Terrible storms causing immense pain
 

We are having horrible storms along the Eastern sea board and I am in immense pain. Tornados, hail and high wind are effecting my body in a way I have never experienced. I normally love spring, but the continuous rain has made me sooo miserable. I went to the doc this week and he has MS and said the same thing....I hope we don't have to go through this all summer...

Hi Cindi 1965,
Yup. I am with you too. I live in ne PA and have been really bedridden (more so than normal) and in severe burning pain. About 5 pm today (Sat) I laid in a fetal position on my left side and could not move from sheer agony. I am with you buddy during this mess of a storm. I try to do meditations and calm my pain down and try to walk around when I can in order to relieve some pain. I guess we do all we can. I had to increase my pain med this week. I always get like this (been six years now) and I can tell how far away the weather change is and how bad it will be due to the amount of pain I am in. I am better than doppler radar!!!! My mom usually calls me and asks me how I am feeling just to find out what the weather will be doing two days from the time she asks. Hang in there my friend. Clearer weather tomorrow!
kathy d

The worst I have ever felt was a few years back when one of the hurricanes moved off shore and was stuck over Ohio for 2 days. Most of the time we just get the tail end of hurricanes and they are pretty well played out, but this one still had 100 mph winds and it was awful. The barometer was so low. I think I wept for hours that one day.

Showers are painful for me, but I make myself take a long hot shower on storm days. I stay in bed a lot. I have a bedwarmer that you lay on, and I use that. Pain meds don't normally help me, but I use them on stormy days... and they take the edge off. I also do meditation I learned in the book/CD Breakthrough Pain by Shinzen Young, although I have never felt I was very good at it, it does help.

When I was still working, bad weather days were torture. Now, they are still bad, but at least I don't have to go out most of the time, and I can take pain meds, extra baclofen (I am allowed to), use all my various pain gels, creams etc.... and try to keep a couple extra movies or something good on the DVR to keep my mind occupied.

April, May, June are the worst time for me because of the tail ends of hurricanes and the tornado season. For those of you who live where you get the full force of hurricanes, I do not know how you do it.

East coast as well here and it's taking its toll on me for sure. Today is the first day in several weeks that I feel like I can actually halfway function. Hopefully we'll have a quiet hurricane season this year. :smileypray:

Sorry to hear of your pain levels. You are, however, reporting something interesting. Although I can't pull the full text articles offhand, there is some active research right now in Japan on air pressures changes and neuropathic pain (NP). The article abstracts suggest that the mechanism of action is in the inner ear and that the key variable is the rate of pressure change, rather than the absolute levels of low atmospheric pressures that are reached. This could explain beautifully why tornadoes and hurricanes could have a much greater effect than a large, hulking winter low pressure system off of the Pacific Northwest: still not great fun but nowhere near what's being described here.

But what's odd is that, after disabling the key inner ear nerve in mice, researchers were able to exacerbate NP in only 8 minutes, roughly the same time it takes a jet to get to 20,000 feet, but there aren't the same levels of reports of NP associated with air travel, even though our ears send unambiguous and generally painless signals of increasing air pressure as we descend.

Any thoughts or reports to the contrary, e.g. crippling pain with air travel that is not related to the stress of getting to and through the airport? (Such as after an easy and hassle-free connection made by wheelchair?)

In any event, here are the abstracts:

1. Lowering barometric pressure aggravates mechanical allodynia and hyperalgesia in a rat model of neuropathic pain, Sato J, Morimae H, Seino Y, Kobayashi T, Suzuki N, Mizumura K, Neurosci Lett. 1999 Apr 30;266(1):21-4.

Department of Neural Regulation, Research Institute of Environmental Medicine, Nagoya University, Japan. jun@riem.nagoya-u.ac.jp

Abstract
To examine the effects of meteorological change on the pain-related behaviors of neuropathic rats, animals with a chronic constriction injury (CCI) to the sciatic nerve were exposed to low barometric pressure (LP), 20 mmHg below the natural atmospheric pressure in a climate-controlled room. CCI caused a decreased hindpaw withdrawal threshold to von Frey hair (VFH) stimulation (mechanical allodynia) and prolonged duration of hindpaw withdrawal in response to pinprick stimulation (mechanical hyperalgesia). When the CCI rats were exposed to LP, both these pain-related behaviors were aggravated, whereas no change was seen in a group of controls. In the CCI rats sympathectomy inhibited this LP-induced augmentation of pain-related behaviors. These results show that LP intensifies the abnormalities in the pain-related behaviors of neuropathic rats, and that sympathetic activity contributes to the LP effect.

PMID: 10336174 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10336174

2. The rate and magnitude of atmospheric pressure change that aggravate pain-related behavior of nerve injured rats, Funakubo M, Sato J, Obata K, Mizumura K, Int J Biometeorol. 2011 May;55(3):319-326. Epub 2010 Jun 24.

