Does humidity effect your pain level?
 

Hi all,

I hope we get the board back up tomorrow, but since it's not and things are kind of rough pain wise I wanted to ask, does humidity make you feel more pain? I surely hurt real bad with all the rain and increased humidity we've had down here in Florida this past week. Not much else to say, but I thought I'd lean on my CP friends a little today and see how many of you suffer more when it's humid like I have and do when it's really wicked humid here.

Hugs to you all! Wishing for pain free days for everyone. :)

Hi Pam, I live in the desert and i can say that even the slightest rise in humidity causes my aches and pains to get worse. One strange thing though is that when we were on vacation on the coast in Oregon I wasn't in as much pain and the humidity was very high there. So is it the humidity plus the higher temps that causes my pain? Or was I not in as much pain because I was distracted by being on vacation at the ocean? One of those Hmmmmmmm moments...Sue

I haven't been out of Florida since becoming disabled and that was when I started suffering from Chronic Pain. I have often wondered about places that have dry heat and how pain levels would be living in a place like that. I wonder about your experience too, if it was just being on vacation or if the heat is another factor. I know when I had plates in my right leg I used to sit in the sun and let my leg bake to ease the pain and it helped but then going back into the air conditioning it was always hard.

Thanks for your reply Sue! I guess it isn't just in my head as my DH might like to think. ;) :)

For me it is not necessarily the humidity - it's the change in barometric pressure, which happens when the weather changes.

Also for me, when the pressure is on the high side or on the low side I also flare - even if there have been no changes in pressure - but if it gets 'stuck' at high or low then I flare until it goes back to normal.

I wonder about pressure changes too, sometimes my ears feel funny and then it goes away. That's an interesting though that maybe it's also related to pressure changes, thanks for the reply Wittesea. :D

Hi guys~
Boy, I'm with ya on the low pressure! My gramma could always predict the weather, because of her "rheumatiz". (Always reminded me of granny on the Beverly Hillbillys minus the money!) I'll tell 'em when the weather is going to change too.

High pressure doesn't seem to bother me though.

Hugs,
Jan

Pam, I'll chime in and say without a doubt "low pressure" more so than humidity is the pain creater for me. Especially in the winter when a storm is approaching I have noticed not only a pain level increase, but overall a "sickish" feeling.

Jyes

I bet that is what made it worse this past week, the low pressure. Why that would have any effect on pain is beyond me but it obviously does and it wasn't all in my head. Thanks Jan & Jyes for the confirmation I was looking for. ;)

I'll thank our son for the answer on this one... he's a professional Meteorologist who works for the National Weather Service...

The changes in barometric pressure are what cause pain; once the barometer stabilizes, either high, low, or somewhere in between, your body will adjust to whatever the ambient pressure is. But, either a rise or a fall in atmospheric pressure will cause internal organs, capillaries, nerves and such to either expand or contract ever-so-slightly, but plenty enough to make your pain sensory nerves notice the effect.

Absolutely barometric pressure in my opinion. And the dampness really gets to me as well. This is the first year I didn't go camping in many years, its just too damp, even sleeping in a tent trailer. I hurt so bad the last time I went, it was no fun at all.
I tell people that I am a human barometer!
The pain goes from probably a 6-7 on a good day, to an 8 or higher when
them weather is bad.
A few years ago I took a trip to Az, to see how much the climate would affect my pain levels, and found it to be much better for me out there.
I really felt a lot better out there, I was there for a full month, so I could get a good feel for the weather. Part of it may have been the new environment, and all the new things to see, that may have taken my mind off the pain to some degree, but overall, I was in about 1/2 the pain I am in here in NH.
I would move out there, if I though I could find a good doctor that would continue my pain meds. Its just that the thought of moving is so overwhelming to me, I've been in the same home for 25 years, and it would take me 2 years to get ready to move. :eek: I don't know if I could handle a move in my condition, plus who wants to move to somewhere with no friends at all, it would be too lonely out there by myself.
Maybe somday, I'll get the courage to do it, but for now, I guess its
good old New England, and putting a extra log on the fire....

Peace
Rags

I saw this and had to agree-
the changes in pressure for the most part & to some extent the chill/dampness during winter affect me.
RSI/TOS/CMP.

west of Portland, OR USA

Yup!
 

Another walking, talking barometer here! My pain levels are very high when there is a storm brewing...even a day in advance! Any barometric pressure change affects the aching, nagging, arthritic joint pain from head to toe.

I'm also in Florida and have had higher pain levels lately. I'm not sure if the humidity is affecting it, or if it is due to the higher number of storms rolling through recently. Like alot of others, any pressure changes, no matter what sort of weather, brings on the pain with a vengeance!

~Kimmy

There's a familiar face! (((Kimmy)))

Pain increase only while pressure is dropping
 

I thought a bit about the above statement, yes, probably a scientific fact that pressure changes in either direction will cause the pain increase we complain about, however, I do not think I experience such a feeling when the pressure is rising. Maybe an X-factor called sunshine might have something to do with it.

