Strange period pains

[CiderMonkey]

I have noticed that the first day or so I am on my period I get a painful ache in my shoulders, particularly the right hand one. Does anyone else have anything like this. I thought it was the way i was sleeping sometimes until i took note of when it happened and it is always on the same day!

[mrs.pudding]

I always used to get rather awful wind on the first two days of my period which just seemed to roll around inside!  Anyway, it always seemed to hit my shoulders!  I've since discovered that a caesarian or hysterectomy can also cause awful wind pains in your shoulders.  Could that be the problem?

[ratbag66]

Pain such as you describe is called 'referred pain', where pain is physically happening in one place in the body, but is felt elsewhere.

[ann_h]

My boyfriend says he's heard of this before, too, pains in the shoulder and upper chest by collarbone.

[CiderMonkey]

thanks for your answers, glad to know I am not alone. Anything i can do about it? I don't want to take painkillers all the time. I find massaging helps it a bit but i can't sit at my desk all day doing that! :-)

[mrs.pudding]

I found that the only real way of solving the problem was to lie down for an hour or so.  Sadly, bosses can be so unreasonable about you bringing your bed to work.