http://rufinahellcat.livejournal.com/ ([identity profile] rufinahellcat.livejournal.com) wrote in [community profile] vaginapagina2008-11-14 07:19 pm

another question...

sorry, I'm home alone on a friday night feeling pretty gross and in pain, so here's another question for ya.

What exercises can I do to help my cramps?
I try not to take medicine unless I absolutely have to, and in the past I've been able to exercise at the gym to help, but I don't have a gym readily available to me right now.

Do any of you exercise to alleviate cramps?

[identity profile] vdoeschallenge.livejournal.com 2008-11-15 01:32 am (UTC)(link)
If you're comfortable with it, masturbation+orgasm?
It helps with cramps because orgasm releases endorphins, which kill pain. And it relaxes your uterus and stuff like that.
As for exercise, I like to ride my bike, or just do stretches and stuff, but not abdominal exercises at all.

[identity profile] colourlesshade.livejournal.com 2008-11-15 01:33 am (UTC)(link)
I find that simple yoga stretches sometimes help. Things like Cat Pose, Cobra Pose, and Bow Pose all seem to help loosen up muscles and relax me a bit, easing my cramps.


[identity profile] fireaphid.livejournal.com 2008-11-15 01:46 am (UTC)(link)
I agree with both of the above comments! If you had a cramp in a limb, you'd shake it out, right? Orgasms shake the uterus in a very similar way, and it really helps, plus it feels good to boot.

And this site has some good instructions on yoga poses that help with cramps: http://www.abc-of-yoga.com/yoga-and-health/yoga-for-dysmenorrhea-and-pms.asp. I like the ones that alternate between curling into a ball and then stretching out the torso. Feel better!

[identity profile] darlahood.livejournal.com 2008-11-15 02:28 am (UTC)(link)
I have found that if I do my regular 3 mile walk when I'm on my period I have no cramps at all. Kinda too late for you now, but maybe consider it in the future.

If I don't exercise that day, I'll have horrible cramps the first night of my period.

[identity profile] roseant.livejournal.com 2008-11-15 03:06 am (UTC)(link)
Belly dancing.

[identity profile] frolicnaked.livejournal.com 2008-11-15 04:00 am (UTC)(link)
Just another voice in the "yay, yoga!" crowd, though I will say that I have to get pretty deep into some poses to really start to feel relief.

Of Yoga Journal's recommendations for menstruation (http://www.yogajournal.com/poses/finder/therapeutic_focus/t_menstruation), I'm a particular fan of camel (http://www.yogajournal.com/poses/688), half moon (http://www.yogajournal.com/poses/784), and seated spinal twists (http://www.yogajournal.com/poses/485). I'm an even bigger fan of headstand (http://www.yogajournal.com/poses/481) and king pigeon (http://www.yogajournal.com/poses/2469), but unless you're fairly familiar and comfortable with them already, they're ones I'd advise you not try right away.

Somewhere on the Yoga Journal site (I have the link here (http://community.livejournal.com/practiceyoga/1388.html), I think) is a series of poses recommended for menstruation. I have to say, I didn't experience stellar results with it. On the plus side, a lot of the poses it lists are fairly gentle ones, especially with the modifications detailed.

[identity profile] frolicnaked.livejournal.com 2008-11-15 05:00 am (UTC)(link)
I'm also just going to offer a bit of a different viewpoint on the "orgasms cure cramps" advice. They definitely do cure cramps for some people. However, for others, they can also cause cramps. I'm definitely in the latter category here, and while I don't usually try to avoid orgasms while on my period, I don't look to them to cure cramps, either. If they work for you, though, they're probably a good solution! :)

[identity profile] vdoeschallenge.livejournal.com 2008-11-15 06:30 am (UTC)(link)
Oh, I'd never even heard that. :( I feel bad for those women. Orgasms always make me feel better if i have super cramps, even if its only because they take my mind off the cramps!

[identity profile] altorogue.livejournal.com 2008-11-15 04:35 am (UTC)(link)
Walking is easy, cheap, and does help. As do the orgasms. :D

[identity profile] mycolorfulheart.livejournal.com 2008-11-15 06:38 am (UTC)(link)
Just walking helps me so much. Like for 20 mins, half and hour or so.

[identity profile] paperispatient.livejournal.com 2008-11-15 05:09 am (UTC)(link)
I've always read that regular exercise helps alleviate cramps - I run and do aerobics classes 4-5 days a week. I've also read that orgasms help with cramps; I often masturbate and never really noticed if it impacted my cramps at all (I get them really randomly; sometimes I'll be totally fine and other times my stomach and leg and even my foot will ache so badly I want to throw up) but I say it's worth a try - at least it's a fun kind of exercise. ;)

[identity profile] arbolista.livejournal.com 2008-11-15 10:53 am (UTC)(link)
I use a small heating pad, and it usually helps a lot. (I do tend to take some ibuprofen, too, though--mine are pretty intense.)