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Cold weather

Posted , 9 users are following.

twigjean
twigjean

Hi all, from Michigan USA.

Does weather affect anyone. As the weather has gotten colder (40's) I'm feeling worse. Took the predinsone back to 6.5, last year I had a flair at this level. I'll know more next week, monthly CRP. 

0 likes, 14 replies

14 Replies

  • constance.de
    constance.de twigjean

    Posted

    Hallo from Germany

    Weather certainly affects me, but it always has (even as a child).  However, I now have the "pleasure" of pain with it!  Mind you, I can't imagine anyone out there who has rheumatism ISN'Taffected by weather.

  • Light
    Light twigjean

    Posted

    My RA is not affected by the weather.

    On the other hand, the rest of me is.

    If it gets below 21C degrees I'm usually wallowing in hell.

    One of the reasons I can't stay long in Europe.

  • Nefret
    Nefret twigjean

    Posted

    Yes, here in the UK I find that cold weather affects me greatly - but then so does extremely hot weather, so I think I'm in the right place for me as we rarely get very hot weather!  At least with colder weather I can layer up!

     

  • EileenH
    EileenH twigjean

    Posted

    As the others have said - yes, weather can affect rheumatism and a lot of other conditions! The Germans even have a part of their weather forecasts for the "Bio-weather" where they warm people with arthritises, asthma, hayfever and blood pressure problems (high or low) and heart conditions as well as other things about how the weather tomorrow will affect them.

    There is almost no arthritis to be found in the Indian sub-continent. It is found amongst ex-pats living in the UK but at a lower rate than amongst Caucasians (whites) but almost all ethnic patients who complain of arthritis in the UK say it goes away when they go home. Could be weather, could be diet - but probably the warmth.

    I find it is wind and damp that affect me, dry cold or heat has little effect.

  • Bababoyd
    Bababoyd twigjean

    Posted

    I am from Virginia USA and we are just starting cool damp weather and I was also wondering if that effected me or was I just having a bad day. I am on 10 mil right now and metrox.7.5 The rainy cool day are much harder on me.
  • heather39822
    heather39822 twigjean

    Posted

    Hello from Hot-as-Hades Harare where I am lying prostate under a fan! After a lifetime in Africa I have found I can't handle the heat since starting on pred. I am in a constant lather of perspiration and have to have a wet towel round my neck. Presumably another cortisone side-effect.
    • EileenH
      EileenH heather39822

      Posted

      You can send our sun back then! I was sunbathing 2 days ago - today we've had snow - the joys of an alpine climate!
    • constance.de
      constance.de EileenH

      Posted

      It was the same here on the Moehnesee 2 days ago.  We have no snow though but it is only 9/10 degs!
    • EileenH
      EileenH constance.de

      Posted

      It has struggled to get above 2C all day - the sun has just crept out so it has shot up to about 5C! 
  • Mrs_CJ
    Mrs_CJ twigjean

    Posted

    This past summer I went to physio for a sore muscle. When I told the therapist that I had been applying a lot of heat to the area as it reduced the soreness she was surprised because they don't recommend that treatment for my sore muscle. After I explained that I have PMR she was thinking that the additional heat may allow my blood vessels to open so that a more normal amount of blood could get to my muscles.  When I saw your post about feeling worse in cold weather I got thinking that it could make sense as the cold constricts blood vessels which makes our PMR worse. 

    For me a side effect of the Pred is to cause me to feel warmer so I don't want to bundle up too much as the weather gets colder. Thank goodness for this forum...it allows us to chat about all the weird things that happen because of PMRbiggrin

    • EileenH
      EileenH Mrs_CJ

      Posted

      Part of the problem in PMR is almost certainly that the blood supply to the muscles is restricted, probably because the blood vessels are narrowed in some way: in GCA it is because there are large cells that block the space in the middle. There are links between GCA and PMR - but what they are is not entirely clear. However, many people find that using the steam room/sauna helps the stiffness. Exercise also helps if you can manage it - and that increases the blood flow to the muscles. And quite a few find using an electric blanket inthe morning BEFORE getting out of bed makes the muscles less uncomfortable and they can get moving more easily, in turn this movement makes it easier to move more - a benefit all round. It is also the lack of blood flow that makes the muscles unable to cope with exercise and recover afterwards. 

      I think many of us find our thermostats have developed a fault! No socks for me - even when it was minus a lot outside! Since I have been on BP medication that has improved - I'm having to dig out the socks again!

  • noninoni
    noninoni twigjean

    Posted

    I think there is an association.  I have had Raynaud's syndrome since last year-before PMR- which is sensitivity to cold.  It causes my hands to turn quite blue, even in a warm water pool.  It is caused by poor circulation, and this ties in to PMR. It seemed to me that somewhere I read that Raynaud's can be a symptom of either PMR or RA.  But will cold weather by itself make PMR worse?  Who knows. 

    But it is always a good idea to keep warm, and I too live in Michigan, so you also know how beautiful this fall has been with another gorgeous day today. 

  • Bababoyd
    Bababoyd twigjean

    Posted

    After reading these messages regarding cold and hot side effects I had an eye opener.  I mentioned several weeks ago I had blood clots in my leg after 6 months on pred. had anyone else, and no one said anything.  Mine went to my lungs and I was lucky.  However, hearing now about narrowing of the blood vessels, maybe that is why.  They have never found a reason for them. Maybe this is the reason. 6 months later I still have them in my leg, but am on blood thinners.  Anyone have this problem?
  • erika59785
    erika59785 twigjean

    Posted

    I live in Portland, Oregon and the warm weather turned into rain and cool temperature.  I have not noticed that my PMR symptoms are getting worse because of the weather.  The reason might be that I am on a VERY comfortable dosage of 15 mg Prednisone which makes me painfree during the day and night...except when I get out of bed the next morning.  After breakfast and 15 mg of Prednisone.....2 hours later...all is well.

    Thought reply to your topic.

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