I know when a major snowstorm in the winter is approaching and you get the dark gray dampish sky for perhaps up to a day before the storm begins, that I start feeling bad at the point of the gloomy skies, and I assume a falling barometer.

But, when the storm is almost over, and sometimes you get those peaks of sun through the clouds while snow flurries are still tapering off, I usually am over the depressed, painful feelings. So, I think that for me, it is more of a one way street of pressure dropping for the pain and depression that comes with it and I am not affected by the increase in pressure which almost always comes with Mr Sunshine! :>)

What say you all?

Jyes

Pressure Changes
 

{{{{{{Alffe}}}}}}

The road is still bumpy as ever! Hope yours has smoothed out some! =)

~Kimmy

Hello Pam, its good to see you. I am sorry about the increases pain though.

Your question has been answered I believe. I was going to say the barometric pressure up or down and also the movement seems to bring on the worset.

I think PonyBoy's son that was the expert. thanks PonyBoy. I have so many bad days lately I don't know what causes what anymore. OLD AGE??:eek:

I do hope your pain will be less really soon. JoJo6

Hi~
I'm not so sure about Mr. Sunshine, but like I said before:
so I'm with ya Jyes! :)
Hugs,
Jan

HI Pamster, where abouts in Florida, I live in Tallahassee, it has been raining off and on for the last couple of days here and I was thinking the same thing. Since my 4 level back fusion in May, boy can I tell when it is going to rain, I am so worried now about the winter coming up. I have 8 rods and 12 screws in my lower back now and a plate and 4 screws in my neck. I know pressure can cause the pain build up but was wondering about the cold weather coming.

DD

Just had to join in and say YES!!! In the world of "normals" I usually feel like the 'wierdo' when everyone is saying what a gorgeous day and all I can say is OWWWWW! Even a little bit of humidity seems to set off the pain (fibromyalgia and ms) and of course when the barometer is falling. :( Then there are certain veins on my hands that swell and are more pronounced.

Here in PA we've been going through a miserable rainy stretch and when it's not raining the humidity comes back. Is there anywhere on earth we'd be pain free?

So sorry there are so many in constant pain, but isn't it good to know we're not alone and it's NOT all in our heads!!!

Take care......Judy -- aka msproperlady

I can put an Amen to pony boy's expert. It is the process of the change in the pressure more so than if it is up or down.
They say that it causes pregnant women to go into labor. Especially along with a full moon. (That's not old wife's tale either)

Hi Judy...

I certainly know what you mean! :) Rainy days actually seem to take the edge off my chronic pain BUT bring out the sunshine and gorgeous days and the pain soars. Seems like the reverse should be true!

Various seasons or months seem to alter the course of the pain also. Late August/September and April are the demon months for pain and December always guarantees a flare!

Extreme temperature changes in one day...crank up that pain level. Going from morning mid 50's to an afternoon high level of 79 plus is always a challenge...

Hope today is a low level pain day for everyone...and glad to know I am not the only weather weary CPer! My doc still claims the weather has little to no effect on the pain...:eek:

Carly

Beautiful rose. :)

Same here about the pain /barometric pressure. Has been working overtime lately. I wish I knew how to make it better because it is causing the migraine's, and a host of other things go crazy.

Good to "see" you Pam.;) Julia aka JoJo6

WOW! We have alot of us Floridians here!
 

The last 2 years have played havoc for me when it is damp and rainy. I don't know if it was because of all of the hurricanes passing through and all of the weather changes or what. I just know thats when I really started noticing a drastic change and alot more pain.

The last few weeks with this on and off rain have played on me too. That and the overcast skies leave that gloom and doom feeling for me too. They say alot of people suffer depression then and suggest florescent lights. But I hate those. They make my eyes feel dizzy like.

In Florida we have that bite to the bone cold. Its usually damp and real windy and it just freezes you. Its a different cold than up North. It really is cold when its cold here. My daughter always says she is freezing when it gets in the 50's. It really hurts on those days in my body...I dread seeing those days come....:eek: I hurt from head to toe then.

Hope this winter everyone stays by a nice cozy fire or under piles of covers and has less pain than last year. I remember it seems like everyone was feeling bad then. Take care everyone.

Sheryl

Hey Carly. Pooh! Pooh on your doc...obviously does not have chronic pain. Low pressure systems definately cause me to hurt without relief. Ponyboy, what does your son say about HOT weather. That makes me hurt and feel ill.

sally

DCuster
Sarah here, I'd had 7 levels fused two years ago. I'm 47 and wow can I feel pain and swelling when the weather changes..do you also have swelling?? I'm in Colorado. I was in the desert in California for a couple of months last year and felt great the entire time. Came back on the plane, I swelled so bad I had to unbutton my jeans. Doctors think I'm absolutely nuts and tried to put me on antidepressants. (tried but did not succeed). Just wondering if you have any of these same issues.

I just moved to the desert too. I have never had this happen to me before till now. I have Fx my L wrist twice and my R once. Last night it started to rain and my R begain to stiffen up and became painful this morning. It happen once to my L with rain as well. I'm no stranger to humid weather so its boggleing my mind.