Department of Neuroscience II, Research Institute of Environmental Medicine, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, 464-8601, Japan.

Abstract
Complaints of patients with chronic pain may increase when the weather changes. The exact mechanism for weather change-induced pain has not been clarified. We have previously demonstrated that artificially lowering barometric pressure (LP) intensifies pain-related behaviors in rats with neuropathic pain [chronic constriction injury (CCI) and spinal nerve ligation (SNL)]. In the present study, we examined the rate and magnitude of LP that aggravates neuropathic pain. We measured pain-related behaviors [number of paw lifts to von Frey hair (VFH) stimulation] in awake rats after SNL or CCI surgery, and found that rates of decompression ≥5 hPa/h and ≥10 hPa/h and magnitudes of decompression ≥5 hPa and ≥10 hPa augmented pain-related behaviors in SNL and CCI rats, respectively. These results indicate that LP within the range of natural weather patterns augments neuropathic pain in rats, and that SNL rats are more sensitive to LP than CCI rats.

PMID: 20574669 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20574669

3. The inner ear is involved in the aggravation of nociceptive behavior induced by lowering barometric pressure of nerve injured rats, Funakubo M, Sato J, Honda T, Mizumura K, Eur J Pain 2010 Jan;14(1):32-9. Epub 2009 Mar 21.

Department of Neuroscience II, Research Institute of Environmental Medicine, Nagoya University, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, Japan.

Abstract
Patients suffering from neuropathic pain often complain of pain aggravation when the weather is changing. The exact mechanism for weather change-induced pain has not been clarified. We have previously demonstrated that experimentally lowering barometric pressure (LP) intensifies pain-related behaviors in rats with chronic constriction injury (CCI). In the present experiment we examined whether this pain aggravating effect of LP exposure in nerve injured rats is still present after lesioning of the inner ear. We used both CCI and spinal nerve ligation (SNL) models for this study. We injected into the middle ear sodium arsanilate solution (100mg/ml, 50microl/ear), which is known to degenerate vestibular hair cells, under anesthesia the day before surgery. Rats were exposed to LP (27hPa decrease over 8min) 7-9 days after CCI or 5-8 days after SNL surgery, and pain-related behavior (number of paw lifts induced by von Frey hair stimuli) was measured. When the inner ear lesioned SNL or CCI rats were exposed to LP, they showed no augmentation of pain-related behavior. On the other hand, the pain aggravating effect of a temperature decrease (from 24 to 17 degrees C) was maintained in both SNL and CCI rats. These results suggest that the barometric sensor/sensing system influencing nociceptive behavior during LP in rats is located in the inner ear.

PMID: 19318284 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19318284

Mike

Hi All...the full moons are bad too for me with increased pain and pressure allover and we had a full moon this weekend. Today is burning like crazy and I thought it was all over HA!
I don't think anywhere would be good for us with rsd. I am trying to keep my mind occupied. I tried the bath/shower today and that did not work either. I am sure bad weather will be here (by Tuesday) here in the NE PA area. Hope your pain is better today.
kathy d

Mike, do you see a connection with HBOT Hyperbaric oxygen therapy and weather air pressure change?

I'm right there with you
 

So sorry to hear about your pain level and how it has gotten worse. It seems many people have this same problem with the weather affecting the pain in our bodies.

I live in MN and it has been soooo cold this winter and spring. We had a few nice days that I could sit out in the sun and roll my pant legs up. I even got a sunburn!

Right now, I'm back up to the max levels on my meds. Yesterday I was curled up on my side, crying, and needing more than meds could give. My husband gave me a big old hug and got a cute movie to view at home. Oh, my goodness I don't know what I would do without him.

Let's hang in there and thank the Lord for the days he has given us--but pray for warm and sunny weather soon.

Teresa Marie

I've long noticed this weather thing, I'm sorry for all of you who go through it.
It's my belief, that so long as the barometer is 'moving' downward, this makes the pain worse. So, correlate that to 'feeling the storm coming'... As opposed to starting to feel better, sometimes even before the sun comes out again. (that's the barometer back on the rise).

I've been in agony this past month (eastern Pa), and also notice that the humidity has a bit to do with it. When I first got rsd, it was the cold, then the humidity and the barometer. I think I concentrated too much on the cold. Now, Spring (the rainy part) is the worst time of year for me. Although there aren't lots of bright sunshiny days.

For relief, I find that Aleve (for myself, it's My personal NSAID of choice) is more effective than methadone alone. This weather stuff seems to be inflammation. So, I suggest that you don't' write off a simple NSAID, just because you already took the strong stuff. It's a wonderful adjunct for these kind of days.

Feel Well!

