of our rhythmic movements of fluid flow correlates to the impulse restrictions in the system which the body is unable to overcome or self-correct. This is the reason why we have “dis-ease”, symptoms, conditions, basically all ailments.  This is where the skill of an experienced craniosacral therapist becomes valuable.  By placing his or her hands on your body the practitioner can feel, detect, evaluate, and facilitate correction of these restrictive arrhythmic impulses.

The craniosacral therapist helps your rhythm restore and renew in compromised areas allowing for healing to take place of sensory, motor, musculoskeletal, neurological disorders, symptoms, conditions and pain.  To learn more, visit the other pages on this website. Call to schedule your healing treatment with Dr. Kaminsky.