Progesterone levels before my period

by Nikki
(England)

Could a rise in progesterone levels just before my period be causing sensations of feeling unable to walk?

I'm a 23 year old with a 2 year old son. When I was younger I suffered lower back pain, sometimes I had to take weeks off work and college. When I got to the age of 20 my back pain was fine for a while, then when I fell pregnant I got sciatica and could hardly walk. After I had my son the backpain left me as quickly as it came. I didn't have a problem until about a year ago, if my periods are late, for about a week before I come on, get feelings of aching pain in my lower back. It travels down my legs and even my ankles hurt.

I came on this morning and was ok when I woke up but by the afternoon I could hardly walk. Its like my legs won't work. I feel weak and unable to stand up. My sister has just been diagnosed with scoliosis. As I have a son to look after and a job which involves standing up for hours on end, what is this condition and what can I do because it is affecting my ability to perform day to day activities? Please help.

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Progesterone levels before my period

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Feb 13, 2009

Progesterone levels before my period
by: Wray

Hi Nikki. The myopathy you are experiencing is due to the drop in progesterone levels shortly before your period, not a rise. Progesterone rises at ovulation or about 14 days before our period, reaching a high �7days before the period, then drops sharply 2-3 days before. It's this drop which causes the adverse symptoms many women experience, the sugar and alcohol cravings, tiredness, depression etc. Plus the higher the oestrogen level during the luteal phase, the worse the symptoms.

The sciatica was caused by pressure from the growing foetus on the sciatic nerve, which is why the pain left after birth. The pain you experience in the week before your period is quite possibly caused by water retention putting pressure on the sciatic nerve. Progesterone is an excellent anti-inflammatory and diuretic, so rub some cream on your lower back when it occurs.

With regular progesterone use, you'll find the myopathy will go. It's something I had during peri-menopause and it left very shortly after starting using the cream. Incidentally scoliosis is most often caused by muscles in spasm, pulling the spine out of place. I suggest your sister finds someone doing a therapy which releases tension, ie Integrated Bodywork, Body Talk, EFT might help, accupressure or shiatsu. Take care, Wray.

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Feb 13, 2009
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Submitted by: Wray

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Hi Nikki. The myopathy you are experiencing is due to the drop in progesterone levels shortly before your period, not a rise. Progesterone rises at ovulation or about 14 days before our period, reaching a high �7days before the period, then drops sharply 2-3 days before. It's this drop which causes the adverse symptoms many women experience, the sugar and alcohol cravings, tiredness, depression etc. Plus the higher the oestrogen level during the luteal phase, the worse the symptoms. The sciatica was caused by pressure from the growing foetus on the sciatic nerve, which is why the pain left after birth. The pain you experience in the week before your period is quite possibly caused by water retention putting pressure on the sciatic nerve. Progesterone is an excellent anti-inflammatory and diuretic, so rub some cream on your lower back when it occurs. With regular progesterone use, you'll find the myopathy will go. It's something I had during peri-menopause and it left very shortly after starting using the cream. Incidentally scoliosis is most often caused by muscles in spasm, pulling the spine out of place. I suggest your sister finds someone doing a therapy which releases tension, ie Integrated Bodywork, Body Talk, EFT might help, accupressure or shiatsu. Take care, Wray.

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Jun 14, 2009

Back pain
by: back pain

Wow thanks for the great information!

Jun 18, 2009

Thanks
by: Wray

Thanks! Take care, Wray

Oct 03, 2009

Progesterone levels before my period
by: JANE

Dear Nikki & Wray, wow I've had this same problem for years. I have been keeping track of it on a calendar for about 8 months now and it seems to be worse every other month. I was wondering if Nikki tried this and how it worked for her. I am on a couple of other medications and I am a little hesitant to try something new in case it screws up my other medications. But if it worked for both of you it would most definetly be worth me giving it a try.

Thank you if you could please email back under this topic that would be great! Thanks.

Oct 20, 2009

For Jane
by: Wray

The worsening every other month could be you are not ovulating every month. Unless we ovulate we make no progesterone in our ovaries. But we are still making oestrogen. Progesterone reacts with no drug, so if you wanted to try it no harm will be done, only good I hope! Unfortunately I had bad myopathy after the birth of my daughter, but knew nothing of progesterone then! I wish I could email you but I have no email address for you. So please would you contact me through this form. Take care.

Jun 21, 2010

BACK PAIN, NAUSEA
by: sandy

About the 20th or 21st of every month I get dizzy, nausea, loose stool and severe back pain (it sometimes feels like my hips are going to crack open). I also get something like panic attacks and suffer from anxiety during this time. The symptoms last about 10-14 days. The doctor does not think it is related to hormones as I has blood tests done which came back "normal". I started birth control (Seasonale). Five days after starting this drug I had the same symptoms but extremely severe. I stopped taking it. I had a uterine ablation done in May to remedy my heavy periods but it did nothing for the symptoms described above. I am useless during this time as I don't want to do anything but stay in bed. It is affecting my children and my husband. Any suggestions?

