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Why does colder weather or high altitude decrease nerve pain?
My husband was diagnosed with intercostal neuroglia at Mayo and many surgeries done at Barrows over 16 years now. We live in AZ so the heat, humidity, dew point (we assume these are the factors) increases his pain/spasms but when we go to cooler places to visit like MN or even Flagstaff, AZ his pain is minimal or even disappears in MN. Doctors say there's no evidence that weather affects nerve pain but we see it. MN he had NO pain at all back in June but warm there with humidity and dew point similar to Yuma, AZ so baffles us, maybe it it being in higher elevation area or barometric pressure but when we check pressure, it is same % as here in southern AZ?? Does anyone have a source or lead to figure out why my husband's pain disappers in MN then returning to AZ, he falls to the floor in nerve pain spasms?
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Hello @persimmon85364. Welcome to Connect. You will notice I have moved your post into the Neuropathy Support Group, which you can find here now:
- Neuropathy Support Group: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/why-does-colder-weather-or-high-altitude-decrease-nerve-pain/
I wonder how immediate your husband's pain subsides after traveling to MN? The reason I ask is that while weather changes may not have any correlation to nerve pain, it may be worth looking into environmental exposure in your home that could be making his symptoms worse, and hence, his symptoms less so when traveling.
Toxics such as lead, mercury, arsenic and thalium along with some organic insecticides and solvents can result in neuropathies. It may be worth exploring some of those factors in your search to find answers. Do you happen to live in an older home that could contain some of these toxins?
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2 ReactionsI never thought of these things, I will check as our home is 55 years old.
But when he goes to his mom's house 4 hours away in Tucson, for a week, he is still in immense pain but her older house could have items above as well.
Most recent experience is when we flew to MN and that night/next day his pain was almost gone then when we returned to AZ, normally pain returns immediate but this time there was a delay in his body for 1 1/2 weeks till pain returned which was a mystery as to "why".
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2 ReactionsMaybe it’s cooler weather.
My foot & leg neuropathy has almost stopped since weather has gotten cooler here in the Midwest.
I was surprised but SO thankful for the respite.
PN was severe all spring & summer & now I can sleep. Also taking Metanx & maybe that’s helped as well.
Does anyone know if Metanx works. I have been taking it for 13 years and symptoms in the last year have gotten worse. I am afraid to stop. Any advice.
Hi @gbrodnan1945, I'm not sure if you've seen this discussion but you might want to read through it to learn what others have shared about Metanx.
--- Metanx: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/metanx/
If it were me, I think I would want to have my vitamin b levels checked to see if the excess levels of b6 (toxicity) is the reason that the symptoms have gotten worse.
"Metanx is a medical food that has been prescribed for the clinical dietary management of endothelial dysfunction. It contains high concentrations folate (3 mg), vitamin B12 (2 mg), and vitamin B6 (35 mg)."
--- Metanx and Early Stages of Diabetic Retinopathy:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4311777/
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1 ReactionI have PN and the temperature does not affect the pain. But I must keep air from touching my feet or legs to prevent increased pain. So they must be covered all the time. And the covering must be very soft on the inside.
I live in the high Andes in Ecuador, Our city is 8400 ft. i have episodic , minor issues with neuropathy . My oncologo warned me about eating cold foods, being in a cold environment, avoiding all cold.
It can be very cold at high altitudes here. I have related neuropathy to reaching into the freezer top part of my frig. I avoid most sugar so no ice cream or icy drinks with sugar, . No or very little other issues with neuropathy through the fifth month of tx. Otherwise after 5 months post-surgery Foxfol chemo for colon cancer, I am fine. Have an excellent diet .,.I do not OVERTHINK this cancer and try to let go of OUTCOMES EACH DAY... GOOD LUCK. CANCER IS A MENTAL G AME.
I live in Flagstaff but I still have the same neuropathy pain that I have if I’m visiting in Portland, OR or Central Illinois which are at much lower elevations and have higher humidity. I started having symptoms in July 2019 and was finally diagnosed in October of 2020. However, I know that they’re busy but, apparently my case is still considered minor as the AZ Mayo Clinic turned down my request for a consultation.
I must be different cold weather makes Peripheral Neuropathy in my legs worse. I live in Pennsylvania and in Winters I have to try and stay out of the cold.
Just as another data point, cold has no effect my neuropathy in my feet and legs. (Mine is caused by spine trauma.) The pressure altitude seems to make no difference as well. I fly and have gone from 250 feet up to 7000 feet and back down again in one day with no noticeable difference.