Women and menstrual cramps. (back pain, infected, blood, toothache)

[Hopefulone828]

So my gf can often get painful cramps when she's on the rag and I do try to help as in I have gone to the store to buy her pads, tampons, midol etc. But really she doesn't like to talk about it which I can understand.

My question is for a man what would you say is the closest equivalent pain a man can get to what period cramps are like? How bad are they usually for you and does it impair your ability to function at all? My gf just stays in bed and covers up not saying much.

On a scale of 1-10 how painful would you rate yours on average? The worst pain I have felt is from an infected tooth, and while obviously not equivalent I can say the pain was something I wouldn't want my worst enemy to have lol. What do you think would be worse to go through, bad cramps or a bad tooth ache?

[BirdieBelle]

I am very curious to see how a man can possibly answer this question.

OP, are you trying to assess if she REALLY is in pain or just playing it up?

[hawaiiancoconut]

As a man, I would never know the pain of giving birth, but I have heard that a really bad toothache is worse than your typical childbirth. Really depends on the individual, severity and how one deals with physical pain.

[JerZ]

Health & Wellness forum?

[Hopefulone828]

Originally Posted by Wmsn4Life

I am very curious to see how a man can possibly answer this question.

OP, are you trying to assess if she REALLY is in pain or just playing it up?

You misunderstood. By "My question is for a man what would you say is the closest equivalent pain a man can get to what period cramps are like?" I wasn't speaking to men. I (talking TO women) was asking what kind of pain could a man get that would be best equivalent to menstrual cramps.

[BirdieBelle]

Yeah, the way it is written is confusing. Some commas would help: "My questions is, for a man, what would be ...." rather than, "My question is for a man ..."

Cramps are one thing. Some women have abdominal cramps, while others have back pain. They sometimes bring headaches, nausea, and I have had them cause cramping in my hip muscles as well. It really varies.

But along with "cramps," some women also feel very "heavy," like it's hard to breathe, and low energy. It's not like pain meds can just make you all better. That explains why some just want to curl up in bed.

Bottom line: The experience is as varied as the women out there.

[MoonBeam33]

Originally Posted by Hopefulone828

So my gf can often get painful cramps when she's on the rag and I do try to help as in I have gone to the store to buy her pads, tampons, midol etc. But really she doesn't like to talk about it which I can understand.

My question is for a man what would you say is the closest equivalent pain a man can get to what period cramps are like? How bad are they usually for you and does it impair your ability to function at all? My gf just stays in bed and covers up not saying much.

On a scale of 1-10 how painful would you rate yours on average? The worst pain I have felt is from an infected tooth, and while obviously not equivalent I can say the pain was something I wouldn't want my worst enemy to have lol. What do you think would be worse to go through, bad cramps or a bad tooth ache?

First, if you're genuinely trying to be empathetic, don't refer to it as being on the rag.

Second, there is no equivalent. The closest thing might be abdominal cramps from diarrhea or food poisoning. Yes, cramps are real, and yes, for some women they are quite disabling.

[SeaOfGrass]

Originally Posted by Wmsn4Life

Yeah, the way it is written is confusing. Some commas would help: "My questions is, for a man, what would be ...." rather than, "My question is for a man ..."

Cramps are one thing. Some women have abdominal cramps, while others have back pain. They sometimes bring headaches, nausea, and I have had them cause cramping in my hip muscles as well. It really varies.

But along with "cramps," some women also feel very "heavy," like it's hard to breathe, and low energy. It's not like pain meds can just make you all better. That explains why some just want to curl up in bed.

Bottom line: The experiences is as varied as the women out there.

Yeah, I was going to come in and say it's more than cramps, it's just an overall achy, yucky feeling, but you worded it much better.

In my age group, we were always told that, as the new "modern" woman, we didn't have to be debilitated by it. We could do everything as normal, work out, etc. The laaast thing I feel like doing is anything physical. It feels like my body is telling me I need to take it easy and rest.

Originally Posted by MoonBeam33

First, if you're genuinely trying to be empathetic, don't refer to it as being on the rag.

Second, there is no equivalent. The closest thing might be abdominal cramps from diarrhea or food poisoning. Yes, cramps are real, and yes, for some women they are quite disabling.

Yeah.

[JustJulia]

Originally Posted by Hopefulone828

You misunderstood. By "My question is for a man what would you say is the closest equivalent pain a man can get to what period cramps are like?" I wasn't speaking to men. I (talking TO women) was asking what kind of pain could a man get that would be best equivalent to menstrual cramps.

Have you seen those spiky balls that you put in the dryer to fluff your clothes? Like these?Hedgehog Dryer Balls, 2-Pack | World Market

Roll those around at the very bottom of your back, right on the top of your pelvis bones in the back. Do something that makes your testicles very tender and sore, and then take about six ****s over the course of a few hours.

[Amelie90]

Originally Posted by Hopefulone828

So my gf can often get painful cramps when she's on the rag and I do try to help as in I have gone to the store to buy her pads, tampons, midol etc. But really she doesn't like to talk about it which I can understand.

My question is for a man what would you say is the closest equivalent pain a man can get to what period cramps are like? How bad are they usually for you and does it impair your ability to function at all? My gf just stays in bed and covers up not saying much.

On a scale of 1-10 how painful would you rate yours on average? The worst pain I have felt is from an infected tooth, and while obviously not equivalent I can say the pain was something I wouldn't want my worst enemy to have lol. What do you think would be worse to go through, bad cramps or a bad tooth ache?

Usually, my cramps are mild to non-existent. Ibuprofen helps me a lot, but I have occasionally had really bad cramps where I couldn't do anything other than curl up in a fetal position. I'd give those a 7 in terms of pain and my normal cramps are a 2, maybe. Every woman is different though. Although I don't have bad cramps, my periods are still extremely unpleasant due to the large amounts of blood that I lose.