Weather and Chronic Pain?

Weather and chronic pain go hand in hand. You may have heard someone say, “It’s going to rain tomorrow. I can feel it in my bones.”

What is Barometric Pressure?

“…barometric pressure is the measurement of air pressure in the atmosphere…” Read the Setra Systems blog to understand it from the scientific aspect.

Changes in barometric pressure affect many people with chronic pain. Weather and chronic pain work together.

Pressure Changes Increase Flares

I hear from numerous people that arthritis flares before the rain and cold arrive.

In my trigeminal neuralgia support group, others talk about how barometric pressure changes wreak havoc on the nerve, especially when the weather goes a little crazy. In the Pacific Northwest, we had rain, snow, and sunshine all in one week. Ouch.

You Made That up!

Have you heard anyone say, “That’s an old wife’s tale!”

I was fascinated by how many people have searched on “Do barometric pressure changes cause muscle and joint pain?” The fact that it’s being searched by over 37 million people lets you know that you are not alone.

Arthritis

The Arthritis Foundation blog states: “Changes in barometric pressure can cause expansion and contraction of tendons, muscles, bones and scar tissues, resulting in pain in the tissues that are affected by arthritis. Low temperatures may also increase the thickness of joint fluids, making them stiffer and perhaps more sensitive to pain during movement.”

Look at that. You didn’t make it up. You’re not crazy.

Migraines

Migraines also seem to be affected by pressure changes. Healthline states in their article Understanding Barometric Pressure Headaches: How Does Weather Affect Your Headaches, “… it doesn’t have to change drastically to cause headaches…. Researchers found that even small decreases in barometric pressure-induced migraines.”

---

Take some time to explore this topic especially if you have noticed that your pain increases with the changes. Pay attention to weather patterns and the effect on you. Do this for a year to see how you interact with the seasons. You can take action by using your persistent pain prevention plan.

If you need some help creating this, please refer to Chronic or Persistent Pain Basics. 

Let me know how I may help you.

---

Do you need some more helpful ideas? Pop over to my Pain Management Tools and Resources pages.

Hugs!

---

Gail Sinclair, MHt, CNC is a hypnotherapist who helps those living with chronic pain go from discomfort to thriving by using hypnosis, pain management tools and resources.

She is a Master Hypnotherapist, Nutritional Consultant, and a Reiki Master Teacher. She has over 20 years in healing work and is an international award-winning speaker.

Gail lives in Portland, OR with her delightful husband, son, and cat. She can be found cooking, knitting, writing, and figuring out new ways to thrive with Trigeminal, and Occipital Neuralgia.

You can reach her at gailthriveswithchronicpain@gmail.com.