Suzanne’s Story: 25 Years of Period Pain

"Suzanne" reached out to me because she had heard that I might be able to help with her severe period pain. Since the onset of her monthly cycles 25 years ago, she had experienced intense, debilitating menstrual pain. She experienced radiating pain in her pelvis, into her back, and down her legs.

Over the years, she had developed a medication regimen just to help her get through this monthly ordeal: pre-medicating the day before with Celebrex, followed by taking Ibuprofen and more Celebrex until her menstruation ended. Even with all of these pain relievers, she was still miserable during her bleeds. In addition to this, the quality of her flow was not healthy– dark blood with a lot of large clots. She and her doctors suspected endometriosis, but getting a diagnosis requires surgery, and she had not wanted to go that far.

As I listened to her story, I really felt for Suzanne. I have worked with many clients with terrible period pain, but hers was one of the worst cases I had heard of– and it was so sad to think that this started with her very first period! I could imagine how that would impact not just her life (a week every month), but also her relationship to her body and to being a woman. I knew I could help her, and couldn't wait to get started!

Although Suzanne is a healthcare professional, she had never heard of someone getting physical help with this kind of pain. I explained that a lot of the pain we experience during this part of our cycles comes from structural issues. Pelvic muscle imbalances, adhesions within our organs and surrounding tissues, and tight ligaments can create intense pain when the uterus contracts. A skilled manual therapist (a massage therapist, physical therapist or osteopath) can gently release these issues, and help the body to create a much more harmonious relationship between the tissues.

There are also more chemically (hormonally) based reasons for severe period pain, and a manual therapist can help with these imbalances by working with the client's liver (so it can do a better job with hormone balancing) and with the client's nervous system, to reduce inflammation. In addition to this, we help with lymphatic drainage and other detoxification pathways, making it easier for the body to clear up congestion and improve cellular communication between the organs and the brain, among other benefits.

Learning all of this, Suzanne felt very hopeful, and scheduled a series of weekly appointments– she wanted to feel better as quickly as possible! I love working more intensively with a client at first, because we can create a lot of momentum for healing in the body.

During the first three weeks of work together, I found a lot of structural imbalances in her pelvis and among her pelvic organs. I worked very gently to release tight ligaments, muscles, and tight fascia in this area. Suzanne reported feeling "very open" in her pelvis after the first week, and began noting that she had better abdominal muscle engagement and better postural alignment the next week. Her pelvis was already feeling much lighter.

When her next period arrived, she already noticed a change in the quality of her period– rather than stopping and starting in the middle, it was consistent. The flow was already healthier– clots were much smaller, and less of them. She did not have overwhelming pain and pressure this time, and no pain down her legs. With the reduction in overall pain, she was able to notice that the pain she did have was more clear and specific– it felt like a pulling in her right hip.

This was really exciting for both of us! I saw her once more before her next period, and she reported back that she only took four Tylenol in total during this period (and felt good), vs. pre-medicating and continuing Celebrex and Ibuprofen throughout (yet still feeling very uncomfortable). In fact, she had zero pain on Day 1!

We were both really satisfied with her results (working together for just under 2 months) and started prioritizing some other body issues she could use help with– headaches, jaw pain, sinus congestion, etc. I continued to do some minimal work with her pelvis, with some liver treatments here and there.

When I saw her last week, Suzanne casually reported that she had an "easy" period. Then stopped and exclaimed that she couldn't believe this was her new normal! After 25 years of horrible pain, her periods are not painful, and the quality of her flow is so healthy.

She paused, and said that while she was really happy, she also felt angry.

How could she have suffered for all of these years, without anyone telling her that it could be different? That the pain could be coming from structural issues? That the treatment for this was gentle and painless?

Honestly, I often experience this kind of anger, as well. I have helped so many women who have suffered for years, not knowing they could have a better experience. I understand the huge impact this type of dysfunction has on their lives, and on their relationship to their bodies and womanhood. Not to mention how these problems interfere with fertility, and if they are able to conceive, often lead into painful pregnancies. We deserve so much better, and women need to know that it doesn't have to be this way!

I asked Suzanne if I could share her story, to demonstrate what is possible through manual therapy. We both want women who are suffering to be able to find help, and have a radically different experience. I'm so grateful to be able to share her story.

I asked Suzanne if there was anything she wanted to add, and this is what she wrote:

Ariana changed my life - without surgery, without pills, and without judgement. It continues to be easy confiding in Ariana the personal details of my health and body because everything about her invites trust, in her and her methods.

I’m excited for our future sessions and the relief they hold for my body and mind. I’m so thankful for Ariana and her capability to change lives.

I’m so grateful for her words, and that she trusted me to help her.

If you know of someone who is suffering similarly, I hope you will share this with them! There are many therapists out there doing this healing work, looking for the people who need their help. It is so exciting and satisfying for me to help women in this way, and I am celebrating the ways that Suzanne's life has changed after getting the help she deserves.