Pete
asb

Hi Pete,
Funny thing is that my pain worsens when the barometric pressure rises (on the upswing). I feel less pain and pressure (as compared to the normal mess) when it is steady or falling?? It seems as though all of us have rsd but yet all of us are different in small ways. I always find that a fascinatinng fact here. Even meds are different for each of us. Hope our weather is "clearer" in the coming days ahead here in eastern PA.
Take care,
kathy d

Jim -

I've been looking at abstracts for a couple of days, and all I can say is that it's complicated. See, e.g., Analysis of risk factors associated with complications of hyperbaric oxygen therapy, Ambiru S, Furuyama N, Aono M, Otsuka H, Suzuki T, Miyazaki M, J Crit Care 2008 Sep;23(3):295-300. Epub 2007 Dec 11.

Surgical Center and Division of Hyperbaric Medicine, Chiba University Hospital, Chiba 260-8677, Japan.

Abstract
PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to verify independent risk factors of pressure equalization problems associated with hyperbaric oxygen (HBO(2)) therapy.

METHODS: We reviewed a single-institutional study of 1609 patients with 17604 treatments who had HBO(2) therapy in a multiplace chamber, in which the factors examined and their relationship to complications were assessed, using multivariate analyses, to determine the significantly independent risk factors of complications related to HBO(2) therapy.

RESULTS: The compression rate was 0.067 atmospheres absolute/min (6.8 kPa/min). Pressure equalization problems of the middle ear, expressed as pain or discomfort, such as cranial sinus pain, and teeth pain were observed in 156 patients (9.7%). Sixty-six of them could not continue HBO(2) therapy because of these problems. Peripheral circulatory disorders with refractory ulcers or nonhealing wounds and the interval between clinical symptoms and the first day of HBO(2) therapy were independent risk factors of pressure equalization problems. Independent risk factors of cessation due to pressure equalization problems were identified as age more than 61 years, female sex, and interval between symptoms and the first day of HBO(2) therapy.

CONCLUSION: It is suggested that chamber compression must be performed with particular care when patients have peripheral circulatory disorders and have short interval between clinical symptoms and the first day of HBO(2) therapy.[Emphasis added.]

PMID: 18725032 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18725032

Clearly, the highlighted language refers to diabetes, but would the same risks be present in light of the known issues of micro-profusion/endothelial dysfunction associated with CRPS? Dunno.

Mike

Looks like it also says old women were most likely to not continue. I guess I can mark HBOT off my list.

Now exactly how do I get barometric pressure off my stinkin' list?
It's really pushin' all my buttons today!

Thanks,
pat e

Hello Kathy,

Isn't that strange? It seems to me, (that for me, anyway) the dropping pressure (storm front / low pressure approaching) causes me pain.
Then, as higher pressure approaches, (storm going to leave), I start to feel better.
It seems to me, although more folks would hafto take part in a poll, that the 'movement' of the barometer is where the pain is the worst. It's another thing that activates the sympathetic system, and that messes with us.

It looks like another nasty week here in the mud atlantic, everyone take care.
And, give a thought/prayer for those in NC who just lost everything due to the tornadoes.

Pete

Kathy,
Mine gets worse whether it's up or down...it just seems like I am always making excuses for my RSD :(

Spring is always a nightmare in RI. The weather totally sucks. Today it is freezing and the wind is hooting. I am glad I am working because it takes my mind off my pain, except for the fact that my fingers ache and I need to type...and I have Voltaren plastered EVERYWHERE. Ugh... in my next life I am marrying a man from Southern California or Arizona!!

There was a line of violent storms that went through here in the middle of the night. 100 mph wind, tornadoes, hail. I was so bad this morning when I had an appointment at the neuro, I didn't even take my service dog because I couldn't stand the thought of the slight tension she has been taught to have on her harness to help me keep me moving forward and help my balance. I had tears rolling down my cheeks. I think it was a good thing he saw me like this. He asked me a lot of questions about the effect of the weather. Was very interested. Didn't have a lot of suggestions for help though.

SandyRI - I live in AZ. It is HOT in the summer. Right now it is about 90. We have started using our ceiling fans all the time...what nightmare for me. My feet are so sensitive to the movement of the air. :( I am constantly telling my kids...turn it on, turn it off, etc. When the A/C kicks on or someone's a/c is set too cold (common in the stores, etc) my feet just ache. I know probably not as bad as the weather you deal with, but not fun.

I am sorry all of you are having issues with your weather. :hug: This is NOT fun.

Ok guys and girls, the Barometric pressue in my area is 30.37 and rising and I feel better than I have in days. So I'm probably gonna do too much and feel like crap later. Balance, balance, balance. Does that have anything to do with being a waitress? Maybe that is my problem I could never carry one of those trays full of food around, so maybe my brain doesn't understand that word at all.

Have a wonderful, blessed day
gram E

Ps I did use my new gel again yesterday, and I think it helps. I don't know how, but I think it does. Voltaren 1% gel. Sticky, but that passes after an hour or 2.