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It is raining, it’s pouring, my chronic pain is soaring.

Yes, a pretty lame attempt at poetry but I know if you suffer from fibromyalgia, CFS, RA, lupus or any other disease that brings chronic pain, you understand completely.

If you suffer from this complicated disease, you feel my pain today. The forecast is for rain and thunderstorms all day today and plenty of the same again tomorrow.

Pain levels can soar (and roar!) when the weather changes. There are many studies that claim there is no correlation between the two and then there are others that verify what those who live with it every day claim to be true. I am definitely one that feels the difference when the barometric pressure changes. I have friends with fibro, CFS, lupus and rheumatoid arthritis that would claw your eyes out if you say that the weather doesn’t increase their pain levels. We know it to be so!

Some studies reveal that here are five major weather factors that appear to affect chronic pain symptoms. These include:

• Humidity: Humidity is the quantity representing the amount of water vapor in the atmosphere or a gas. When the humidity is low fibromyalgia sufferers report an increase in stiffness, headaches and pain.
• Precipitation: Water falling from the sky! Rain, snow, sleet, and hail may all  worsen the pain and fatigue of fibromyalgia.
• Temperature: When there is a sudden change in the temperature some experience a flare up while others might experience a respite in their symptoms and pain. The cold temperatures usually worsen the pain while warmer weather will help relieve it somewhat.
• Atmospheric Pressure: Atmospheric pressure is defined as the force per unit area exerted against a surface by the weight of the air above that surface.  Sudden changes in the barometric pressure, if it drops suddenly, will usually cause increased pain.
• Wind: Even the wind can produce fibromyalgia symptoms. This is because wind causes a decrease in the barometric pressure.

Sleep is so important in regulating pain. If you are not getting enough sleep, or not going into REM sleep, your body will react with increased pain and fatigue. Most chronic pain patients suffer from lack of sleep, they wake up as tired as when they went to bed! I have shared before that when I was first diagnosed, I had extreme breathing difficulties and chest pain. One wise doctor recognized fibromyalgia even then and knew I was not going into REM sleep. He prescribed 10 mg of Elavil (amitriptyline). I slept like a baby and woke up with no breathing issues. Of course everyone is different; consult your doctor for answers or help with sleep.

Symptoms also seem to worsen in the winter months due to the cold and lack of sunshine. Vitamin D is critical and many sufferers experience an extreme deficiency of this important nutrient. Open those curtains and let the sunlight in! Take a walk, run, anything to get outside for even a few minutes a day. Do whatever you have to do to get some much-needed sunshine for your health.

Others struggle with the extreme heat and humidity that summer brings. Many patients have trouble staying hydrated and that is extremely important when the temperature is rising. A rise in humidity can make headaches, anxiety, depression and widespread pain worsen. I had a friend that moved from the Midwest to Phoenix, where there is little to no humidity, just to help with the pain of RA and lupus.

On rainy days? If you cannot stay home and veg away on the couch, the best thing to do is keep moving. Yeah. Easier to say than to do. Fibromyalgia, lupus, RA, CFS, anyone with chronic pain knows how difficult it is to just put one foot in front of the other on a normal day. When the weather is not cooperating it makes it that much more difficult. But even if you can walk up a flight of stairs or out to get the mail, it all helps.

I am not a meteorologist but I can tell by my symptoms if we are about to get pummeled with rain and I didn’t have to look at the radar screen this morning to know today was going to be tough. Those with fibromyalgia, CFS, lupus, RA, any disease with daily, chronic pain, all struggle with changes in weather, no matter what a scientific study claims.

There are many online support forums available for those that suffer with chronic pain. Here are just a few resources:

Chronic Pain Site

Spine Health

American Chronic Pain Association (Click on the April 2015 chronicle for some great info!)

Chronic Pain Forum from Daily Strength

Fibromyalgia Forum

Of course I cannot end this post without encouraging you to look to the scriptures and the Comforter, Jesus Christ, to help you through difficult days. He is ever faithful, always listens and understands, never judges and knows all of these things are very real. He gives grace for every day. Praying your day is filled with happiness and you can find joy regardless of your circumstance.

Share with us! Are your symptoms worse when it rains or the temperature changes? We would love to hear from you!

You also might want to check out Living at the Intersection of Faith and Chronic Illness, Processing Pain, He heals me, He heals me not

 

Sharing with Wake up Wednesday, Wholehearted Wednesday, RAising Homemakers, Family Fun Friday