Individuals having endometriosis experience unbearable pain in their pelvis. The pain may intensify during their menstrual periods. It can worsen muscle cramps felt during the periods and also lead to heavy bleeding. The best treatment for managing this pain is medications. Your healthcare provider will suggest over-the-counter (OTC) or prescription medications, which will alleviate the pain to a greater extent.
If the condition is severe, then your healthcare provider will suggest you get surgery for the removal of endometrial implants. Surgery will not ensure that the condition is permanently treated, as it can reoccur. But most commonly, medications are the best remedy for managing the endometriosis pain.
Medications for treating endometriosis
According to the Medical News Today website, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are the best remedy for the pain experienced due to endometriosis. These medications alleviate the pain by reducing the production of a hormone called prostaglandins, which is responsible for contributing to pain and inflammation. Your healthcare provider will prescribe some common types of NSAIDs such as aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen.
In addition to medications, the pain can also be managed with home remedies. When treatment is combined with home remedies, the results will be excellent, as the pain is managed in a more efficient manner.
Home remedies for managing endometriosis pain
Some lifestyle changes and habits will contribute to reducing the endometriosis pain. The remedies you should include are as follows:
- Warm bath or heat therapy – Taking warm baths will be beneficial for reducing the pain and inflammation in the pelvis. You can also heat pads to relieve the pain. You can place the pad in the lower abdomen, which will relax the muscle tensions and increase relaxation, thereby reducing the muscle cramps and pain.
- Take enough rest –Allow yourself to rest adequately. Daily stress can worsen the symptoms and increase the pain and inflammation. Take some time to relax, you can do meditation, listen to music, go for a walk, or do something that makes you feel relaxed.
- Eat healthy – Making some necessary changes to your diet can be helpful. You must know what kind of foods to avoid. You need to limit your consumption of processed foods, which are usually loaded with sugars, unhealthy fats, and refined ingredients. Such a diet can exacerbate the condition. Include fresh fruits and vegetables in your diet.
- Do yoga – Yoga is an ancient practice that involves a combination of postures and deep meditative exercise. Doing it regularly will rid you of stress and increase mental calmness. Some postures can relax the pelvic muscles and help alleviate the pain and cramps. It is considered to be highly beneficial for individuals having endometriosis.
- Green tea – Some studies show that green tea can reduce endometriosis pain and muscle cramps. It can also slow down the progression of endometrial tissue damage. Therefore, drinking it will be beneficial for reducing the symptoms of endometriosis.
- Light exercise – Performing some light exercises such as walking, jogging, brisk walking, cycling, swimming, dancing, etc., can strengthen your pelvic floor muscles. The pain and inflammation will subside as a result and these exercises also act as mood boosters, as they release “feel good” hormones, which reduce the stress and anxiety levels.
Surgery
Despite trying several methods of treatment, if the pain does not alleviate and becomes worse, then the healthcare provider will suggest you get surgery to remove the endometrial implants. The chances of recurrence of the condition after the surgery will still be there. However, getting surgery will provide relief from pain. Your healthcare provider will suggest you any of the following types of surgeries:
Laparoscopy – This procedure is an invasive method, wherein, the surgeon will make small incisions below your belly button and insert a slender instrument that has a tiny camera attached to it to view the inside of your pelvis. The camera will show the location and size of the endometrial implants and further, the surgeon will conduct a laser operation to remove the affected tissues.
Laparotomy – This kind of surgery is suggested for those who have severe forms of tissue damage due to endometriosis. The incisions or cuts made will be larger compared to those in laparoscopy surgery.
Hysterectomy – In this type of surgery, the surgeons will remove the uterus due to which the individual will never be able to menstruate or give birth.