Stomach Cramps with Exercise

I have had the same problem lately and I talked to a friend about it (she works in physical therapy). She says the problem may be that I did not have enough potassium in my system, and then overexerted my body, causing my muscles to overcompensate- leading to the extreme cramps. I am going to start taking a supplement, hopefully it will help...

I'm so glad I found this thread because I know I'm not alone in this. None of my friends ever had this problem.

Since young, whenever I exercise too hard (without warming up) I would get stomach pains that resembles menstrual cramps. Just that I don't have my menses then. The harder I exert, the more severe the pain. I could be enjoying a ball game or running for about 10 minutes and suddenly I would be curling up at a corner. It comes in waves and subsides after about 15-30min of rest depending on severity.

However, if I actually do some warming up before the activity, I won't suffer from this pain. Jogging slowly (very comfortable pace) for 10 minutes and stretching before the actual exercise usually prevents the cramps from coming. Hope this helps!

Still, I would like a remedy for this pain so that all of us can exercise in peace! :-D

I have this same problem as well, I used to exercise a lot when I was in my late teens (now 21), however after having a baby , 2 years later everytime i try to exercise, even if it is only 5 minutes, a few minutes after i get sharp pains in my lower abs, very close to the pelvic area.

My doctor did an ultrasound and determined that it was just a ruptured ovarian cyst, however, I don't think this is the pain that is occurring EVERY TIME i exercise.

It's not a stitch, it's a different kind of pain to that, way worse and below the bellybutton. As it's been said before it's like period cramps but worse in some cases. It only occurs during or after exercise and can last from 10 minutes to over 4 hours.

I get this too, often just before my period, but also at more random times of the month and it makes me very gassy.

I also get it only after pushing myself physically.

My personal feeling is that it could be either dehydration, or a because I ate too soon before running. Either way - those medical folks should figure this problem out!

Hello

I have had this issue since I was 15 and now I am 33. I have gone to the Dr... and he stated that I had torn ligaments.
But this is my speculation.... My great-grand mother told me it means that your "body is down"....Meaning it has something to do with your female organs ..As you run or walk, it put's stress on those muscles or ligaments within the organs and makes them a little weak...If you may notice..when you get this, you may get a watery discharge......and cramps like you have diarrhea......And this causes of abdominal pain too ofcourse.....Anyway, I can not say that these organs shift downward, but it feels like it.....and I believe that's where the pressure starts......One thing I recommend is that you wear something like a girdle for extra support....That way when you run or walk or do whatever form of activity.....you will have a little more support...For the Ladies that experience that pain where they can not walk for about 20 mts due to the severe pain.....Drink about an 8 ounce of water, then lie down and prop your feet on some pillows and keep them elevated for about 15 mts......Try it...I hope this helps......

I have had this since a teenager, doing cross country races at school. I didn't have it for a while, but it came back last year when I was cycle training. I have found that it happens more often and more intensely roughly mid-menstrual cycle

This happens to me too. I was starting to think something was terribly wrong, but I guess not.  Today I started getting this horrible period like cramp about 20 minutes into running. I'm not on my period though.  This happened one other time recently and both times it just went away in about half an hour.  Though while its cramping, I feel like I'm dying.  I could barely make it home today.  I used to play soccer too, for about 5 years.  The last year I started getting these cramps during practice and is one of the reasons I stopped playing.

I recently worked out really hard in a 2 hour cycle class.  I have had the same issues of menstrual like pain before following intense exercise, but this was debilitating.  I had to pull my car to the side of the road and call 911.  The cramps were what I imagine labor cramps to be and I had bleeding from the vagina.  I was given two doses of Demerol (which took the edge off but did not stop the cramping) I was then given a muscle relaxant and finally three agonizing  hours later RELIEF!

 

I have done a ton of web browsing on this and I think I have figured it out (not a doctor) but this makes SO much sense.

 

The pain from your period is thought to be the result of uterine contractions, caused by prostaglandins (a hormone-like substance, normally found in your body). Prostaglandins are known to stimulate uterine contractions.

 

Intense exercise/stress itself increases prostaglandin production.

 

Prostaglandin gel is actually given to women to INDUCE labor and it may even stimulate mild contractions and, for some women, this is enough to start labor.

 

Why taking ibuprofen may help.

 

It is aProstaglandin inhibitor

Aspirin is a mild prostaglandin inhibitor, another prostaglandin inhibitor is ibuprofen.

 

So I think the body gets super stressed, produces too much prostaglandins which wreak havoc on the uterine muscles and basically make you feel like you are in labor.  The fact that some folks have spotting clearly distinguishes these cramps from being just normal muscle cramps – they are MENSTRUAL cramps caused by the Prostaglandins.

 

Also, the one thing all of us complaining about this have in common is “period-type cramping” this leads me to believe there is nothing structural about this, rather something biochemical as a result of intense exercise.

