Believe it or not, some amount of cramping is normal. Whether it’s from digestion, physical exertion or even severe menstrual cramps, these pains often reflect your body’s effort to keep things moving rather than a sign that something’s wrong.
But when that cramping grows more intense and lasts longer than it should, it’s natural to ask: just how much pain is too much? When is it something you can wait out at home or a signal that your body needs help?
Thibodaux Regional Urgent Care exists to help you find the answer to questions just like these. Read on to learn how to recognize when cramping goes beyond bad cramps and what you can do about it.
What causes cramps?
In short, the Mayo Clinic says that cramps are a kind of muscle contraction. Most people think of menstrual cramps first, and for many women, those are an all too familiar monthly reality. But your body can experience cramps for many other reasons, including:
- Food poisoning
- Stomach infections
- Gas or bloating
- Muscle fatigue
- Dehydration
- Urinary tract infections
- Digestive issues like constipation
Some cramps are also linked to underlying medical conditions. For instance, endometriosis causes tissue similar to the uterine lining to grow outside the uterus, leading to severe menstrual cramps that feel unrelenting, often just before or during your period. Other structural conditions, such as ovarian cysts, can also cause intense pelvic pain.
And as the Mayo Clinic also points out, both are often mistaken for “just cramps” at first.
What counts as “normal” cramping?
Not every cramp calls for medical attention, as the Seattle Children’s Hospital points out. Many times, they’re just part of your body’s everyday rhythm — a little soreness after exercise, part of your regular menstrual cycle, or fallout from eating too much at dinner. These kinds of cramps tend to:
- Follow a set pattern that you can teach yourself to avoid
- Go away after a few hours to a day
- Respond to rest and over-the-counter medications
Whereas cramps that are stronger than usual are a sign to get yourself checked out. They may still be entirely normal — and urgent care can help you verify if that’s the case — but there are too many serious conditions related to painful cramping for you to just sit around on standby.
That’s what makes Thibodaux Regional Urgent Care the right place to go when the pain is worrisome but not extreme.
When to go to urgent care for cramping
Urgent care clinics like Thibodaux Regional Urgent Care offer the perfect middle ground between your primary care doctor and the emergency room. Urgent care offers quick, walk-in access to experienced medical providers who can give you the right guidance for your condition. It’s a great option if your cramps:
- Feel more intense than usual
- Come with nausea or dizziness
- Last more than a few days without improving
- Interfere with your ability to eat, sleep, work or live comfortably
- Come with signs of infection (like fever)
Trust your body to know when something is off. You may not always understand the signals, but urgent care can help you find out what they’re saying.
What can urgent care do for your cramps?
At Thibodaux Regional Urgent Care, our priority is to find the cause of your cramping and rule out more serious conditions. Expect us to ask about your health history and when the pain started so we can better understand your situation. Depending on your answers and symptoms, we can perform:
- A physical exam focused on your abdomen and pelvic area
- Bloodwork to check for signs of infection
- Urine testing
- Imaging referrals, such as for ultrasounds or X-rays, to check for ovarian cysts or other conditions
We’ve seen cramps that were minor, and we’ve seen cramps that were warning signs of something more. Urgent care is the place to find out and start taking the right steps.
Find Peace of Mind in Thibodaux
Pain exists for a reason — even when it’s just your body’s way of asking you to sit down and take a breather. When you feel “something’s not right,” that’s the time to trust your instinct and come to Thibodaux Regional Urgent Care.
We’re open every day, from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., no appointment needed. With short wait times and a team that truly listens, we’ll help you figure out what’s going on and offer relief you can feel.
Don’t wait for things to get worse — get care now, so you can get back to your life.
