Pain And Changes In Weather...Am I Alone????

Rachel, sorry I didn't answer your question about finding other ways in spring and summer. The answer is I do not know any other ways to work through it (I have tried everything cold packs, heat, vitamins, acupuncture, herbal, chiro etc.) other than sucking it up and waiting it out and taking a painkiller when it is no longer bearable, or it impacts or restricts your life. I spent a lot of time working in the jungles of the Amazon where the pressure rarely changes much and guess what, no pain.

I did some reading on changes in the weather and your body. There is some truth to a change in barometric pressure does effect your body. Unfortunately those of us with chronic pain, these changes effect us negatively.

I definitely do not think it's an old wives tale and being dismissed by a doctor in invalidating. This is why I found solace in learning from Dr. Sletten as he broke down the science proving that this is not in someone's head. Validation is important.

I grew up hearing my Mom complain every time it was going to be humid, rain or snow because it affected her pain levels. She talked and talked about it most of my life. Eventually, my just hearing the weather report of a front moving in, became a trigger that increased my anxiety and empathy in anticipation for her pain.

When I went through 3 weeks at Mayo's pain rehab center for my own chronic pain and conditions, I learned about "pain behaviors" - anything you do, say or think that reminds you of chronic (not acute) pain. This process of accessing the brain's pain excitatory pathways leads to and generates more pain. I was like POW, BAM, BOOM!!! Made logical sense, but I'd never thought about it that way before. Not to say pain will completely go away with this approach but it can contribute to the reduction of pain - like cutting off fuel lines to a fire.

Anyway, just sharing what has helped me in hopes of helping someone else. I still listen to my Mom complain about the weather and while the weather now negatively affects me, too, it has become my choice to not speak of it, as one of many steps in my pain-management approach, and its helped. Plus, my loved ones are spared.

Hmm... talent or super power??? I'm going with Super Power because it sounds way cooler. You and your son could write your own Marvel comic for a side gig. What do you say?! 😊

How amazing to work in the Amazon! Might you consider reading or listening to a pod cast about the Amazon jungles during those difficult times for distraction? Although the barometric pressure in your living room may not be ideal, maybe taking your brain on a little vacation will help temporarily.

Yes Rachel, choosing to ignore it works until your PT looks at you and says, "The weather really is going to change, isn't it?" As he starts doing MFR therapy on your neck...and then notices your hands have swollen too.
Today my 7 yo grandson said his muscles "aren't happy" when it gets chilly. So we went outside in sweatshirts, warmed up our muscles, and did an hour of running around and yard work.

It's amazing what kids can accomplish when you teach them to use special adult tools like loppers and challenge them to show off their muscles! Two little boys, ages 4 &7, filled a yard waste bin, cut 1/2 bushel of kale for their tortoise, and assorted other chores in an hour. I think I owe them a trip to the old-fashioned arcade for games this weekend.
Sue

This discussion has been enjoyable; people may now understand they are not alone. I think the worst thing mentally is believing you are unique. As Rachel has christened it our "superpowers", it would be far better if we could make money out of it! Maybe 300 years ago, we may have been seen as a weather oracle, and people aspired to have this talent. I make a little humor out of the condition, but to those who suffer, it is not fun.

I also suffer similar pain when flying, which is all about pressure. I had zero pain in the northern Amazon jungle as I indicated previously, for years (I was probably worried more about pumas, snakes, and malaria, lol). This time cemented that pressure changes were the definitive cause of the pain. I was in Dubai for a few months with no pain, then flew to Australia in September (my home country), and here I go again; 3 or 4 days before rain, the pain returned.

Meteorology wasn't a side effect listed by my Primary Care Physician. All jokes aside, yes the pain is real, and hot and cold applications can ease the discomfort associated with barometric pressure changes.
Doing toe to head joint flexes as you are able- ankle flexing* toes pointing up and down- sit and raise legs at the knee Stand and raise legs independently while grasping a chair for balance < and so on> try to get your body moving at your speed and comfort level. Doing basic movements is more challenging, but stretches help me.

Absolutely! All my pain and then this overwhelming ache everywhere. After 16 years of this i usually remember now.
But when it happens i just want o lay in fetal position and hope i can sleep. Nobody wants to drugs but sometimes its the only thing that allows me to carry on.

You are not alone and the effects of barometric pressure changes increasing pain can be at least partially explained. The joints and bursae have fluid in them and when the barometric pressure decreases, the fluid pressure increases and can. Cause pain, swelling and stiffness. The faster the change and more extreme the change, the worse it is. Baro pressures drop when cooler or stormy weather approaches and the pain can be felt 24 hrs or more before the storm or cld comes in. I use this information to anticipate and modify my medication, like anti inflammatory meds, and activities, like social plans, to accommodate the change. I also wear warmer clothes, get out the heating pad and plan simpler meals and comfort foods. Baro pressure changes also cause increased vasodilation which can trigger migraines and sinus problems.
I used to spend winters in AZ instead of CO and now have moved there permanently for this reason. It’s the reason there are so many snowbirds trying to escape the cold and snow storms. You can use the barometer as one of your tools to help manage your health and pain. I find 30mm is my threshold. Below is bad, above is better. Have fun experimenting with this. I hope it helps you!

@rwinney I am about to try what you would call advanced hypnosis, where the person running it helps try to have your body modify what it feels. >99% of what your body does is all subconscious. You do not have to think about breathing, heart beating, body healing, digesting food, growing hair, etc. People may think treatment is something way out there, but I have seen his work where, after a year, he was able to help a person who had brain damage partially remap his patient's brain to take up the slack for what was lost during the injury. If we think about meditation, those highly skilled people can almost stop their heartbeat, reduce pain, and elevate to another way of thinking by using their minds. I believe with all the improvements we have made in medicine, maybe we have forgotten what our bodies can do. We know, for example, that opioids can worsen your pain over time as our brain gets retrained a little that we are in pain, and without the tablet, our pain will be wrong. Those of us with chronic pain where there is no time frame to its end are dependent on pain relief, not addicted to pain relief.

The mind is a powerful tool; just like a computer, we can reprogram certain aspects. I am not sure we really know to what extent. When you run out of alternatives, you educate yourself on what else exists. I am not a doctor but by education, I am a scientist, and as such, I seek out answers through data. Will this treatment help? I have no idea, but I have seen evidence that some remarkable changes have occurred in others. It would be fantastic if you could teach the brain that the pain signals are not that your body is in a stressful or damaged situation, but that it is now what is normal and to chill out on the pain signals we are under day in and day out.

I am not a spiritual person or one who chases miracles by religion but hell if I can find a solution to my pain through a benign no risk treatment, I am all for it.