 

I really think I am on to something here that is missing from the internet conversations.  Anyone who is seeing an OB/GYN about this – it would be great if you could run my theory by them and return their input.

 

 

It's also possible that something like endometriosis or ovarian cysts/fibroids are causing this. I also have these cramps but usually after abdominal-type exercises. They don't even have to be vigorous. I have had cysts in the past but recently none showed up on the ultrasounds and the gyn has suggested I might have endometriosis but the only way to have a concrete diagnosis is surgery :( 

I have been experiencing the same type of thing but it is a new experience for me. It happened recently on a 5k. I had to stop and I had severe lower abdominal cramping and nausea. I thought I would vomit. I was able to find a rest stop and I had a bm. Slowly the nausea passed and I felt better. This morning, I waited until I had a bm before I went for a short run. When I got back, I had lower abdominal cramps! I am hydrated, so I don't know that the problem could be. By the way, I had not eaten for several hours before each of those scenarios.

I googled "abdominal pain while exercising" because I get this every time recently! It is NOT a muscle cramp. I've gotten muscle cramps in my abs, thighs, calves, etc before, but this is different, like other people on here have said it is a lot like period pain! In fact when it happens I assume that I must be getting my period, even when it's just ended. The bothersome thing about this pain is that it doesn't just go away quickly. Today I got the pain around 1:30pm after maybe 3 -4 miles of walking with jogging here and there. It is 4:30 and they are still around. They faded away for a bit, and then came back. UGH.  It's EVERY TIME that the workout is intensive, whether caused by the exercise or the heat.  Things I've noticed:  I didn't used to get them when I was a vegetarian , and I would always have a vitamin or smart water (enhanced with vitamins or electrolytes) or a piece of fruite before/after my workouts.  Could it be a lack of vitamins? Or perhaps something to do with digestion of meat? They come more often when I'm on my meds (add), which most certainly dehydrate me, but I do make an extra effort to stay hydrated.I hope they figure this out soon, it is a really uncomfortable pain, seems to be worse for some on here than it is for me, but I'm fairly certain my doctors think I'm making stuff up at this point. I only go for appointments, but I bring up so many little things just to be safe, and I'm always healthy and they think I'm nuts.

It may be dehydration. I get horrible pains under my belly-button very randomly. So bad that I have passed out a few times. I was told I have IBS. I'm a 19 year old girl. But I don't think any of you have to worry if you only get the pains while exercising. Take to exercising slowly at first to build up you endurance because you may be going past your level of fitness, drink plenty of water but not too much before exercising and don't gulp down water too fast afterwards, that can give you cramps as well. Eat, well, drink well, exercise, and get plenty of sleep!!

-IBS and asthma sufferer, dancer

I often got these agonizing, menstral like cramps when I played basketball. This started back in my early teens around 13 or 14. Ladies, you may be relieved to know, that it has to do with proper breathing routines during your workout. I am very aware of my body & notice change immediately. If there is something wrong, I often try to diagnose the problem on my own before getting advice from an "expert". With that said, I've done several trial & errors with playing basketball & running. I found that when I was concentrated on my breathing, taking mostly deep breaths to relax my body before playing, and also throughout play, I wouldn't get the cramps. On the other hand, I would jump right into play, not focusing on my breathing much & often being nervous

Hey check out my post Bravo88

Noticed most replies are from women and only 1 or so from men.  I'm male age 54 and was much more active when younger.  Trying to get back into shape and bought an elliptical machine.  In the past I've started out relatively slow and picked up the pace with the usual sore muscles, etc. after many workouts until I could finally get into a routine. 

With that as background here's what I now experience.  Was building up to the usual workout routine when I started to experience post-workout lower abdominal pain.  Would usually start a little but build over time and could last for days.  Always feels as if I have to go to bathroom and often do; sometimes to the point of feeling sick or faint as with diarrhea.  I've had kidney stones before and these aren't as bad but getting close as far as pain.  Since I'm a guy it's not menstrual cramps but I could imagine it is similar based on what women describe the feeling as being similar.  Used to not have this issue but now will have to try and figure out how to combat it.  I suspect IBS but that in itself seems elusive with all sorts of causes and triggers.  It's as if the strenuous exercise aggravates the situation and there's hell to pay afterwards.

I woke at 3am one night and had cramps so bad I couldn't sleep.  Got a bed-buddy and heated in the microwave; seemed to help but very little then I thought why not try an ice pack and do a hot/cold treament.  Used a cover on the ice pack but let the cold really come through.  Didn't like the cold at first but it's better than the cramp. Within about 20 to 30 minutes the craps were pretty much gone so I could finally go to sleep.  Since then I've used the cold pack exclusively and let the cold set in deep enough to calm the core to settle it down.   This is only a patch for pain symptoms and not a cure for the cause (what ever it is) but worth trying if you have the same thing.  Hope this helps others as it did me.

Cheers!