Re: Barometric pressure pain.

[Guest guest]

I to have weather related pain. I have trigeminal neuralgia. It really acts up

with the wind rain change in the weather. Spring is not a good time for me. My

Doctor said that is just the way it is.

> Bill wrote:

> Does anybody here know about pain caused by a change in barometric pressure?

Another name might be weather related pain.

[Guest guest]

Hi Bill, you stated it perfectly. Weather does affect people and can cause pain

with barometric, temperature and precipitation in the forecast. I keep up with

the weather forecasts and try to take an anti inflammatory before and during the

changes. Seems certain tissues or injuries and arthritis are more prone to

inflammation with weather changes. Now if we could keep the barometric pressure

stable indoors we might be able to withstand these weather changes but I don't

think that's possible.

Even my pain medication doesn't reduce the weather related pains. Not a great

response, but I don't know any way to keep the weather from causing pain. Just

try to reduce the inflammation, just like you have found works.

Jennette

> Bill wrote:

> Does anybody here know about pain caused by a change in barometric pressure?

Another name might be weather related pain.

[Guest guest]

They keep trying to find rheumatoid arthritis, but the tests always come back

negative. My hands are very bad. lumps and bumps on my fingers and they are

crooked.

I am a better weather forecaster than the TV or weather man. Today is is misty,

windy and cold. I ache in paces I didn't know I had.

I have been to the pool for water walking and exercise, then to a Tai Chi class.

Entirely too much for this kind of day. I am off to bed for a nap and try to get

warm.

I agree, spring is not good for me either.

Rosie on

[Guest guest]

Rosie,

The tests can be negative and you still have RA. Are you seeing a

rheumatologist?

Jennette

> Rosie wrote:

> They keep trying to find rheumatoid arthritis, but the tests always come back

negative. My hands are very bad. lumps and bumps on my fingers and they are

crooked.

[Guest guest]

--- " Bill Wiemann " wrote:

>

> Hi all,

>

> Does anybody here know about pain caused by a change in barometric pressure?

Another name might be weather related pain.

>

> Anyway, for about the last 5 years or so, I have felt the on come of real neck

pain when a high pressure weather front approaches our area (Hof, Germany).

>

Hi Bill -

You're not alone here. There's a lot of data out there that shows that

barometric pressure changes can affect all kinds of chronic pain, including

arthritis, nerve pain and fibromyalgia, among others. And it seems that almost

everyone here has reported some effects of weather on their pain levels!

I used to get a little peeved at people who would tell me " you live in Phoenix,

you must have it easy because you don't get weather pain! " Grrr! It's true

that there's not much rain in the desert, but the barometric pressure changes

every day, just like everywhere else! Fronts and high and low pressure changes

happen all the time - they just blow in dust storms instead of rain storms.

Desert-dwellers don't get any break from that kind of pain.

I now live in the midwest (I still use my " Cheryl in AZ " signature because

that's how people have known me online for 10+ years), and we're having the

worst storms of the century. We've had three tornado warnings in a week,

straight line winds that brought down massive trees in my neighborhood, more

than 10 inches of rain in three days and more coming down - just front after

front after front pounding this area! My pain levels have been through the

roof.

That's why it's important for chronic pain patients to have both continuous,

long-acting daily pain medications as well as " break-through " fast-acting meds,

to handle these kinds of variations.

Cheryl in AZ

Moderator

[Guest guest]

Hi All -- I am new to the group but sadly, not new to pain. I was surfing the

net for new journal entries regarding my condition, when I happened across an

article about the very subject in this thread, so I thought I would share it

with everyone here. : )

http://specialtyclinics.med.sc.edu/joint_pain.asp

Fact or Myth: Weather Affects Arthritic Joint Pain

46 million Americans suffer from arthritis.

The onset of cold weather or rain can be detected by joint pain just as a

patient suffering from arthritis. Can medical science explain this mystery?

If you've ever had an eccentric family member predict the rain simply by the

pain of an arthritic knee, you're probably not alone. As far as health-related

myths go, there may not be one more infamous than the supposed connection

between weather conditions and the onset of arthritic symptoms.

But from a scientific view, how does the theory hold up? According to

Fant, MD, associate professor of medicine and director of rheumatology at the

School of Medicine's University Specialty Clinics, there appears to be a

definite connection.

