Does cold weather cause PMR pain flares?
Posted , 12 users are following.
Using the dead slow method I managed to reduce Prednisone from 10 mg to 9 mg over a one month period with no pain. But this week the weather has become cold and wet and I am now aware of low grade pain in arms and shoulders....... I wonder whether it is the reduction of Pred or the bad weather? I am debating whether to go back up t 10 mg again to test the response or to turn the heating up!
0 likes, 47 replies
EileenH ricky23486
Posted
Weather can have quite a distinct effect on rheumatic diseases of all sorts - in Germany they even have a "bio-weather" forecast telling viewers which people need to be careful the next day!
Apparently several doctors advise their patients not to reduce dose during the winter! I don't find cold a problem as long as it is dry - damp and wind is a definite "not nice"!
dan38655 EileenH
Posted
This begs the question, what is it about a change in weather that can do this?
There is only so much effect that weather can change the barometric pressure.
Humidity really doesn't effect the inside of the body at all.
Air temperature can effect the temperature of limbs and digits, but exercise restores an even temperature distribution. Dressing appropriately should completely mitigate cold limbs and digits unless one suffers from circulatory impairment.
Circulatory impairment can result from medications, from cafeine, and from diet (such as high blood lipid/fat levels), which results in some degree of "blood platelet aggregation" (red cells clumping, temporarily blocking flow through a percentage of capillaries).
Again, and in spite of circulatory impairments, exercise is very effective at restoring uniform blood flow, to where the body's temperature regulation reaches throughout the body.
I keep an exercycle near the window in my living room and hop on as needed. Ten minutes of pedaling (while watching or just listening to the television if wanted) has me fully warmed up and feeling either invigorated or more ready for bed, so it's good at any time of the day!
EileenH dan38655
Posted
I'm told that even small changes in barometric pressure can affect joints. But I've experienced the effects that weather can have - and I can forecast a change in the weather 2 days in advance! Don't know how - but it does.
ptolemy EileenH
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Anhaga dan38655
Posted
I can't foretell the weather, but there is a certain weather condition which immobilizes me with migraine - usually the return of "good" weather after bad, although only occasionally, so I waste a day of fair weather by being unwell. Must be air pressure.
erika59785 EileenH
Posted
Since we have had several snow storms lately, I have noticed increased pain in my shoulders and bilateral pain in my lower back.
I was happy to be down to 5 1/2 mg of prednisone, but I increased it to 6 1/2 which is helping me some, but still have discomfort. I might have to go up to 7 for a while.
EileenH Anhaga
Posted
In the south of Germany they get a wind phenomenon called "foehn", the hairdryer - a wind that sweeps over the mountains from high to low pressure areas, heating up in the process and bringing unseasonal warmth even in the depths of winter. Around Munich is worst affected in Bavaria but it also reached as far as Nuremburg and it typically caused headaches, for some people laying them flat.
erika59785 EileenH
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ricky23486 erika59785
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erika59785 ricky23486
Posted
ricky23486
Posted
thanks to everyone for the input....... I feel much better now knowing that reducing pred. in cold weather needs to be done even slowly than the slow schedule., That even if I don't feel cold it is advisable to dress more warmly, turn up the heating and reluctantly continue to exercise despite the cold weather! I appreciate the support
TERI23 ricky23486
Posted
Good question as soon as it started to get cold I started to feel tired with no energy finally decided to up pred from 8 to 10 wonder how long it should take had pmr for 7 years and the lowest I ever got was 5 and then got a flare up I don't think I will ever get off this stuff
EileenH TERI23
Posted
Snap - I was down to 4mg last autumn and tried for 3mg. i was SO tired I gave up and went back to 5mg. But in February I had a major flare so was sent back to 15mg. I'm down to 8mg again (happy there), trying the odd 7mg - OK but not quite so good. Think I'll stick at 8mg for the rest of the winter...
I've had PMR for over 12 years, over 7 of them on pred. I don't care - as long as I feel well, that's all that matters. And I do when I take enough pred.
erika59785 TERI23
Posted
Yes, it is tough. The adrenals do not kick in as quickly as we would like to, and maybe they won't at all, and we need to stay on a certain dosage which makes us feel comfortable.
john1955 ricky23486
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EileenH john1955
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What dose is he on? He is not reducing relentlessly to zero pred - he is reducing to find the lowest dose that manages the symptoms as well as the starting dose did. This seems to be a concept that has escaped a lot of doctors! If he has reached that dose - he won't get lower without a return of symptoms. It doesn't mean he won't get lower - just not yet. And he MAY be trying to reduce in too big steps - overshooting the mark and landing at too low a dose so a flare happens. That is the main cause of flares in fact.
erika59785 EileenH
Posted
This is important to know and to remember. I am working on "it" right now, because I was so happy to reach 5 1/2 mg, and since the cold weather, my arms and lower back have been more stiff and achy. I tried 6 1/2 mg, but this did not help a great deal. I am now taking 7 mg which made a difference. The cold weather, and family arriving from Canada, Christmas.......this puts a burden on a person with PMR.
Eileen, thank you for sharing your thoughts and advice.