December 21, 2006 - 2:37pm
Okay, we've all heard people saying "the weather's getting ready to shift, my knees acting up" etc, etc. My question is for fellow chronic pain sufferers, do you notice a difference in your pain levels depending on the weather? I know this isn't a pharmer type topic per se, so let's add this. Do you find yourself taking more of your pain medication when the weather changes? For example, my Rx is for one tablet four times daily as needed. I always would take just three, and save the fourth for an "incase" day, but lately, the weather has been getting colder and I notice that my range of motion is terrible. On the same topic, I should have opted for one of the long acting meds a couple of weeks ago, but thought I could still control the pain, neglecting the fact that I knew the weather was about to change.
So, for fellow CP patients, and everyone else in general: Do you have any biological tell tale signs that the weather is changing? Do you notice a difference between seasons? These generally get answered by one or two people, and then fall into oblivion. But, I am curious how many others have this problem. Thanks in Advance all. Remember, this is open for discussion, unless it proves to be of no help for anybody.
Gtrplayer
December 21, 2006 - 10:52pm
#2
weather and chronic pain
It sure does. Usually the day before it rains my back is worse than normal. I am also affected by the change in the seasons. I would have expected an increase in pain when the weather changes from fall to winter. However, I also get knocked for a loop when the season changes from winter to spring. I can't figure that one out. Because of those two season changes I need to take steroids along with an increase of pain medications for a week during those season changes.
December 21, 2006 - 11:18pm
#3
The answer is yes lately I
The answer is yes lately I have been feeling more of an increase in my pain levels especially at work, but I really never associated it with the weather up until now. I have chosen to go back to the shorter acting medications and opted out of my sustained release medication and am regretting it now because I am needing more tablets than usual. Everone have a great holiday ;-)
The comments expressed by me on this forum are opinions and should not be percieved as recomendations or advice. Medical professionals are at best your main resource for anything medical.
December 21, 2006 - 11:49pm
#4
SCIENTIFICALLY PROVEN FACT
WHAT WAS ONCE CONSIDERED AN "OLD WIVES TALE" IS NOW A SCIENTIFICALLY PROVEN FACT AND I DEF FEEL IT-HAVE HAD FOUR KNEE SURGERIES (2 ON EACH) AND THEY ACHE BADLY PRIOR TO A COLD FRONT OR CERTAIN THUNDER STORMS-FURTHERMORE, I AM UNDER THE CARE (FOR NEARLY A DECADE NOW) OF A WORLD RENOUND NEUROLOGIST AND HIS TEAM-AFTER STUDYING HIS "CLOSED HEAD BRAIN INJURY" PATIENTS OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS HERE IN SOUTH FLORIDA, HE HAS ESTABLISHED A PATTERN-WE ALL SUFFERED MORE HEADACHES/SEIZURES, ETC. SYMPTOMS DURING HURRICANE SEASON-THEY HAVE DETERMINED THAT THE CHANGE (DRASTIC) IN BAROMETRIC PRESSURE WAS THE CAUSE - FURTHERMORE, I CAN BARELY GET AROUND, OR CLIMB FLIGHTS OF STAIRS WHEN I TRAVEL BACK TO VISIT FAMIY IN MY HOME STATE OF NEW JERSEY IN THE WINTER...