Riding with the pain

[missymaya]

Hey y'all,
So, I really don't have many pain issues and if I do have pain, I just either deal or not ride. Well, its that special time of the month and I'm feeling the lower abdominal cramping that comes along with it. I don't take pain pills (I just don't like taking meds for it unless it gets really really painful and unbearable) but it bothers me when I ride. How do y'all deal with it? Is there something to help sooth the cramping before riding either than meds?

[maillotpois]

I just ride.

[Zen]

It's been my experience that exercise lessens the severity of cramping. Ride on.

[KnottedYet]

Yup, just get riding and it will ease.

[Wahine]

I agree with everyone above. I also do some yoga poses, twists are nice and cobblers pose:

http://www.yogajournal.com/poses/486_1.cfm

There are also very effective acupuncture points that you can massage or have someone else massage like Spleen 6 and UB 23:

In this diagram they mislabled SP6 as SP 5. But its a good diagram for finding the point.

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgu...%3D1%26hl%3Den

SP 6 is best used by massaging it daily for the entire week prior to getting your period and daily while you're having your period.

This is UB 23. You have to scroll through to find it.

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgu...%3Den%26sa%3DG

Hope that helps.

[bike4ever]

I agree exercise helps. If necessary, I take Chamomile tablets. These are relaxing to my digestive system and ease the cramps.