No More Hushed Conversations: It's Time to Talk About Women's Pain

Research shows that women are significantly more likely to experience chronic pain than men.  Our bodies naturally produce a more intense response to pain stimuli for reasons including hormonal fluctuations (estrogen impacts pain receptor activity) and nerve density (woman have greater nerve density than men) yet much of the research done into pain and pain relief has been conducted in male subjects. 

The good news is that services like acupuncture, yoga, massage therapy and even nutrition counseling can help you control and even heal pain. 

Below are some of the most common causes of pain in women that we treat at Pulling Down the Moon: 

Pelvic Pain and Cramping:  Women learn early that pain and cramping are a regular part of the menstrual cycle.  Yet cramping ranges from mildly uncomfortable to excrutiating and debilitating.  Conditions like endometriosis, scarring from pelvic injury or trauma can lead to pain levels that make daily life a challenge.  Pain during intercourse is another common condition that not only causes physical pain, it can cause emotional and relationship strain and shame, too. 

Migraines/Headaches:  Women experience migraine headaches at a rate 3 times higher than men and are more likely to report longer-lasting headaches, more pain and symptoms like nausea and vomiting.  Migraines can be a result of hormonal shifts, musclo-skelatal conditions and social-emotional challenges like stress and anxiety. 

Abdominal Pain:  Like migraines, conditions like Irritable Bowel Syndrome that can cause severe abdominal pain are more common in women.  Treating this complex condition can require dietary therapy, to limit flare ups, as well as strategies for pain relief. 

Orthopedic Pain and Fibromyalgia:  Low back pain, hip pain, stiff and painful necks - women are susceptible to all the aches and pains that come with a screen-focused, desk-chair-bound habits.  In addition to these lifestyle-related orthopedic issues, fibromyalgia syndrome, which is characterized by widespread pain and tenderness on palpation (tender points), is much more common in women than in men in a proportion of 9:1.   Women are also more likely to experience orthopedic conditions like scoliosis and bone loss that make the more susceptible to orthopedic pain. 

Pregnancy Aches and Pains:  Pregnancy is amazing but there are a lot of potential aches and pains that come along with the job of “cooking” a tiny human in your body for for 9 months. Perhaps most challenging is that many pain relief medications are not appropriate for use during pregnancy, so women are often left to tough it out - at the expense of their sleep, emotional health and well-being.  While prenatal yoga and massage are well-known, few women realize that  acupuncture is a very safe and effective tool for managing pain and other discomforts during pregnancy. 

If you're experiencing pain, don't assume you're doomed to grin and bear it.  We can help!  Schedule a Start Here consult to learn more about how we can support you!  Join our complimentary webinar on Tuesday, March 7th at 7pm to learn more!