cramps make me miss work

Ever since I started having periods, I have had terrible cramps on the first day. I will take painkillers and they still hurt. Sometimes they're so bad that I can't make it through a full day if work. My mother told me both she and my grandma experienced terrible cramps, so I always thought of it as sonething I have to deal with. I also have a lot of trouble concentrating and experience dizziness during my period. Is there something else going on? Should I visit a doctor?