" It's one of the most common questions that patients will ask, " said Fant. " At

first I doubted because there was not a lot of scientific evidence to support

the correlation between arthritic symptoms and the weather. But I've been

practicing for nearly 20 years and I've heard it so often from so many patients

that I know there's something to it. "

Although it remains a vague science, Fant explains the connection in simple

terms. " I may not be able to explain the exact mechanism whether they're

humidity or differences in the barometric pressure and how they translate into

causing symptoms, " said Fant. " But I believe there is a connection simply

because I've heard too many patients tell me that they are absolutely sure when

it's going to rain because their knees will hurt more. "

Fant explains that there are different theories about why weather would affect

arthritic conditions the most common theory concerning barometric pressure.

" Suppose you have an inflamed joint that is subject to swelling, " said Fant. " If

the barometric pressure is decreased, then that would allow the inflamed tissue

to swell more, simply because there is less atmospheric pressure holding the

tissue back. If there are nerves in that tissue, then those nerves would be

stimulated by that swelling and that would translate into pain. "

Cold weather is another mechanism that could translate into arthritic symptoms,

according to Fant. In the same way that a decrease in barometric pressure

decreases swelling of an inflamed joint, cold weather would have the opposite

effect. Fant said that if cold temperatures shrink tissue down, it pulls on

nerves, thereby causing pain.

Although there is still not a specific mechanism that shows how weather affects

arthritis, Fant says that cold weather tends to create lifestyle conditions that

can lead to arthritic symptoms.

" A lot of the rheumatic conditions I treat become worse with a sedentary

lifestyle a condition that is more prevalent in the winter months, " said Fant.

" During winter, many people lead a less active lifestyle and their joints tend

to stiffen up. This is commonly referred to as gelling, where your joints become

`gelled' because you are sitting in one position too long and it causes pain and

stiffness. "

Beyond rheumatoid or osteoarthritis, Fant also says that the patients he sees

for lupus can be directly affected by weather conditions.

" I've treated lupus patients with a condition called Raynaud's syndrome, " said

Fant. " Raynaud's causes cold-induced vasospasms or decreased blood supply in the

hands and it can definitely worsen in colder conditions. " Fant also says that

two-thirds to three-fourths of all lupus patients suffer from photosensitivity.

For lupus patients, prolonged exposure to the sun can result in skin rashes in

addition to activating the internal features of lupus, like kidney disease,

arthritis and pleurisy.

But for some of his other patients, Fant says the sun's warmth can provide

symptomatic relief.

" With the more prevalent arthritis types like osteoarthritis or rheumatoid

arthritis, sun exposure, because it provides warmth, can make you feel better.

There's no evidence that it actually changes the condition but it can affect you

symptomatically in a positive way. "

Beyond weather-related symptoms, Fant says there are over 120 diagnosed

conditions that result in arthritis or joint pain.

For more information, contact the University Specialty Clinic's Division of

Rheumatology at .

[Guest guest]

I don't know about barometric, but I know that changes in the weather get me

every time. I have major issues in the heat, though the cold and I get along

well. BUT, the changes are what really kills me. Right now, we're having RAIN

(Arkansas and Missouri are having major flood issues) and every time I get to

the " used to it " point, it bloody changes again. I'm beginning to wish I could

hibernate until fall.

Marta

> Bill wrote:

> Does anybody here know about pain caused by a change in barometric pressure?

[Guest guest]

Bill,

I have been dealing with low back problems for over twenty five years. Since I

had my fusion ten years ago, the weather plays an important role to how I feel.

The only thing I might mention is that it is usually Low Pressure fronts that

effect spinal or joint problem since low pressure fronts bring rain and

dampness. High Pressure usually means clear blue skies.

I hurt the day before it rains, as it is the front of the front basically. Then

it gets better as the front passes and depending on how long it hangs around. I

feel very deep pressure in my low back that I say feels like someone is

squeezing my spinal chord. Also causes a deep burning. I have found that pain

meds are the only thing that takes the edge off of a so, so uncomfortable

feeling of wearing shoes two sizes too small.

Good Luck to you

Bill wrote:

> Does anybody here know about pain caused by a change in barometric pressure?

Another name might be weather related pain.

[Guest guest]

Bill wrote:

> Does anybody here know about pain caused by a change in barometric pressure?

Another name might be weather related pain.

All I know is that all of these storms have put me through he** for the past few

days.  I just wanted to escape from my body!!!!

SHELL