(SEVERE AND PERM INJURIES TO KNEES, NECK, BACK, INER EAR AND BRAIN) - THIS IS WIDELY ACCEPTED EVEN IN A COURT OF LAW-MY INJURY FELL UNDER SOMETHING CALLED FEDERAL LONGSHORE HARBOR WORKERS COMP ACT (FLHWCA) AND THERE IS CASE LAW THAT PERMITTED CLAIMANTS WITH CERTAIN INJURIES (KNEES,BACK,ETC) TO MOVE FROM NORTHERN STATES TO SOUTHERN STATES AT THE EXPENSE OF THE INSURANCE CARRIER AS LONG AS THE DR WROTE A SCRIPT SAYING IT WOULD BE MEDICALLY BENEFICIAL (OF COURSE FLHWC WAS WAY BETTER THAN STATE WC, I GOT A $3500 JACUZZI COURTASY OF INSURANCE CARRIER B/C THE DR WROTE A SCRIPT THAT IT WAS A MEDICAL NECCESSITY (SP?) WHICH WAS TRUE THOUGH AND I WAS BEING PAID MORE WEEKLY BY THE CARRIER FOR 4 YRS. THAN I HAD EARNED AT THE JOB BEFORE MY INJURY! THANK GOD IT WAS A YACHT I WAS BUILDING AND NOT A HOUSE- YOU GET TO PICK ALL YOUR DR'S AND SURGEONS AS WELL UNLIKE STATE COMP) SO I HAVE SEEN THAT EVEN THE COURTS ACCEPT THAT COLD WHEATHER CAUSES AN INCREASE IN DISCOMFORT WHEN IT COMES TO MANY INJURIES-MY WIFE WANTS TO MOVE "BACK HOME" SO BAD, BUT MY DR'S SAY I WILL BE VIRTUALLY INCAPACITATED DURING THE COLD MONTHS-COMPARE THAT TO 82 AND SUNNY AT CHRISTMAS TIME...PLAYING WITH MY KIDS OUTSIDE...USING THE POOL AND JACUZZI FOR EXERCISE AND MUSCLE RELAXING-IT IS LIKE COMPARING 2 DIF PLANETS-I GO TO N.J. DURING WINTER AND WAKE UP FEELING AS THOUGH I WENT 10 ROUNDS (WAS GOLDEN GLOVE AND BRIEFLY PROFESSIONAL BOXER, SO I KNOW) - SO I CAN PROMISE YOU GTRPLAYER, NO WAY THE SAME MED ROUTINE WOULD TAKE CARE OF ME IN THE COLD AND DAMP WEATHER, NO WAY...
-MOVE TO SOUTH FLA AND SPEND 2 WEEKENDS GETTING YOUR USCG CAPT LICENSE-THEN PROCEED TO COLLECT $50-$75K A YEAR "BABYSITTING" ONE OF THE MILLION YACHTS DOWN HERE, WHO'S OWNERS LIVE ELSEWHERE, OUT OF STATE...OUT OF COUNTRY, AND NEED SOMEONE TO KEEP BOAT CLEAN, START UP AND RUN SYSTEMS REGULARLY, ETC.-OH, AND TAKE THEM OUT FISHIN OR CRUIS'N DURING THE 2-8 WEEKS A YEAR THAT THEY COME VISIT...
just remember, it is not just cold, but also pressure, barometric pressure changes that influence the pain dif-
December 23, 2006 - 6:57am
#5
Our bodies are strange things....
Several years ago hmm about 12 or 13 years now I crushed the bone in my foot..customer walked up behind me and startled enough that I dropped the board I was holding on my foot OUCH When I did it they told me that after that I would be able to tell the change in the weather every year from it because I would surely get arthritis in it. Luckily for me (cause I don't think I could handle more pain) this has never happened yet, I can tell the change in the weather but it is in my back and leg. I have had people tell me to move south or move west but, I figure everyone has weather of some sort and I like to watch the leaves change.
Many things can tell the change in weather...ever watched kids? Their moods are NUTS before a full moon and during. Like bouncing off the walls nuts. I used to think this was just silly then I worked in a preschool. Their moods change also with the weather.....it is so strange how our bodies relate to nature. With and without our knowledge.
intent
One smile can make a difference!
December 28, 2006 - 3:29pm
#6
WEATHER & PAIN
I AM SO GLAD THAT I'VE READ ALL OF THE ABOVE. SO IT ISN'T IN MY HEAD
!!!!!!- iT MAKES PERFECT SENSE WITH THE WHOLE THING, THANKS EVERYONE!
YES, GTR- GOOD TOPIC AS I FEEL THE RAW DAMPNESS ON THIS DRIZZLING ALMOST 38 DEGREE DAY /I WOULD RATHER HAVE IT VERY COLD -NOT THIS BONE CHILLING, PAIN INSTIGATING CONDIMENT AS A RESULT OF THIS LOUSY WEATHER. YES IT EFFECTS ME ALOT.THANKS