Why does chronic pain tend to get worse under certain weather conditions?

I think it has to do with a change in the barometric pressure. I’m not sure how, but I think that is why I also hurt when I fly.

I agree barometric pressure. Also in humid conditions things swell up a little. My rings get tighter (I wonder if it has anything to do with osmosis? Our body trying to even out to the outside air? I have no idea if that has any merit the osmosis, it is just a weird guess) and I have a relative who really notices her feet are tight in her shoes in humid weather compared to dry. That same relative has a lot of problems flying as @wilma mentioned, but it isn’t her arthritis flaring up, but the swelling in her legs gets very bad and hangs around for days, sometimes over a week.

I am not sure it is the pressure when flying or the change from very dry, planes are very dry, to more humid again once on the ground.

“A 2007 study by Tufts University showed that an increase in barometric pressure or an decrease in temperature caused an increase in arthritis pain. Specifically, every 10-degree drop in temperature corresponded with an incremental increase in arthritis pain. Other studies in cadavers have found that barometric pressure affects pressure inside the joints. In one experiment, when pressure in the hip joints was equated with atmospheric pressure, it threw the ball of the hip joint about one-third of an inch off track.” Source

Thank you @marinelife I knew that it wasn’t “all in my mind’.

Some also blame barometric pressure for causing labor. Lots of babies are born during hurricanes when the pressure drop is very steep. I think the studies are inconclusive proving it, but it is generally accepted as true.

I did wonder if it was the barometric pressure, I’m just not sure I understand why it does what it does to us.

Old wives tale. No scientific evidence supports this. Most likely all psychological – bad weather may affect mood which may degrade coping mechanisms. Certainly cold weather can affect joints and muscles but so would standing in a cold room.

The change in barometric pressure is in the noise. If you drove up (or down) a 1000 foot hill that would change the barometric pressure more significantly than the change in the atmospheric pressure due to a weather system.

“There is much anecdotal but little empirical evidence for the effect of weather changes on pain. Much of the literature consists of either case studies or experimental investigations with few subjects and a reliance on self-report measures. Laboratory studies to determine the exact mechanism of action have been largely unsuccessful. Nonetheless, the mere frequency of report suggests a significant relationship between weather changes and pain intensity. ”

from

http://www.iasp-pain.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Home&Template=/CM/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=2201

@Charles Well, a lot of people say they can feel oncoming bad weather, and the barometric pressure begins to change before the weather gets here.

Maybe people do get joint pain changing altitudes. We already vited airplanes, maybe people driving through varying altitudes in a short amount of time notice changes as well.

I am not arguing, just pointing these things out. I too mentioned there is conflicting evidence regarding barometric pressure triggering labor. I tend to think people really do feel changes in their body immediately prior to an during bad weather, I don’t think it is psychological. Too many people have it happen to dismiss it as all in their heads in my opinion.

@Charles “Old wives tale. No scientific evidence supports this.”

How can you say that when I just quoted a Tufts University study that shows the effect of rises in barometric pressure on the joints and a correlation between changes in barometric pressure and temperature and arthritis pain? You are wrong.

My worst migraines, arthritis and fibro pain all occur with barometric pressure changes. My all-time worst migraine occured when we had tornadoes near our home….I seriously thought my brain was going to explode.

My paternal grandfather had RA (as do many relatives on that side of my family).
His worst bouts came with a week of rain or snow, or any quick weather change (which happens a lot in our region).

@Charles you are fortunate not to be among those of us who live with chronic pain. Changes in barometric pressure associated with weather patterns are sustained whereas driving over a mountain range involves transient changes. The evidence for the effects of weather related barometric pressure changes of experienced pain in far more than anecdotal. While not all theories arising from folk tales are true, there is sometimes an empirical basis for such traditional knowledge. Dismissing what you do not understand as “Old Wives” tales is Ageist, Sexist and Ignorant, Congratulation on your triple play!

It kicks my ass when we get a front coming in. It happens every time without fail. If it was only every so often there might be room for other reasons and there still may be depending on the individual. I know I will never settle in Seattle or anywhere in the north. been lookin hard at New Mexico or Arizona if my ship comes in. Big trade off is it gets hot as hell there which brings with it different problems.

The young doubters have plenty of time to figure this one out, not that i would wish this on anyone but I have no control over it anyway.

@woodcutter it kicks my ass too
I won’t wish it on @Charles , but if it comes to him, then he will understand.

I don’t have chronic pain but I have a very touch stomach and ibs. Any change in weather really exacerbates the symptoms. We have recently moved from the tropics where the temps rarely dropped under 90 to an area with 4 seasons and we are now coming into winter. I haven’t felt this poorly this consistently in years. I had forgotten how much it affected me.

Anyhow I think our bodies react in their own way, if pain is your weak spot then that is where it will hit you. Mine weakness is my gut and wow am I copping it!

I do feel better if I can just get out of my head and put my mind on something other than my stomach. Not easy, but it does help when I can do it. I go out for a run or start carving or painting or play backgammon on my iphone, they all seem to distract me, a little bit anyhow. Hope you feel better soon.

Barometric pressure rising causes me lower back and sometimes all over pain. I can sometimes tell when rain is coming by the ache.

Living in Ohio I could almost guarantee I’d feel pain in both spring and fall when it rains.

Living in Arizona, still have some pain, just sporadic vs. spring/fall. My chiropractor (sometimes I only need to go a couple times a year) says that when it rains his business increases. Also says that it doesn’t always help him to work on the person if it is caused by the rain coming. I know my pain may only last a day or so, until after it rains.

One odd issue – I can be inside the house or work, and not have a headache. Then I get in the car to go to work or home, and “bam” instant headache. Not really bad, seems like it is in more of the sinus areas.

Why?

@redhen4 Barometric pressure goes down as a storm approaches.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH! I AM IN TEARS, TO KNOW THAT I AM NOT CRAZY, WHEN I MENTION HOW AWFUL I FEEL WHEN THE WEATHER IS NOT RIGHT I DO PRETTY GOOD WHEN THE WEATHER IS SUNNY AND DRY, BUT WHEN IT GETS CLOUDY, RAINY OR BAD WEATHER COMING, I HURT, GET DEPRESSED, STIFF, ETC. IHAVE BEEN SEARCHING FOR INFORMATION ON THIS FOREVER TO NO AVAIL, AND JUST HAPPENED ON THIS SIGHT AND WILL FOREVER BE GRATEFUL THAT I DID!!! I AM PROUD TO BE A PART OF THIS AND WITH PEOPLE LIKE ME, I NO LONGER FEEL ALONE AND CRAZY, THANK YOU.

Welcome @uptowngal . We have lots of good information here, I hope that you will find many topics that interest you.

Why are you yelling, you know that hurts