Jun 23, 2010

BACK PAIN, NAUSEA
by: Wray

Hi Sandy If you have a 28 day cycle, which it seems from the above, progesterone peaks �21st day. It's not the progesterone causing the symptoms directly, but a stimulatory affect it has on oestrogen, which also rises mid-luteal phase. So a push/pull situation is going on. Oestrogen causes water retention which can upset the balance in the ears, it also causes nausea. It's pro-inflammatory hence the back pain. Progesterone on the other hand is an excellent diuretic, so is getting rid of the water as fast as it can, not fast enough to stop the dizziness, but enough to cause the loose stools. In fact it's such a good diuretic it's given via IV transfusion to brain trauma victims to prevent the oedema that forms after the injury. It also prevents the inflammation which occurs, as it's an excellent anti-inflammatory. Your reaction to the BC pill is a clue, women with low progesterone/high oestrogen react badly to it. So although your hormone levels came back 'normal' they couldn't have looked at the ratio of the two. It should be between 10-100, too big a range, and too low I feel. I've found if the ratio is well into the 100's we feel fine, anything lower and we feel awful. if you have the results, please divide the progesterone by the oestrogen to find the ratio. Another clue is your heavy periods, these are caused by excess oestrogen. Oestrogen and only oestrogen can cause the lining to grow. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMP?s) are enzymes that break down protein. They play a role in the breakdown of endometrial tissues at the end of the menstrual cycle. If they are over active, as would be the case with an excess of oestrogen in the body, (oestrogen stimulates it?s production), the result is a pathological reaction such as inflammation. This can lead to many things, including excessive bleeding in the uterus. Progesterone suppresses MMP's. It?s only when progesterone levels drop at the end of the cycle that the MMP?s can get to work and breakdown the lining causing our monthly bleed. But with oestrogen continually stimulating more lining, and low progesterone, bleeding continues. To stop heavy bleeding the amount of progesterone needed initially is high, between 200-400mg/day. The anxiety and panic attacks are caused by a drop in GABA levels, GABA is one of our most calming neurotransmitters, progesterone activates the GABA receptor sites. With a high level of oestrogen suppressing the progesterone, GABA levels drop. For more info on this please see our web page on Anxiety. If you do decide to use progesterone please see our web page on Oestrogen Dominance first. It can occur and is most disconcerting when it does. You've had a taste of it every 21st day of the month. Take care Wray

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Jun 23, 2010
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Submitted by: Wray

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Hi Sandy If you have a 28 day cycle, which it seems from the above, progesterone peaks �21st day. It's not the progesterone causing the symptoms directly, but a stimulatory affect it has on oestrogen, which also rises mid-luteal phase. So a push/pull situation is going on. Oestrogen causes water retention which can upset the balance in the ears, it also causes nausea. It's pro-inflammatory hence the back pain. Progesterone on the other hand is an excellent diuretic, so is getting rid of the water as fast as it can, not fast enough to stop the dizziness, but enough to cause the loose stools. In fact it's such a good diuretic it's given via IV transfusion to brain trauma victims to prevent the oedema that forms after the injury. It also prevents the inflammation which occurs, as it's an excellent anti-inflammatory. Your reaction to the BC pill is a clue, women with low progesterone/high oestrogen react badly to it. So although your hormone levels came back 'normal' they couldn't have looked at the ratio of the two. It should be between 10-100, too big a range, and too low I feel. I've found if the ratio is well into the 100's we feel fine, anything lower and we feel awful. if you have the results, please divide the progesterone by the oestrogen to find the ratio. Another clue is your heavy periods, these are caused by excess oestrogen. Oestrogen and only oestrogen can cause the lining to grow. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMP?s) are enzymes that break down protein. They play a role in the breakdown of endometrial tissues at the end of the menstrual cycle. If they are over active, as would be the case with an excess of oestrogen in the body, (oestrogen stimulates it?s production), the result is a pathological reaction such as inflammation. This can lead to many things, including excessive bleeding in the uterus. Progesterone suppresses MMP's. It?s only when progesterone levels drop at the end of the cycle that the MMP?s can get to work and breakdown the lining causing our monthly bleed. But with oestrogen continually stimulating more lining, and low progesterone, bleeding continues. To stop heavy bleeding the amount of progesterone needed initially is high, between 200-400mg/day. The anxiety and panic attacks are caused by a drop in GABA levels, GABA is one of our most calming neurotransmitters, progesterone activates the GABA receptor sites. With a high level of oestrogen suppressing the progesterone, GABA levels drop. For more info on this please see our web page on <a href=" http://www.progesteronetherapy.com/anxiety-attack-symptoms.html" target="_blank">Anxiety.</a> If you do decide to use progesterone please see our web page on <a href=" http://www.progesteronetherapy.com/estrogen-dominance.html" target="_blank">Oestrogen Dominance</a> first. It can occur and is most disconcerting when it does. You've had a taste of it every 21st day of the month. Take care Wray

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