To speed the healing, you can: 1  Rest the leg. Avoid putting weight on the leg as best you can. 2  Ice your leg to reduce pain and swelling. Do it for 20-30 minutes every three to four hours for two to three days, or until the pain is gone. 3  Compress your leg. Use an elastic bandage around the leg to keep down swelling.
Menstrual cramps are caused by uterine contractions (when the muscles in the uterus tighten and relax allowing blood to leave the uterus). The lining of the uterus releases special chemicals called âprostaglandins.â These substances can increase the strength of the contractions, especially if the levels rise.
Fast facts on menstrual cramps. Here are some key points about menstrual cramps. More detail and supporting information is in the main article. 1  Menstrual cramps are pains felt in the lower abdomen, occurring both before and during a woman's menstrual period. 2  The pain can be slight or sometimes extremely severe. 3  There are two types of painful periods-primary and secondary dysmenorrhea.