An African-American woman with a hot water bottle on her abdomen, in bed.

Fibroid Pain

Michelle has had heavy periods with bad cramps since her teenage years. She was told that her period would change as she got older and that the pain and heavy flow would ease. Unfortunately, that didn’t happen. Now in her thirties, it isn’t uncommon for her to miss two or three days of work when she menstruates. She spends those days in bed swapping a hot water bottle from her abdomen to her lower back between naps and popping ibuprofen every four hours for the cramps and the leg pain.

Michelle wanted to know what was causing her back pain and heavy bleeding, so she researched online. She looked up “can fibroids cause leg and back pain?” She discovered the symptoms quiz at USA Fibroid Centers and why her back and legs hurt so much when she was on her period: she might have fibroids pressing against her spine and sciatic nerve.

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Fibroid Back Pain

Back pain can be related to kidney issues. You may feel constant pressure to urinate, or it may be difficult to urinate. However, fibroids can obstruct the urinary tract, pressing against the bladder. If the kidneys cannot drain adequately, it can cause them to swell, which may lead to back pain.

Fibroid Leg Pain

While it might be surprising to know, leg pain caused by fibroids is quite common. Fibroids may contribute to sciatica. The sciatic nerve runs from your lower back down the back of each leg. If fibroids are pressing against the nerve, it can cause radiating pain down either or both legs.

What Helps Fibroid Back Pain?

If you need temporary relief from back pain caused by fibroids until you seek treatment, several natural methods may help. For immediate relief, OTC pain medication may help, and use a heating pad behind your back. Gentle stretching or yoga poses may also increase circulation as well as release natural pain-relieving endorphins.

Other Fibroid Symptoms Besides Back and Leg Pain?

Fibroids can cause other symptoms besides pain in the back and legs, especially as they grow and press against your organs. If you have been diagnosed with uterine fibroids, you may experience the following symptoms:

  • Heavy periods that last longer than a week
  • Pelvic pain and pressure
  • Bloating and belly protrusion
  • Constipation and frequent urination
  • Painful intercourse
  • Fatigue

If you have any of these symptoms or back and leg pain and think you may have fibroids, you should contact a fibroid specialist for diagnosis and treatment.

UFE for Fibroid Treatment

UFE, though a relatively new procedure, has become the gold standard for minimally invasive fibroid treatment. This procedure works to treat all the fibroids at once without removal of the uterus. This is especially important if you want to have children eventually. Our fibroid specialists perform UFE as an outpatient procedure. 

The first step in the treatment is to give you a sedative to help you relax. Then, you are given a local anesthetic, and the interventional radiologist makes a very tiny incision in your upper thigh, not a large incision in your abdomen like during a hysterectomy. The IR will insert a catheter into the artery that supplies the fibroid, delivering a fluid that carries particles to block off blood flow to the fibroid. This will cause the fibroid to shrink over time. Then, after a couple of hours, you can go home to recover. No stitches are needed, and you only need a bandage for an incision so small. The procedure takes approximately 30 to 45 minutes, and full recovery takes one to two weeks.

Michelle took the plunge and got the UFE treatment. She has no regrets. Her periods are now lighter and shorter, and her back and leg pain are eliminated.

Contact USA Fibroid Centers

If you’re experiencing painful fibroid symptoms, you don’t have to get a hysterectomy. It’s not your only option. Our specialists can help you explore your treatment options and find relief. Call us today at 855.615.2555. Our fibroid treatment is eligible for insurance coverage for most providers including Medicare. Just give us a call to verify your coverage.

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